Door Handles, o rings etc, gascolator parts help

cfiatzph · Post by **cfiatzph** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:08 pm

Where is the best place to get door handles for a '54 C-170? How about the o rings for the primer/fuel selector? In addition how about the seal on the gascolator? I don't think spruce carrys any of this stuff.

Thanks

wingnut · Post by **wingnut** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 2:18 pm

For the gascolator gasket you can use T308-2. It is a neopreme type material; reuseable. It's available from API 800-950-0111

doug8082a · Post by **doug8082a** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:36 pm

Door handles are 40s vitage automotive. You can check the salvage yards, or if you don't mind the appearance being slightly dierent from original, you can get a replacement from some of the vintage auto restoration supply houses.

Check http://www.chevsofthe40s.com Folks have bought replacements from them in the past. Do a search in the forum here for chevsofthe40s and you should find a thread that specifies the part number.

N2865C · Post by **N2865C** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 5:29 pm

The Gascolator gasket is available from Cessna for a few bucks.
The '54 door handle is different than earlier models if you are a stickler for originality. It is larger and a different shape. I'm not sure offhand when the change started. I know someone that has an extra set of the handles from Chevies of the Forty's that might be willing to sell them. They are the skinny old style handles. I'll check with him if you are interested.

Post by **GAHorn** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:33 am

The gascolator gasket has been discussed before...you might try a search. But I can warn you against making your own out of anything other than rubberized cork.... many rubber gasket mat'ls are actually EPDM and will shrink inwardly. When that gasket suddenly becomes wrinkled up like you sat in the bathtub too long and shrinks smaller than the O.D. of the glass while inflight.... ALL your gas goes into the slipstream and you become a glider with a poor glide-ratio.
The genuine Cessna part costs less than $3 last I checked.

lowNslow · Post by **lowNslow** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 5:07 am

I believe I have the handles of which N2865C speaks (actually I think he has them). Anyway, they are ones I ordered when I thought the chrome shop would not be able to restore my originals but they turned out beautiful. The extras are just slightly different then the originals but very very close. I do not have an extra set of escutcheons, but you can get those from the Chevy shop mentioned above - they are not the same but close enough. If you are interested, just PM me.

N2865C · Post by **N2865C** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:53 am

lowNslow wrote:I believe I have the handles of which N2865C speaks (actually I think he has them)..

Yep, they are still sitting on my table....... I'll be expecting a large commission if you sell them

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:03 pm

I had to replace my gascolator gaskets and found out that the early 205 used the same gasket in their gascolator. My FBO had them in stock. They use a different part number for the gasket than the 170 did.

MoonlightVFR · Post by **MoonlightVFR** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:50 am

I wanted to second the gascalator comment gasket made by G A Horn.

It seems so simple that I suspect many persons don't give the gascolator very much thought. The glass bowl makes it Look like a tractor part or old Cushman motor scooter.

Even when using the proper part number gasket problems have been known to develop because it is not seated properly. Some times intermittently it will unseat and allow air into system and this stops fuel flow to engine.

Twenty years ago this gasket wasbeing replaced on my 170 and I was with the A& P mechanic doing the install. He tried to drain fuel from gascolator into the cup and it would not come out. We immediately looked at each other with a startled and quizzical expression. New gasket, new install, safety wired and almost runway ready. No fuel flow.

George's comment about an in flight gasket deterioration tuning you into a glider pilot with streamingl tanks is very serious scenario.

Another aircraft (non Cessna) used the same gascolator w a diff style bracket from firewall and after 30 years the aircraft began getting a reputation for fuel starvation about 200 ft in the air after take off. I cannot remember the aircraft make.

Gascolator talk brings a question to mind. Could it be possible that some off airport incidents deemed to be "CARB ICE" actually be Gascolator Gasket?

Any comment?

regards

blueldr · Post by **blueldr** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:13 am

My local NAPA store has rubbreized cork gaskets that fit my gascolator.

N2865C · Post by **N2865C** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:51 am

MoonlightVFR wrote:The glass bowl makes it Look like a tractor part

I suspect it may have been........ You can still get gascolators that fit 120/140's at a John Deere parts counter.

Our airplanes were manufactured using cutting edge 1940's tractor technology....... Your points about proper gasket material and installation are excellent

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:02 pm

I believe it's the John Deere model 60 that used that gascolator as well