170A Fwd fuselage structure

[c170b53]

If possible could someone post a few pictures of the 170A fuselage structure around the gear leg and lower strut attachment point ? A plane I'm working on seems to have an unusal rivet / skin pattern in this area. Thanks

[blueldr]

Are the rivets about the diameter of your pinkie finger? If so, you're probably working on one of these fifty five year old "No damage history" airplanes.

[c170b53]

Funny you should say that. The skins have been changed with no documentation but fortunately the rivets haven't gone up in size. If no one has some pics I'll have to look around for a Chinese blueprint at an airport.

[voorheesh]

Try contacting Del Air 2121 Wildcat Way Porterville, CA 93257 559 784 9440. Chris has a large number of detailed photos of Cessna 170As. I dont know his email capabilities.

[GAHorn]

Here's a pic of what happens when you land with a parking brake locked because you didn't disable the parking brakes:

[jrenwick]

OK: UNCLE! I gave in and removed the parking brake hardware from my brake cylinders this week. They were working perfectly, and I was in the habit of using them, but R.I.P.! The consolation is that the brakes seem to operate more smoothly without those wires and things rattling around down there while you're taxiing, and I can stop wondering when they're going to bite me. I'll be using my chocks more now; that's better practice anyway.

[Paul-WI]

Code: Select all

OK: UNCLE! I gave in and removed the parking brake hardware from my brake cylinders this week. They were working perfectly, and I was in the habit of using them, but R.I.P.! The consolation is that the brakes seem to operate more smoothly without those wires and things rattling around down there while you're taxiing, and I can stop wondering when they're going to bite me.

I "assumed" that mine where disconnect, During last year's annual, I mentioned that when turning base to final, I felt a clicking like the left brake was setting. A quick jab to the brake and it would seem fine. When I crawled under there to rebuild a master cylinder, I found the parking brake brake still hooked up . I disconnected it and have not had that problem since. I think that the left parking brake was partially setting and getting ready to bite me.

[blueldr]

Here's a dilemna ready for solving by the advocates of the removal of the parking brake equipment on the Cessna 170.

1. You are flying solo.
2. You are landing at a back country air strip.
3. The only parking area is located on a slope which will require chocks to keep the airplane from rolling.
4. How do you manage to exit the airplane and install chocks before the airplane has gained kinetic energy beyond the ability of the pilot to bring it to a halt
while on foot?

My solution has been to install a "Cane handle" type parking brake assembly out of a C182. This system simply holds the pedals depressed until release and does not lock the plungers on the master cylinders. In my case, this is a bootleg modification. However, "Murphys Law" says that sooner or later some numb nutted aviator will reach down and set the parking brake in flight, for some unknown reason, thus busting his butt. Nothing can be completely fool proof!
At least this system will assure that a landing with the parking brake set will be with both wheels locked up resulting in a straight ahead rollover. This will probably result in the destruction of all of the airplane except the gear box which would otherwise been ruuined in a ground loop.

[c170b53]

Here's a pic of the skin joint in question. A P-Ponk kit was installed previously with the O/B castings also replaced at the same time.

Wearing my moderator's hat, I reduced the size of the photo for easier viewing. Bruce

[c170b53]

That's my first pic posting , it might have been a bit too close for comfort. I'm just wondering about the lap joint above the strut (horizontal rivet row), is that stock or is that a splice/doubler.

[jrenwick]

Here's a dilemna ready for solving by the advocates of the removal of the parking brake equipment on the Cessna 170....

As George suggested elsewhere, park sideways to the slope (I'm sure there's a hypothetical case where this isn't possible). I just made up a set of chocks consisting of a "U" shaped arrangement of 1-1/2" PVC pipe and elbows. Those will be much quicker to stick under the wheels than the aluminum angles I've been using. They'll work on grass, too.

Some day I may install a hydraulic parking brake valve, and hook the existing cable up to it. That's the best solution I can think of.

John

[GAHorn]

Here's a dilemna ready for solving by the advocates of the removal of the parking brake equipment on the Cessna 170.....

I can't imagine how I've managed to fly this thing for 9 years now and never once missed my parking brake. (But if you just gotta have one... then for goodness sakes install one that doesn't use the little locking levers on top of your master cyls.)

Jim... Can you post a pic of a larger area? I'm not sure what we're looking at.

[DaveF]

Here's a picture of the same area on a 170A. No guarantee this is original and unrepaired.

strutarea.jpg

[c170b53]

Thanks for the picture, That's exactly how I thought the structure was arranged, same as the "B" so I'll have to come up with something for the logbooks.