The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Hey Bruce, how hard is it to remove the step from my 170A so I can take it to a weld shop for repair?

If you can find someone to do it, it can be welded right on the plane. Preferably gas welding. I'm assuming the short step part broke.

There is a bolt which goes down through the edge of your seat track. This bolt attaches the top. It is a joy to get a wrench on the nut under the floor. Then there are the rivets around the plate at the fuselage. Remove the bolt, drill the rivets and the step comes right out.
I've welded mine right on the plane. I welded it better after I removed it from the plane. And if you are looking for tube of the oblong airfoil shape about the correct size and probably for free. look know farther than your junk bike pile.
This is the fork I was saving to fix the other step.

As Bruce sez, finding the correct tubing is hard as the "New " stuff is 4130 and differing dimensions. You might have to get two new ones that match made or go on line looking such as Barnstormers.com place an add.

Another source: http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/m ... ckkey=3505

So I am assuming that a phone call to Cessna or Cessna parts dealer would be to no avail in purchasing a new replacement step.

Is there any law that requires an aircraft manufacturer to provide replacement parts for a specified period of time?




Regards

IIRC both Atlee Dodge and McFarlane carry them new.

That's one expensive step!
I could burn a whole lot of acetylene learning how to weld one myself for that price.

TIG rocks.

Most metal supply firms carry tube like material that is very similair to that which our steps are made of. You could purchase sufficient stock and make your own. It would likely be stronger than what was on originally. "Owner Produced Parts"

When mine broke I purchased the new tubing stock from Spruce as George posted. It is exactly the same tubing size. Mine broke part way up the long piece (not by the weld as they usually do) so I also bought a piece one size smaller that fit inside the standard new piece for strength. I drilled a couple of holes in the outer piece, rosette welded the holes, the splice, dressed it down and you can't tell the difference. It'll never break there again!

Joe

Just adding some photos of one way the steps can break.

I found mine had corroded internally and snapped at the r/h step weld. It broke when most of my weight was on it and it shredded my jeans and later a nasty infection on my leg which took 4 months to heal. Mc Farlane supplied a new one . Costly but a goodie

ghostflyer wrote:I found mine had corroded internally and snapped at the r/h step weld. It broke when most of my weight was on it and it shredded my jeans and later a nasty infection on my leg which took 4 months to heal. Mc Farlane supplied a new one . Costly but a goodie

That’s something I think about each time I swing my fat self into the seat… worry about the step…and the doorpost-strap held by those little #10 screws into a rivnut…. depositing me onto the ramp with a gash in the leg and a concussion.