The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I am still working on my tailwheel. I talked to Air Repair and they recommended putting on the new style bracket with the long fingers, as it was a service letter. It was reasonably priced so I told them to send it. When it showed up it looked like the bracket that is currently installed. So I went to putting in the new springs. They sent four springs with the kit, but there are only three on this airplane, 1948 model. The plate that goes over the springs that bolts to the rear vertical stab. is cracked so I was going to put on the new one that came with the kit. One bolt in the spar came right out the other jsut spins. It looks to me like the entire tail group will have to come off to get the one nut out.

So, I guess the question is: How many springs do I use?

Thanks,
Ryan

Ryan
I THINK I know which part you are talking about.If not forgive me.I have a 1952 B.I just installed this bracket assy.In a B model parts book it is on page 48,#36.That pc. is thru bolted with nuts on the inside as per the Cessna service kit.When I did mine I put 2 nutplates on the inside for the very reason you are stating.I do not know if it is legal,but I have seen a inspection cover installed in the aft skin(#15)then you could reach inside and get access to the nuts.IF this is what you were talking about I hope this helps.

Mike,

That is the part I was refering to. I'm not sure exactly what I have and what I need. Everything bolted up nice, except the u clip that has the alignment dowel on it. It appears to be too short. Also, when we set the airplane back on the ground, the springs appear to have too much arc on them. I remember someone telling me that would be a problem with the L-19 spring. I got the top piece bolted on by reaching through the rudder cable exit with a long extension and wobble socket. I don't have the B model parts book to look all of this up to figure out what I have and what I should have.

Any more help would be appreciated,
Ryan

Download the parts manual from this link:

http://www.micro-tools.com/pdf/cessna/170b_pm.pdf

The 170 IPC calls for five leafs on the 1948 model four leafs are
listed for A& B models
170 IPC is available from free cessna manuals.com (A& B is also available)

from the 170 IPC


20-74 0542106 Leaf – Tailwheel Spring
20-75 0542105 Leaf – Tailwheel Spring
20-76 0442108-2 Leaf – Tailwheel Spring
20-77 0442109-2 Leaf –Tailwheel Spring
20-78 0442107 Leaf- Tailwheel spring

Ryan...sorry to be so blunt, but..come on. You are working on an airplane you don't even have a Parts Catalog for? What are you doing? Re-inventing the wheel?

Just because a particular place happens to sell parts...doesn't mean they know anything about YOUR airplane! (And now you have a bracket you don't need. Donate it to the association, and someone might be able to buy it at the auction at this years convention. See the Flypaper.)

Sorry to be so hard on you... There's just NO WAY to work on (or even discuss) these things without the documentation such as the IPC. An IPC would have shown you which bracket you have. (Apparently not the early one yours originally came with.... Apparently yours has already been replaced.)

And...... that upper bracket/plate WILL CRACK if you install a L-19 leaf spring in a 170 bracket....DESPITE the good-intentioned advice of some folks who'd like to advise you that bigger is better and L-19 springs is good on a 170. Don't believe it! Put the appropriate parts on the airplane. (My own opinionated 2-cents.)

If you're an A&P, you know you're supposed to have the appropriate manuals for the airplane available in order to do the work. If you're not, the work will have to be bootlegged (unlogged), or some other person will have to sign it off. A mechanic with the authority to do such would be rather foolish if it was known the work was done "by guess and by god!", and no manuals were consulted.

I do have the parts book for the '48 170. What it shows is not what is on my airplane when it was rebuilt. I have received two sets of springs, one for a 170 and the other apparently was a mixed bag of L-19 springs. So, not being and expert and all, I was slightly confused, when nothing I ordered fit the airplane or matched what was on it. I have it all straightened out now and flying again.

Thanks anyway,
Ryan