Cabin Entry Step

[Iceman07]

Need to replace the left-side Cabin-Entry step

Need a WAG of the labor involved.

Thanks

Rich Wegener

[170C]

Provided your step is virtually identical to my '56 172 which has the usual C-170 type boarding steps, there are four rivets to be drilled out on the outside of the fuselage which I am sure you have seen. The top of the step has a nutplate attached to it. One of the bolts that secures the seatbelt fitting to the floor of your cabin also screws into the nutplate of the boarding step. (I have forgotten whether its the forward bolt or the aft bolt) With average skills you should be able to remove the step in about a half hour. Hope this helps.

[Iceman07]

Yup, that's exactly what I wanted to hear, thanks, 170C

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I have repaired mine using steel molly from a discarded bicycle front fork leg which had the right airfoil shape and size as the stock part.

[170C]

Bruce, Orville & Wilbur would love your modification

[48RagwingPilot]

If the C170 is anything like the early C180's, the very top of the entry step attaches to a structural bolt that runs through the outboard seat rail. I would replace both the nut and bolt at changeover. Also, the rivets that attach the plate to the outside of the fuselage may be replaced with structural bolts rather than rivets.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Bruce, Orville & Wilbur would love your modification

It was not a modification. It was a repair using suitable material. A discarded bike was just the source of the material.

[170C]

Yea Bruce, either way those bicycle boys from Dayton (Orville & Wilbur) would sign off on your repair since the material came from a BICYCLE!!! Especially if the bicycle happened to be GREEN

[jlwild]

Does any one know the load bearing capacity of the Cabin Step Assembly. Although I replaced both right and left assembly's roughly 8 years ago, the question arose when I took a friend flying who weighed 360 pounds. The passenger side step held, but the thought crossed my mind as he boarded.

[n2582d]

Not sure what the step is rated to. I'd be asking myself the same question in your circumstance. F. Atlee Dodge has beefed up steps for sale. They may know how much weight the step can support.

+8013-01 cabin step 450x650_m.jpg (5.09 KiB) Viewed 16417 times

[170C]

Jim, I have a good friend here in TN that weighs 240/250. Second time he boarded my plane the step kinked about a couple of inches below the top. (I think he unknowingly placed too much horizontal pressure on the step) I looked at replacing it, but didn't like what I was finding or the price so another good friend took it to his shop, beefed it up internally, welded it back and now you can't tell that it was ever damaged and so far it has not given any trouble with vrs folks, including my first friend boarding numerous times.
Before moving from TX I noticed the section that you put your foot on, on both steps, appeared to have a crack at the point where the step portion is bent outward. Both of mine had been welded previously. A professional welder in Grand Prairie welded a small gusset to each of mine and so far that area has remained intact. These steps are hollow and would be much stronger if solid material were used to mfg them. A very slight weight penalty, but a much stronger unit.

[SteveF]

For what it is worth:

I am 310 lbs and never had any step problems with the 52B model I had for twelve years.
Seats and rollers always worked fine even though they were under a load.

I have a 1947 champ (tube and fabric) now and also no problems with the step on it.

[Joe Moilanen]

When mine broke I put an inner sleeve in it for strength. Spruce sells the 4130 steel aero-dynamic shaped tubing in various sizes, and the next smaller size fits perfectly inside of the step tubing. Better then having to put a "No Fat Chicks" placard on the side of the door. ( I'll bet that was politically incorrect.....)

Joe

[Kyle Wolfe]

I'm sure others do as well, but I keep a well made plastic stool in the hangar. I use this for almost any passenger for both ease as well as saving stress on the step as well as the assist strap (hard to find replacements!)

I recently had a 6'3" guy pushing 280+ and even though he's pretty agile it really makes entry and egress easy. And it fits in the baggage door well too!

[DaveF]

I'm 170 lb. and I don't like the way the step bends when I use it. But I guess I can stop worrying ...