The International Cessna^® 170 Association

When did Cessna switch from the rounded polished aluminum rudder pedals to the updated squared off pedals? I looked in the parts manual for a 1950 170A and it shows rounded pedals. My plane has the square pedals and there is no documentation or indication that they were ever switched. Just curious....

Mike

My 1951 C170A has the round pedals.

Here is a clue Mike. No 170 came from the factory with square pedals. There were two types of round pedals. Your A model should have the early type. This is another part that both styles are so similar than many don't realize there are two different types.

I believe there were THREE types of rudder pedals in the 170. The first 48 models had short-top C-140 types, with "fillers", half-round supports for the arch of your foot. The A-model had larger rounded-top with straight/flat pads (where the ball of your foot fits) and the latest type after B-model serial 20609 had rounded tops with curved pads.
They were all stamped.
Later C172 aircraft were equipped with cast aluminum w/raised tread "square" types.

Ok...I guess they're not square. But they are not rounded....if that makes sense.

Would these have been the original pedals?

No, those are the later C-172 pedals circa POST-1962.
If your rudder pedals are not logged, then I recommend you simply have your A&P (or even better, the last A&P/IA who signed off the last annual or the next one) make an entry in your logbook "Found installed, Cessna rudder pedals PN XXXXXXX in lieu of originals. Installation is airworthy IAW later installations, and a minor alteration." or words to that effect.

No Mike, those are not original.

George is right I just did the research. Serial 18000 to 18317 (early '48 models) used part # 0412482. Serial 18318 to 19183 (later '48 to nearly all '49 A models) used part number #0310450. Serial 19184 to 20609 ( a hand full of '49 and on A models and the first 352 '52 B models) used #0310452. Serial 20610 and on (most B models) use #0310453.

gahorn wrote:No, those are the later C-172 pedals circa POST-1962.

Didn't Johnny Williams also make and sell pedals which look like this?

Johnny refurbished/re-bushed later 172 pedals and sold them for replacement purposes.

Thanks guys....Not sure why someone would change those out. Looks like I need to start searching for some pedals...And to think, I was just at the salvage yard last week.

When searching for pedals, look closely at the pivots, which wear out from vibration. You'll likely have to bush them. I think Tom Downey used to perform that service... right, Tom?

(If you send me an email to remind me this Friday, I'll look at the assoc'ns junk pile in my hangar. There used to be a set or two in there.... but I recall sending at least one complete set out to another Member who needed rightside brakes on his '56.

Will do George...thanks for looking!

Mike

Mostly the stamped out sheet metal rudder pedals were replaced due to bushing wear and subsequent looseness. The later Cessnas went to cast plastic pedals that I've never seen wear out.

C170U2 wrote:Thanks guys....Not sure why someone would change those out. Looks like I need to start searching for some pedals...And to think, I was just at the salvage yard last week.

Mike-
I have at least two of the original rudder pedals from my 1951 A. They were removed due to pivot wear. I'm in Ohio right now on a C-195 ferry trip but will look in my parts box and take pictures of what I have when I get home on Saturday if you need them.

Even the C-120's had different rudder pedals. The '46 models had what appears to be cast pedals. Really sharp looking. I don't know if all 120's had them or not. Also not sure what the earlier model 140's had. The '48 I trained in had the sheet metal ones and the '50 model I owned had the stamped ones. My '56 172 had stamped ones as well, but I changed them out for the cast ones as your shoes don't wear the paint off and (just me) I think the cast ones look better, but they are likely heavier.