Baffle Brace

[gfeher]

I'm doing the annual on my plane ('52 B Model s/n 20467) and saw that the right baffle brace is broken:

Broken Baffle Strap2.jpg

A similar (but unbroken) strap is also on the left side.
Both straps look like they may have been owner made parts on my plane, so I decided to check the IPC. Turns out that for my year and s/n (the early baffle style), the IPC does not show those straps (see Fig. 52). But they are part of the later style baffle of s/n 25373 and on. (See FIg. 53, Item 40 (p/n 0550111-4). At first, I was simply going to replace the broken one with a new owner-made part. But given the difference in what the IPC shows, I thought I would check with the forum first. Obviously, the broken strap needs to be removed. But does anyone have any thoughts about whether I should replace it -- in other words whether the straps should be used with the earlier style baffles? The oil sump baffle to which they attach has the same part number (0550111-7) for both versions of the baffle systems. Does anyone have an early model with the early baffle system and not have the straps?

[Metal Master]

My early style "Box" baffling does not have this strap. If you see a useful reason to have it there make a new one and install it. And do not worry about it so much.
Jim

[gfeher]

Thanks Jim. I guess I was being a little too anal. I was just surprised to see how the broken strap failed when it appeared to be relatively new. I've chalked it up to being fabricated a little too short. Although I'm not sure the strap is needed, it does provide some support. So I've now banged out a replacement that's 1/8" longer, and I'm not worrying about it.