Taxi/landing light switch

A place to relax and discuss flying topics.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

User avatar
170C
Posts: 3182
Joined: Tue May 06, 2003 11:59 am

Taxi/landing light switch

Post by 170C »

It appears my switch is malfunctioning. Taxi position works, in landing position no power to the bulb. Checking the Cessna 170B Parts Catalog, page 71, figure -27 part # AN 3021-1 or page 75, 75B and 75D, vrs figures, part # 0713035. I don't find this switch available at several electrical (aviation) sources. Some refer to that part # as a toggle switch which is incorrect.
Is this switch repairable? If not what source is there for this item?
OLE POKEY
170C
Director:
2012-2018
hilltop170
Posts: 3481
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by hilltop170 »

Frank
Until you find a replacement you could wire both taxi and landing lights together.
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
User avatar
dstates
Posts: 474
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:50 pm

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by dstates »

170C wrote:It appears my switch is malfunctioning. Taxi position works, in landing position no power to the bulb. Checking the Cessna 170B Parts Catalog, page 71, figure -27 part # AN 3021-1 or page 75, 75B and 75D, vrs figures, part # 0713035. I don't find this switch available at several electrical (aviation) sources. Some refer to that part # as a toggle switch which is incorrect.
Is this switch repairable? If not what source is there for this item?
Aircraft Spruce has them. I just got one last week.
D7C4B39C-5869-4C83-9C8E-6E230BB6A79B.jpeg
N1235D - 1951 170A - SN: 20118
User avatar
Ryan Smith
Posts: 1210
Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:26 am

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by Ryan Smith »

Frank’s airplane is very likely to be a three-position push-pull switch. Those are a bit more scarce. I believe I have one in a box, Frank. When I get home Wednesday, I’ll look for it and you’re welcome to it, provided I find it. Not sure how well it works, it came in a cache of parts I inherited.
User avatar
pdb
Posts: 466
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 3:39 am

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by pdb »

I have a new switch which I bought from Cessna a few years ago when my lights stopped working. When I was looking at the switch trying to figure out how in Hell to remove it, I noticed a small brass instrument nut had fallen off something and lodged on the contacts and shorting. I removed the nut and things starting working just fine again so I no longer need the replacement switch.

Its yours for my cost of $55.00 if you want it.

Pete
pdbrown170b@me.com
984D0528-9C29-45E0-9628-46333A93D858.jpeg
Pete Brown
Anchorage, Alaska
N4563C 1953 170B
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2366/2527 ... 4e43_b.jpg
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 20991
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by GAHorn »

170C wrote:It appears my switch is malfunctioning. Taxi position works, in landing position no power to the bulb. Checking the Cessna 170B Parts Catalog, page 71, figure -27 part # AN 3021-1 or page 75, 75B and 75D, vrs figures, part # 0713035. I don't find this switch available at several electrical (aviation) sources. Some refer to that part # as a toggle switch which is incorrect.
Is this switch repairable? If not what source is there for this item?
Frank, if your desired switch is NOT a Toggle...then the reference you offer above is incorrect. 170B IPC Pg 71, item 27 is a toggle switch. AN3021-1 is also a toggle switch.

If what you want is Pg 74, Fig 42, Item 23, then THAT is PN 0713035 and is a 3-position push/pull switch.

It is available from Air Power (Cessna Distributor) In Arlington, TX (your old stomping grounds) for $49.61 plus shipping.

http://www.airpowerinc.com/productcart/ ... roup=radio

But it looks like you can help fellow Member Pete Brown if you’ll buy from HIM. :wink:

(And while I like Air Power and have bought scarce parts from them satisfactorily, their shipping policies are not simple US Mail, and will likely cost you about $20.)
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
User avatar
Bruce Fenstermacher
Posts: 10318
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by Bruce Fenstermacher »

Frank, when did you buy a 170B? Maybe your trying to slowly convert your 172 to a 170 by replacing small parts here and there from the 170B IPC rather than the 172 IPC. :D
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!

Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
User avatar
dstates
Posts: 474
Joined: Sun Jun 30, 2019 5:50 pm

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by dstates »

gahorn wrote:
170C wrote:
It is available from Air Power (Cessna Distributor) In Arlington, TX (your old stomping grounds) for $49.61 plus shipping.


(And while I like Air Power and have bought scarce parts from them satisfactorily, their shipping policies are not simple US Mail, and will likely cost you about $20.)
Side note, I ordered a rudder return spring from Air Power two weeks ago and spoke to a person on the phone confirming that it would be free shipping (there is an ad on their site saying Cessna Parts get free shipping). It arrived and the invoice included $14 shipping. I contacted them and am told I should be getting a refund on the shipping, but I am still waiting on that.

All that to say, if you do order from them, remind them about Cessna Parts get free shipping.
N1235D - 1951 170A - SN: 20118
User avatar
n2582d
Posts: 2815
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 4:58 am

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by n2582d »

Pete,
I assume that switch is made by Cole Hersee. Is there a Cole Hersee part number on the switch?
Gary
User avatar
170C
Posts: 3182
Joined: Tue May 06, 2003 11:59 am

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by 170C »

Thanks for all the responses. I could wire both lights together as I don't intentionally fly at night any longer. I use one or both lights for identification only in the daytime. Yea Bruce, like Johnny Cash's "One piece at a time Cadillac" I'm converting my 172TD one item at a time which is very easy to do since probably 90+ % of '56-59, and even later model 172's, are mostly B model 170's. Just got the steering wheel in the wrong place! :lol: I will avoid Air Parts (are they a part of Van Brotel?). I am sure I will be taking one of the member's offers soon. While I hate to have to crawl under that instrument panel, I'll get the switch out and take a look at it first. Doubt there is anything to see or repair. I appreciate both Pete's and Ryan's offers.
OLE POKEY
170C
Director:
2012-2018
User avatar
pdb
Posts: 466
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 3:39 am

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by pdb »

n2582d wrote:Pete,
I assume that switch is made by Cole Hersee. Is there a Cole Hersee part number on the switch?
Gary,

There is nothing on the switch nor any reference in the paperwork or box from Cessna/Textron that mentions Cole Hersee. The switch’s case does have 856 stamped on it.

Pete
Pete Brown
Anchorage, Alaska
N4563C 1953 170B
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2366/2527 ... 4e43_b.jpg
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 20991
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by GAHorn »

170C wrote:Thanks for all the responses. I could wire both lights together as I don't intentionally fly at night any longer. I use one or both lights for identification only in the daytime. Yea Bruce, like Johnny Cash's "One piece at a time Cadillac" I'm converting my 172TD one item at a time which is very easy to do since probably 90+ % of '56-59, and even later model 172's, are mostly B model 170's. Just got the steering wheel in the wrong place! :lol: I will avoid Air Parts (are they a part of Van Brotel?). I am sure I will be taking one of the member's offers soon. While I hate to have to crawl under that instrument panel, I'll get the switch out and take a look at it first. Doubt there is anything to see or repair. I appreciate both Pete's and Ryan's offers.
Air Power in Arlington Tx is a Cessna Distributor and I do believe is the descenent of VanBortel. You have a problem with them? I’ve always had good service there.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
User avatar
n2582d
Posts: 2815
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 4:58 am

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by n2582d »

pdb wrote:There is nothing on the switch nor any reference in the paperwork or box from Cessna/Textron that mentions Cole Hersee. The switch’s case does have 856 stamped on it.

Pete
Google "Cole Hersee 7152" and you'll run across this image with "856" stamped on the side. Looking at the blueprint for it though I don't see what the thread size is on the shaft. From my research on the push-pull master switch they made the same switch with a variety of shaft sizes.
images.jpg
images.jpg (29.27 KiB) Viewed 10563 times
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
Gary
User avatar
170C
Posts: 3182
Joined: Tue May 06, 2003 11:59 am

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by 170C »

No George, I don't have an issue with Van Brotel. Didn't mean to indicate as such. My first purchase of non-Champion spark plugs were purchased from them. They had a special where if purchasing 10 you got 12. I walked in and got them and they performed perfectly until I replaced them many hours later with Tempest.
OLE POKEY
170C
Director:
2012-2018
User avatar
MoonlightVFR
Posts: 624
Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2005 5:55 pm

Re: Taxi/landing light switch

Post by MoonlightVFR »

Your switch is "repairable"

Original design was overbuilt.

However the assembly of switch components was weak. It involves riveting tensions.
Switch passes quality control test in 1950s. HOWEVER and there is always a however.

When the panel had switch installed - over the years avionics techs were under the panel removing old , installing new components. They were pushing on the "rats nest" of wires.

Pilots experience intermittent electrical problems many times not repeatable. The air frame does its harmonic dance while engine is operating.

Simply disassemble switch - a vise and small hammer - reset the rivet tension. Reinstall. Happily purchase the family a large Rib dinner.

I have purchased used switches on EBAY. They had the defect. I fixed them . Original switch not available under same original P.N.
gradyb, '54 B N2890C
Post Reply