The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I am looking for a Cessna seat back cam (allows the seat back to recline in one of several positions) Anyone happen to have one you don't need or know of a source that sells used ones at reasonable prices?

They were fitted to a number of models of early Cessna aircraft , Wentworth should have heaps of them . You will not have any trouble finding one at some of the other wreckers.

Cam is p/n 1414111-5 on vertically adjustable seats on s/n 17249545-17258486
Cam is p/n 1414230-1 on s/n 17249545-17272884 which corresponds to the 1963 through 1979 C-172.

Another alternative to the salvage yard is to google the part number you need. You'll find numerous places that have it for sale.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I just went through a search for these parts and have a couple in stock after a frustrating time---there are actually more than 2 versions it seems. Send me a private message with your phone number & I will call you.

Varel Freeman

I am happy to report that my seat back is repaired and working properly. Thanks to others with part numbers and similar issues I found out that there are at least three, maybe more, part numbers for the Cessna seat back cams (the curved items with three adjustments cut into them that permits the seat back to recline). Checking the usual sources I found most prices around $200 each (two needed) plus not knowing what part number I could have ended up with one or more set of cams that would have been unusable. A friend of mine offered to help me make the parts. My damaged ones were each two separate pieces riveted together and made from aluminum. (My pilot seat has solid/one piece cams--go figure ) I chose to produce my replacements with 1/4" steel ones. If one doesn't consider his labor or his friends labor I was able to make my two new cams for less than $5.00 not counting a couple of meals and other considerations. Had I had access to a milling machine the process would have been much easier, faster, etc. We spent parts of three days making mine with a band saw, drill press, table grinder and vrs hand tools. Thanks for all the suggestions!

Nice job, Frank, good solution. Your seat is better than new.

Frank,
Good to hear you were able to repair your seat back cam. I thought of your post when I ran across the following Service Letter recently. I'll post it here to archive it (although finding it under this title might be like finding a needle in a haystack).

That's interesting. I'll have to check my pawls as I think they are rounded.
Thanks
Frank

Frank-
What was the initial issue with your cams?

Although the cams look to be in good shape on my seats, the seat backs will slip to the most inclined position when the passenger leans back hard. I'm guessing the Service Bulletin would correct that problem?

Richard, a friend got into my plane and was unknowingly leaning back against the seat back (co-pilot seat) while moving the seat forward and two of the teeth on one cam and one tooth on the other cam broke off in addition to bending one of the cams. That particular seat's two cams were each made of two pieces of aluminum with two rivets holding them together in addition to the four rivets that held the cam in the seat back. My pilot seat back cams are made of one piece aluminum. Don't know why there was a difference, but we made replacement cams from 1/4" steel and secured them in the seat back with bolts rather than rivets. I have got to inspect the tips on all four pawls to see if they are rounded as depicted on the service bulletin.

I have become more aware of folks getting in my plane since this incident and notice that some try to change the angle of the back while their butt is pushing against the lower part of the seat back. This puts a lot of stress on those cams/pawls. I am trying to get folks to move themselves a bit forward before trying to adjust the back.