Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

[mike lutz]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

I have one of those on my 1940 bc-65.Originally came off a Ercoupe.I trimmed the flange back and have the mesh screen in it as a filter.In the last 39 years and a couple thousand hours,It has caused no problems.Many different I.A.,s over the years and never a question.The original box had no screen at all.(I think this desighn of box still runs trouble free on Ercoupes yet today)

[Guest]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

I have one of those on my 1940 bc-65.Originally came off a Ercoupe.I trimmed the flange back and have the mesh screen in it as a filter.In the last 39 years and a couple thousand hours,It has caused no problems.Many different I.A.,s over the years and never a question.The original box had no screen at all.(I think this desighn of box still runs trouble free on Ercoupes yet today)

Thanks Mike, that helps.

Regardless of how many IA's ignored it in the past or how trouble free it is dakotarnk's mechanic is correct in questioning it.

Its presence indicates that the aircraft does not meet its type data and raises the question of "is it in a properly modified condition?" and the IA needs to know the answer to that question for the annual inspection.

Perhaps an old 337 or log entry will reveal whether it is in fact a properly modified condition.

If there are no such record entries then something will need to be done.

Dave

Dave

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

Dave is right. No matter how good a modification is it must be documented to be LEGAL. Legal doesn't make it better (we all know of examples of where it made it WORSE) but it is the right (and obligation) of the IA or A&P to challenge ANYTHING that doesn't look right or is not properly documented. If this is just an intake from an Erocoupe it should be a snap to get it approved. I WOULD get it approved, and share the paperwork here for others who would like to add it. Same with the oil filter. It is a GREAT addition to keep our planes flying for decades to come, but GET IT ON LEGAL! An A&P of IA who challenges something that doesn't look right is NOT doing it to give you a hard time or be the "tough guy", he is doing it to protect his living and your life.
Hank

OK, some of them are jerks and those are the ones you dump for a new one, but I have known very few jerks with A&Ps or IAs and the same was true at the FAA. MOST are great people.

[Dakotarnk]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

It sounds like the consensus is that it does not belong on this plane, Could someone tell me what is the correct one and where I can get one. I would like to have something that filters since I just did top end on the this.

[barnstmr]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

J3 style is same as Tcraft. These were originally supplied by Continental. Wag Aero has them new. See link below.



Wag Aero - J3 style Air Box



SEE ALSO photos below. This is my carburetor - you can see my airbox in the background. You will need a bracket air filter or an equivalent air filter with housing to bolt onto the front of your airbox. Also in the plane photo you can see how the airbox fits in under the cowling nose-bowl.

[Dakotarnk]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

Thanks for all the help. I will have to get a different air intake. Anybody have a used one to sell and is the one I have of any value to anyone.

[KewFlyer]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

if you dont get it here, try the Piper Cub site or Ebay...they show up now and then.....or Brnstmrs is another option.

good luck

[mike lutz]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

The Wag-Aero box is a code 8,which means it is NOT a FAA approved part,and is for experimental use use only.It would be just as wrong as the Ercoupe box I,ve been running for the last 39 years,and couple thousand hours.All B.S. aside,we all know there are thousands of these things in the feild and are trouble free,and have been for many years with proper maintanace.I agree technally it is not to be used,but is one of these topics that could go on and on like beating a dead horse.Kind of like useing a briggs and straton air filter and housing bolted to a koeler engine(although your not flying behind it)

[barnstmr]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

Roland,
Mike has a good point. I missed that code 8 business. But I was simply trying to point out that the J3 style (from a certified source) is the same box as the post war and most pre-war Taylorcrafts. OK... so I did a bit more research and found the photo below excerpted from the 1980 Taylorcraft Parts Catalog. If you will note the part numbers, the ones starting with number 6 are Continental part numbers (not Taylorcraft part number). Tha air box main housing is p/n 641534

I think you have the following options.

1) Locate and buy a used p/n 641534 or new PMA approved replacement for p.n 641534.

2) Keep what you have. A DER can approve data for its use on your Taylorcraft. I am qualified to do so. We will need to put together the pertinent data for me to approve. This would consist of perhaps the Ercoupe parts catalog showing all the attach hardware, how the filter installs, how the carb heat works, etc. You'll probably need to do a Carb heat rise test and send me the data too. And photos of your installation. Its a lot of work but can be done. If I do such an approval, you would have what you need to submit it on a 337. Your cost would be between $ 150 and $300. Thats why I haven't mentioned this route before now.

3) Buy a Wag-Aero air box as discussed but ask them for their drawing and manufacturing records. If they will provide this drawing, you can then compare this to a borrowed p/n 641534 air box and if you find the Wag-Aero part to match the 641534 part, sign it off as "owner produced part" (yes this is a legal way to do it).

[cvavon]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

Roland I have a used one off a 1946 bc12d with the bracket air filter attached will get it out tomorrow and look it over not sure what kind of shape it's in give me a call at 931 306 9484 chuck

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

Just to clarify, it is NOT unsafe to do a lot of the things we see changed on our planes, it just violates the FAA regs. There is a huge difference. If I thought you were going to have an operational problem I would be all over you to NOT FLY. Your risk is that one of the few FAA guys with a burr up their behind will give you a ramp check and ground and violate you (not in the congressional sense, but almost as bad). You just need to make it legal and there are a lot of ways to do it.
You need to make it legal first, then it has to be safe according to your mechanic, then it has to be safe according to YOU! If your A&P or IA says it is safe you do NOT have to accept that. You can ALWAYS default to better or safer as long as the mechanic and FAA still buy it. They can STOP you from flying, but they can't MAKE you fly if you don't feel comfortable. I wouldn't have a problem with the set up as long as I looked at it and felt it worked OK. I wouldn't put it on my own plane until my my A&P/IA approved it in the log.
Hank

I guess my comment will keep me from running for the Senate now. SIGH!

[jim cooper]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

I think alot of it has to do with the A&P or AI's background. Many of them are not that familiar with tube and glue aircraft. IE: there was a big difference between the 80 year old who annualed my Taylorcraft in NYS and the one who did it in Maryland. The AI in NYS had, in his day been the head of maint. at a good sized airport and had soloed, in 1947 in a J-3 on floats. T-Crafts were old, old news to him. He knew every inch of it. He charged 300.00 for the annual and it took him about 5 hours. The one in Maryland took almost a week (three different people worked on it )and charged 1200,00. The airfilter in question, if it worked correctly and was safe would have been legally approved I'm sure by the 80 year old without alot of trouble, the one in Maryland probably not. Both are VERY good but very different. I should add here that the T-Craft was a trophy winner and was in like new or better condition. The 80 year old pulled up in a recent dodge van, only the drivers seat. The rest was a complete set of tools, air comp, generator, and on and on all neatly arranged. He was VERY precise and VERY serious. I took the inspection plates off, he did the rest. The one in Maryland had a complete shop in a hanger. He is about 40-45 yrs old. JC

[Dakotarnk]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

Thanks for everyones help, I did find an air box.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

Going back and looking at your picture and the fact that's a 45, it's likely that it did not come with a filter originally.

[Guest]

Re: Air intake/Air filter 1945 bc-12d

Going back and looking at your picture and the fact that's a 45, it's likely that it did not come with a filter originally.

Funny - I bet that the mechanic may go along (without any approval paperwork) with using one of the newer airboxes with a filter even though it also will require approval by 337 or stc