Moving in and out of Hanger

A place to relax and discuss flying topics.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

Post Reply
User avatar
Newkentboy
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:04 am

Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by Newkentboy »

Ok, I’m getting along in years. Not as old as I hope to get, but starting to feel it, especially in my back. I need some advice on ground handling of my 170B. I’ve had it 3 years come May, and I’ve put about 320 hours on it in that time. I put a very low nap carpet on the floor of the hangar. The plane has the BAS tail handles. The apron has a very slight downgrade away from the door. I put the L-19 tow bar lugs (for lack of the proper term) on the main gear and occasionally use a garden tractor to pull it out, although it tends to bunch up the carpet and thus won’t work for putting it back in the hangar. I put the L-19 eye bolt on the tail with the circle up. I know the proper way is for the circle to be down, but that way it does no good for anybody. I feel I should be looking into either a powered tug to put on the rear Scott tail wheel or possibly going to a ground mounted winch to pull it back in using the eyebolt as the towing connection. Anybody got any thoughts or recommendations? I’d like to leave the carpet and don’t feel that it hinders the plane rolling across it very much.
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 20967
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by GAHorn »

I’m guessing that the combination of toe-in and pushing the plane backwards with the tug and L-19 towbar is spreading the gear such to act as “toe out” and grabbing the carpet?

I’m not sure that using a winch will change that situation.

One thing might be to install a “cross-bar” between the tow lugs to keep the gear from spreading when pushing it backwards. (never tried it…just trying to be inventive.)
'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
ddr36d
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2005 1:36 am

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by ddr36d »

I put mine in the hangar nose first. I use a towbar attached to the tailwheel to push it in/pull it out with a 1988 Ford Bronco ll. This probably won't work if you have a T hangar.
User avatar
bgiesbrecht
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2019 10:51 pm

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by bgiesbrecht »

What about something like this?

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... ragger.php

Of course, if you really wanted to spend $$$$...I'd be remiss to not recommend Best Tugs! :mrgreen:

https://www.besttugs.com/pages/alpha-tug-line
Former owner of:
1953 170B
N1977C
s/n 26122
User avatar
cessna170bdriver
Posts: 4059
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by cessna170bdriver »

Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
User avatar
walloceans
Posts: 13
Joined: Sun Sep 29, 2002 3:05 am

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by walloceans »

I use a 12 v dc winch with remote control. Runs off a car battery or even a rider mower battery. Cable attaches to tailwheel bracket.
I was advised many years ago to always have a lightish line making the final connection from winch wire to tailwheel bracket. The idea is that if the remote ever fails to STOP then you have a Plan B: quick cut of the light line( sharp knife always handy) or kick the battery clamp connector off before you drag the tail or ailerons into the back wall. Cheers/ BW
User avatar
Bruce Fenstermacher
Posts: 10313
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by Bruce Fenstermacher »

That's it. Much easier putting you airplane in a hangar than a hanger. I've made this mistake a time or two. 8O But now I know what a Homophone is and it has nothing to do with making a phone call though I couldn't help getting tripped up on that reading the explanation. :cry:

If you can pull your plane into the hangar and not bunch the carpet but pushing it with the tow bar does. then George's ideal of the spreader bar or limiter such as a chain, hold merit. Otherwise I'd use a winch with a long cable on the control box so you can walk about the airframe monitoring it's progress as most hangars have close fitting points about the airframe.
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!

Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
User avatar
cessna170bdriver
Posts: 4059
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 5:13 pm

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by cessna170bdriver »

hangar: a place to store an airplane. :wink:
Miles

“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
User avatar
mit
Posts: 1049
Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 1:54 am

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by mit »

Hangar Hanger it's so confsssing
Tim
User avatar
pdb
Posts: 466
Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 3:39 am

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by pdb »

I park outside all year long and sometimes pushing my 170 back into my spot is a huge pain when the snow and ice have built up before I have been able to clean it off. My solution is pretty low tech but it works well.

I use two mountaineering pulleys, a couple of carabiners, a short loop of webbing, and a rope. I secure a rope end by carabiner to my tail tie down anchor and then pull a loop back to my tail where I run the sling around my tail wheel spring and place another carabiner and pulley there.

Then I run the loop back back to the rear anchor and place the second pulley and lead from the rear pulley forward under the stab and wing and angled somewhat so the rope leads forward just to the outside of the main wheel. The pulley system gives me a mechanical advantage of 3X which is usually plenty and gives me latitude to find a spot for good footing. If conditions are really bad, can attach the rope to my front tow hook p on my 4Runner and gently ease the 170 to the rear when backing up. It’s slow, very controllable, and I am looking directly at the plane as I do this. If you need more mechanical advantage, it’s easy to add another pulley ot two depending on whether you can pull from the back or need to be in front.

The carabiners, pulleys, and the sling go on and off very quickly. It would work in a hangar too if you have a rear anchor point and are too cheap to install a winch or are too old to manhandle it.
Pulley
Pulley
Carabiner
Carabiner
Pulley system layout
Pulley system layout
Pete Brown
Anchorage, Alaska
N4563C 1953 170B
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2366/2527 ... 4e43_b.jpg
User avatar
mit
Posts: 1049
Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 1:54 am

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by mit »

Oh, how nice it would be to have a Hangar- Hanger and the problem of getting it in and out.................SIGH.................... :( :( :(
Tim
User avatar
Newkentboy
Posts: 3
Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:04 am

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by Newkentboy »

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions and the time it took to write them out. Also, thanks for not dinging me too hard on my poor grammar (had to look up and make sure it wasn’t grammer) with respect to my hanger, er, hangar.

Mac
User avatar
Larry E
Posts: 20
Joined: Mon Sep 30, 2019 1:06 pm

Re: Moving in and out of Hanger

Post by Larry E »

A little late to the party, but here's my set-up:
170 Tailwheel Bracket System.jpeg
I made this bracket so that I can push the airplane out of the hangar (slight downhill slope) with an old broomstick, then pull it back in with the 12v winch that's bolted to the cement floor. There is a wooden "trench"imbedded in the floor that's just wide enough for the tailwheel - it prevents the tailwheel from 'wandering around' as it comes back into the hangar.
It also, when rotated 90 degrees up, allows the tail to be lifted using another winch that is bolted to the hangar wall with 1/8" cables routed to pulleys overhead the tail. There is an added bracket (attaches to the tail spring group) that prevents the wheel from rotating while it's being raised.
Attachments
Tail Lift (1).jpeg
Tail Lift.jpeg
Post Reply