blueldr wrote:The pictures of assist straps shown are differfent tham the ones that were in my airplane. Mine had a steel chain inside the "upholstered" outer cover.
On your airplane, Dick, it was probably from the aviation department at Ace Hardware...
FWIW, mine are the braided type like n2582d's photo titled "Assist STrap Fitting", but upholstered.
Miles
“I envy no man that knows more than myself, but pity them that know less.”
— Thomas Browne
Assuming you still have the original ends available and the tools, here is how you can repair your assist straps for under $8 a pair.
Buy 4 Raco Cable Protectors at less than $0.50 each. Home Depot may have them. I found mine at the local hardware store.
CableProtectInBox.jpg
Buy 3’ of 5/8†Black Poly Rope at Home Depot for less than $2.
Buy two packages of 3/4†– 3/8†black heat shrink tubing SKU #032076077655 at Home Depot for less than $4.
Cut the ears off the cable protectors.
CutEarsOff.jpg
Grind a pair of recesses into one end of the cable protectors.
Divets.JPG
Bend the cable protector off center so the teeth on one end will fit into the recesses of the other end.
BendOffcenter.jpg
Sear the end of the rope and smooth it out with a wetted gloved hand. Slide a trimmed piece of heat shrink tubing over the rope. Thread the cable protector onto the assist strap end. Place the rope into the cable protector and onto a pair of the teeth.
AddRope.jpg
SEE NEXT POST FOR SECOND HALF OF DIRECTIONS...
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Corey
'53 170B N3198A #25842
Floats, Tundra Tires, and Skis
My assist straps consisted of a steel chain inside of a piece of rubber hose covered by the upholstery material. The guy that reupholstered my interior recovered the straps to match.
'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.
A recent request makes me think some of us are still trying to find the handle attach ends or something similar and yes it might have something to do with age.
A note of caution ---- make sure the assist straps you attach to the front door posts have a cable or chain inside capable of handling enough weight for a oassenger to pull themselves up on it, I saw a guy take a nasty fall backwards when an assist stap broke.
n2582d wrote:Jere and Marge Verdone at http://www.verdones.com will make the end fittings out of stainless for $40 each. Marge suggested contacting Restoration Specialties Corp for making the cord grips. Like Forrest Walton, I bought a pair of new assist straps from J.W. Duff in Denver for $65/ea.
P1010645.JPG
If anyone needs a sample to make reproductions from send me a PM. Interestingly, I tried googling the number stamped on the cord grip. Turns out it is a patent number.
Cord Grip.jpg
The only thing I couldn't find online was where to buy these fittings.
I am looking for anywhere I can find some of the assist brackets. The link for the Verdone's does not seem to work, and I can't find them in the member directory. Can anyone suggest where I can get an original, or better yet, and steel reproduction of the assist strap bracket?
If you have a mounting bracket (even a broken one) to use as a pattern and feel industrious enough, you can fabricate some from 1/8inch SS plate. It takes a while using a hack or band saw, drill, numerous pattern files and crocus cloth. I made a pair that went for $30 at the convention silent auction. Also made one for my 170 that broke a few years ago. The stainless steel shines up just as good as the chromed originals.
Here's my solution. Bought the leather strapping, and lacing from a leather supply house. I then took the materials, including the attach fittings, to a shoe repair shop and they laced them up. They are very sturdy. Those of you who have met me would definitely agree to how strong they must be.
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Was the '52 B model the first 170 to come with assist straps? I seem to remember getting in more than one 50/51 models that did not have them. Seems you used a hand hold in the top of the glare shield (don't remember if it was on the side or in the middle) like the C-140's.
My 1951 A-Model has them, as well as the inst panel hand holds.
Last edited by hilltop170 on Tue Feb 04, 2014 2:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
2023 Best Original 170A at Sault Ste. Marie
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
The 48 IPS does not have them. They are listed in the A model IPC. No telling when they were made available. My '49 doesn't have them so it was either a '50 or '51 year addition.
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!
Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
Here is another option if the casting brackets are broken like they were on my 180. Make the part that bites into the rope like I detailed a few posts up, then go to the hardware store and buy a ring and some pre-drilled brackets. Put the ring in a vise to make it oval and bend the pre-drilled brackets around the ring. Assemble like detailed in the posts above and this is what it looks like:
IMG_2278.JPG
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Corey
'53 170B N3198A #25842
Floats, Tundra Tires, and Skis
Cessna® is a registered trademark of Textron Aviation, Inc. The International Cessna® 170 Association is an independent owners/operators association dedicated to C170 aircraft and early O-300-powered C172s. We are not affiliated with Cessna® or Textron Aviation, Inc. in any way.
