Replacing rear bench seat - options?

2723D · Post by **2723D** » Wed Jan 08, 2003 7:12 pm

I'm thinking about replacing my rear bench seat with the smaller, fold-up versions that are available from atlee-dodge and BAS in order to save a little weight and make room for gear (when folded up). Does anyone have experience with either of these in the 170? How did the installation go, price, etc? Any words of wisdom would be much appreciated.

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Thu Jan 09, 2003 6:17 am

I kinda like the BAS seats better,and I would buy a set EXCEPT they cost about $1550 for the pair,or $825 for a single -- installation NOT included. Whew--too rich for my blood. I believe the Atlee's are less expensive,but still spendy.

Eric

Post by **GAHorn** » Fri Jan 10, 2003 3:48 pm

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funseventy · Post by **funseventy** » Fri Jan 10, 2003 4:07 pm

I have put in a couple of sets of the Atlee seats. If you had the interior out and floor panels up on Friday night, you'd be done Sunday night if you have any sheetmetal skills. I like those seats but they are expensive. I use my airplane as a 3 place, so what I did was take out my bench and installed a Cessna jumpseat. The jumpseat weighs 10 lbs vs. Atlee 8 lbs. The Bench weighs in at over 30 so even if you put in 2 jumpseats you still save considerable weight. Please contact me if you have any problems or questions.

Kelly

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Fri Jan 10, 2003 5:18 pm

That's the same idea I had,Kelly. I even got a copy of a 337 from a friend documenting installation of the Cessna jump seats in a 170. Did you do the field approval route,and did you do paperwork on two seats or just the single seat? I originally thought a single seat on the RH side wold be best,rear passenger'd be in sight of the pilot,but someone else suggested a LH rear seat might be better--you could pull the co-pilot's seat & haul long stuff without messing with the rear seat.
I thought I could get a jump seat(s) cheap from some 180/185 guy who was going to BAS or Atlee-Dodge seats, but they seem to want a lot of money for the seats I've come across. Alot of times they're fancy leather-upholstered things,and the guys are pretty proud of them.

Eric

funseventy · Post by **funseventy** » Fri Jan 10, 2003 7:35 pm

Eric,
That's a real easy Field Approval bcause it only requires the addition of a nutplate in the doorpost, and you're using approved Cessna parts. I cant find them any cheaper than $500 each and most of the time that is for the frame only. I have mine on the left for the reason your talked about. The best would be to have both so you'd have the option of putting two tourists on the same side of the airplane when pointing out things around the Sound. I'm looking for another, if you want a left I know where there is a set that we could buy for the above price. She won't split them up for me, no shipping involved she's in the Sea/Tac area.
Kelly

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 5:47 am

Still a little steep for me at $500 a side,or even a pair! That's a lot of gas money.
What did you do for a rear seatbelt attach?

Eric

funseventy · Post by **funseventy** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 5:55 pm

At the next bulkhead back from the doorpost there are hardpoints in the floor in my '54. They approved those for the use of seatbelt attachment. They were originall used for cargo tiedown and seat installation so they will hoad the G load and weight requirements.

Kelly

PS. I weighed my airplane this last weekend, Yuck!! With an airplane that has no paint, no interior, no Gyro's, very limited light radios, and a single rear jumpseat, and no mods, or damage what should it weigh? The original paperwork said 1201 lbs and everything was computed from that. I'm sure this is the first time my airplane has ever seen a set of scales. It came out with gyro's, venturis, heavy radios, 33 lb bench seat, some paint, etc which are know removed and it came in at 1251 lbs. The only thing that I have that is heavier than original are the 8.50 tires which are heavier than 6.00's by 15 lbs total. So if I went back to 6.00's I'd still be 35 lbs heavier than they say it weighed coming out of the factory. I thought you'd like that info.

Eric, you'll like this as well. Look up this site:
http://husky.taildragger.info/columns/c ... .php?id=15

funseventy · Post by **funseventy** » Sat Jan 11, 2003 6:01 pm

Ok. It didn't work for me either.

Look at:
http://husky.taildragger.info

View the columns page and look for "STOL Operations" or something like that. You'll love it!!

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Sun Jan 12, 2003 7:05 am

A very good article on short-field operations. I recommend it to everybody.Thanks,Kelly.
In the real world,1250 pounds is pretty darn good. Near as I can figure,mine weighs around 1330. I want to do a new W&B one of these days (!),I know the official one is inaccurate because I've weighed the airplane,just not for CG purposes.
You should check out Timbre Houlton's website,he flies a B model up in Fairbanks & does a lot of bush operations. he sez his B weighs around 1250 also. http://www.mosquitonet.com/~thoulton/

Eric

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Mon Jan 13, 2003 5:53 am

Kelly,I had a thought about the Cessna jump seats. I've never seen one without the upholstery on it--is it possible to just use Ceconite or Stits fabric glued to the framework like BAS does? Or maybe naugahyde covers that snap onto the framework? A friend's 180 has Atlee-Dodge seats with this last sort of covering and it's not as uncomfortable as it sounds,at least for short rides. Saves the cost and weight of the fancy padding & upholstery.
I assume the nutplate in the floor at the airplane centerline is where you're talking about for a seatbelt attach--at least for the inboard seatbelt. Where's the outboard seat belt attach--at the bulkhead? I think Atlee-Dodge & BAS both use their seat-rails for attaching the belts.

Eric

pdb · Post by **pdb** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 8:43 am

I took the bench seat out and put a single Atlee Dodge seat in. You save a ton of weight (memory says about 20-24 lbs) and I can remove the seat in about 30 seconds if I need to haul gear or make it very light. I am very pleased with it.

I struggled trying to decide if the seat should go behind me or on the pax side. I finally decided to put it on the pilot side so that if I have to haul anything very long, I can take out the front pax seat and have the entire length of the fuselage on the right side.

Its not cheap but it is very useful. and well designed. The old seat is just too heavy, takes up too much space, and might actually tempt you to put 4 adults in.

Pete
Anchorage

zero.one.victor · Post by **zero.one.victor** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 4:28 pm

BAS sells his single jump seats for around $825 last time I checked. How much does Atlee-Dodge get for a single?

Eric

funseventy · Post by **funseventy** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 8:46 pm

If you remove the arm rest you will save weight and give yourself enough room to fold it up. You can bungee it from the foward lower corner to the upper rear where the old seat ratcheted in. That way you will always have it. You might as well remove the other armrest since you no longer have anyone sitting there. More weight saved!!

Kelly

P.S. I personally like the Atlee seats over the BAS seats.

n3833v · Post by **n3833v** » Thu Jan 16, 2003 9:42 pm

Don't know if it will fit , but on Seaplane Pilots Association there is a seat in the classifieds out of a 180.
John - n3833v

The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Replacing rear bench seat - options?

Replacing rear bench seat - options?

Re: Replacing rear bench seat - options?