The DOOR STEWARD

[GAHorn]

Here's a You Tube video which shows one in operation. (It appears to slightly limit the angle of opening, but perhaps that's not an important matter for folks slimmer than myself...)

I have no idea what the presenter means by his derogatory comment about Cessna door-limiter parts falling inside the door when the door is removed. Does anyone else? (Oh, wait.... perhaps he means the late-Cessna models which used a short, internal rod/strip which attaches to the forward door frame. This comment would not apply to 170 models.)

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... CL_FaRMPeg

[Brad Brady]

Richard is right, I have installed several. Mostly on 182 and 172's. The 172's have a convoluted locking spring, that seams to wear out easily. causing the door to stop, yet never stay open. The spring has also caused cracks in the doubler behind the lower hinge in the door post. The Door Steward elevates this pressure on the door ( I've seen many doors with the spring outline on the lower door) and the doubler on the door post. Properly installed I recommend this system.

[Brad Brady]

When the spring pushes against the stop pin it puts pressure on the door, allowing the spring to cut a groove in the inside of the door adjacent to the spring. Your right on correcting my spelling errors.

[hilltop170]

............It appears to slightly limit the angle of opening.............

Depending on where the Door Steward brackets are positioned, the door travel could be limited. But, if positioned properly, the door will open to its full travel just short of bumping the strut.

[tweiss]

For $300+ the door stewards are truly one of the most luxurious items I have ever added to the 170. I installed them myself (w/ IA looking over my shoulder of course) and have been enjoying them ever since I opened the box they arrived in.

True you can make the adjustment during installation on how far you want the door to open. I chose to have mine swing as far open as possible without touching the strut. My doors already had the strut impression in both doors, probably from a wind event in the past, but with almost 12,000hrs on the airframe what could be expected. If I lived in a windy place, I would have probably made the adjustment to hold it more short of the strut.

I was skeptical myself of the claim that the door is more secure from the wind in the open position. It's obvious when looking at it that if allowed to sit open in the wind, the door would really work over the whole door steward system in an undesirable way. However in the case of that initial wind that catches you off guard with the door open, you remove the chance for the wind to swing your door from the near closed position until it crashes against the door stop with that sickening sound most of us know. Either way, I always try to secure my doors (closed) when the plane is out of reach.

As far as removing the doors, the struts come with a c-clip as mentioned above that secures the strut socket and ball together. After 3 yrs. I have still not attached them with no problems. Before I remove the door, I just pull up on one or both ends of the strut and it comes off easily.

I think they are an amazing addition to the airplane, and I don't think you will be disappointed either.

[mongo2]

I am installing the door stewards, but my wings and struts are not installed currently, so judging the location of the door mounted bracket is difficult.
Does anyone have a measurement as to where the bracket should be place in order to provide maximum opening without hitting the strut? I can place it with full extension of the gas strut , but without the strut there, it may be a mistake. I'd just like to finish the install, door panels and all.....

Rick

[bagarre]

I'd be really hesitant to do the install without the strut.
Every door seems to be a little bit different and the strut clearance is only 1/4 inch. You'll be in a miserable place if you get the measurement wrong.

I'm in a similar boat as I bought the door steward weeks ago but Im waiting for my new interior to install the door bracket.

[KS170A]

I elected to keep the original door catch brackets installed on mine when I installed the door stewards. Main reason was to help prevent damage should a strong gust of wind catch the open door and try to rip it off.

[GAHorn]

One of the common problem is leaving doors open on ramps. The doors are fragile and can be easily warped/damaged. (Keep 'em closed when not actually in use.... even when loading unloading the car.)