Seat Rail replacement

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

Post Reply
Pavewlc
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 1:03 am

Seat Rail replacement

Post by Pavewlc »

Hi Ho,

So it looks like I need to replace the pilots seat rails this annual. As I went through the search of the posts I noticed my choices were original cessna rails or the McFarlane (sp?) rails.
Sure the McFarlane rails are "fatter" but as George put it in one post they'll last far longer than me, but so will the regular cessna rails. However, I can't seem to find the regular cessna rails any cheaper than the McFarlane rails.

Question: Are the cessna rails less expensive and if so where?

Cheers,
Lee
Lee Collins
1951 C170A
N1733D
User avatar
bradbrady
Posts: 209
Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2005 11:41 pm

Post by bradbrady »

Lee,
Ive never installed anything but McFarlanes....
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 21017
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Post by GAHorn »

The advantage of beefier rails is less chance of cracking due to heavy sitters. (The "successful look" stresses cabin floors and seat rails and crack them.)
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
mrpibb
Posts: 395
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 10:48 pm

Post by mrpibb »

As a person with "senority" I have the Mcfarlane rails on the pilot side, also installed their seat rollers. Mcfarlane is were we get our airbox repair kits and cables from also, good company to work with.
Vic
N2609V
48 Ragwing
A Lanber 2097 12 gauge O/U Sporting
A happy go lucky Ruger Red label 20 ga
12N Aeroflex
Andover NJ
http://www.sandhillaviation.com
Image

" Air is free untill you have to move it" BB.
User avatar
lowNslow
Posts: 1530
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2002 4:20 pm

Post by lowNslow »

I had heard that the seats do not roll easily on the McFarlane rails, any truth to this?
Karl
'53 170B N3158B SN:25400
ASW-20BL
mrpibb
Posts: 395
Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2003 10:48 pm

Post by mrpibb »

Karl, before I replaced the seat rollers, I did notice a little difficulty in moving the seat, but the rollers were worn so I contributed it to that. I notice no problems now.
Vic
N2609V
48 Ragwing
A Lanber 2097 12 gauge O/U Sporting
A happy go lucky Ruger Red label 20 ga
12N Aeroflex
Andover NJ
http://www.sandhillaviation.com
Image

" Air is free untill you have to move it" BB.
Pavewlc
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Feb 16, 2006 1:03 am

Post by Pavewlc »

Sounds like McFarlane is the way to go, along with the template, rollers and maybe the screw kit they carry. Seems like on stop shopping and be done with it.
Thanks for all the help!

Cheers,
Lee
Lee Collins
1951 C170A
N1733D
User avatar
Green Bean
Posts: 163
Joined: Tue May 06, 2003 2:13 am

Seat Rails

Post by Green Bean »

When you change your seat rails, if you put the old ones under the floor on the underside of your new rails you will really stiffen your floor and remove any flex from the weight applied at the seat level.
MeeksDigital
Posts: 79
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:52 am

Post by MeeksDigital »

i've got a mcfarlane seat rail in N5LP for the co-pilot seat with original seat rollers. i do notice that it's a bit more difficult to roll the seat back and forth but it really isn't a big deal to me. i wasn't aware of the rollers made by mcfarlane, i'll have to look into those, especially when i replace my left seat rails.
-Trevor Meeks

Filmmaker http://www.meeksdigitalstudios.com
Photographer http://www.meeksdigital.com

1950 Cessna 170A N5LP, Horton STOL, 180 Gear
Post Reply