The International Cessna 170 Association

I have some superficial rust on the leaf springs of my tailwheel assembly I'm looking to deal with.

Any recommendations on the following:

1) Spray to remove corrosion?
2) Spray to prevent corrosion?

What does everyone recommend for spraying on this to prevent future corrosion? My aircraft lives outdoors. I usually rub a light coat of engine oil on exposed steel, but maybe there's a better solution? Preferably something I can get from the local hardware store

And yet another way to hook up tail wheel steering. Buy a new stack. I just broke the main leaf pulling the plane out of the snow. looks like it may have had a crack.

The condition of the springs prompts me to recommend complete replacement. The surface hardening treatment of the springs is adversely affected by corrosion converter chemicals and if they fail you will likely find expensive rudder repair will result, as the chained tailwheel beats your rudder to death. (Cessna warns against using paint stripper also due to possible hydrogen embrittlement on all landing gear springs.)
Aircraft Spruce and Univair are good sources. Polyurethane paint is good for future protection.

Yup, Mit you might have a point there.
Reece you'll have a nice plane after you've finished looking.
WD-40 has a product that's supposed to stick rather than run off.

superficial rust

. That's a difficult conclusion when it comes to spring steel. You might have run past, what some might suggest is a 500 hour replacement interval.

Anybody know if you can get the little steel tit that goes in the third spring?

No Mit, I don’t know where you can get an OEM part butI think most just fabricate it in the same fashion that is shown in Resse’s photo of his tailwheel spring pack albeit his looks a little rough.

c170b53 wrote:No Mit, I don’t know where you can get an OEM part butI think most just fabricate it in the same fashion that is shown in Resse’s photo of his tailwheel spring pack albeit his looks a little rough.

I thought it looks over kill too. Guess we just need a good machinist to start making them. Mine is still usable but for how much longer, I don't know.

I'll take the advice and order a new set.

Is anyone able to advise me on a complete kit to order? Plane is 1956 170b serial # 25074

In the IPC, the P/N's are:

0542106
0542105
0442108-2
0442109-2

install a T3 dual shock tailspring from Dan Dufelt. supercubsnorth.com one of the best changes to the ole girl you could do. it bolts right in place of the original spring.

JP

reecewallace wrote:I'll take the advice and order a new set.

Is anyone able to advise me on a complete kit to order? Plane is 1956 170b serial # 25074

In the IPC, the P/N's are:

0542106
0542105
0442108-2
0442109-2

Univair I just got a set. $ 260

Leafsprings: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... ey=3010020

Steering springs: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... ey=3010020

GAHorn wrote:Leafsprings: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... ey=3010020

Steering springs: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... ey=3010020

Thanks

Reece, I can not recommend you buy a whole new set. Due to time loss of manufacturing specs have gotten muddy as well as material availability has lead to considerable thickness variances of the springs you will receive today. Unfortunately I would give your chances of receiving a new spring pack that will actually fit as being ZERO. Univair is the only manufacture fo these springs. If you buy them elsewhere, unless they are new old stock from Cessna, the came from Univair. Univair knows there is a problem with thickness of their springs. Last I talked to Steve Dyer, President of Univair about it they are doing the best they can with the known knowledge they have within the limits of material availability to support our 170 spring needs. BTW it is not just Univair, I have in my possession, a "kit" of NOS Cessna springs bought from Air Repair that will not fit in the NOS bracket it came with.

At the most I would buy the bottom main spring only. I'd clean and paint your other springs and reuse them. It is not rocket science. Clean them and paint them with a good primer and paint. I like the Professional Grade Rust-Oleum Professional grade enamels. https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-23910 ... B0010P63NC. The darker gray is nearly the same color Cessna used at the factory.

Paint and give it a few days to fully cure.

Is this the tit you are needing?: https://www.ebay.com/itm/264711756493?e ... SwFHZaxRyE