The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Can anyone tell me where I can find a maintenance manual for a 1955 170B.
Was there even a manual for this airplane or is the pre 63 series 100 manual what is used( legal) ? Thank you, Robert

I see I have 60 veiws ,but no replys. What do you guys or your mechanics use when you do maintenance on your 170's?
Thanks ,Rob

Robert Harik wrote:Can anyone tell me where I can find a maintenance manual for a 1955 170B.
Was there even a manual for this airplane or is the pre 63 series 100 manual what is used( legal) ? Thank you, Robert

You're right - there is no 170 maintenance manual, but a lot of the information for pre-1963 172s is applicable. See http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... f=2&t=6524.

Sorry Robert. I viewed but didn't post.

As you know or should by now there is no maintenance manual specifically for any of the 170s. Closest thing is the 63 and prior 100 series service manual.

Thanks for the replys and information.
Is the pre 63 series 100 manual ok with the FAA to use as the 170's legal service manual when doing work on the airplane?
Thank you , Rob

Robert Harik wrote:Thanks for the replys and information.
Is the pre 63 series 100 manual ok with the FAA to use as the 170's legal service manual when doing work on the airplane?
Thank you , Rob

Yes as long as you use the Type Certificate Data Sheets in conjunction with the 100 series manual. V/R Doug

Thanks everybody
Rob

I also might add that you must have the applicable owners manual also according to the TCDS. V/R Doug

Robert Harik wrote:Can anyone tell me where I can find a maintenance manual for a 1955 170B.
Was there even a manual for this airplane or is the pre 63 series 100 manual what is used( legal) ? Thank you, Robert

Robert,
The only information that I know of to maintain our aircraft is the TCD sheets, and AC43.13. You used the word "legal" in regard to the 100 series maintenance manual......I would have said use it without any problem, without the word "legal". That gets us into another realm of thinking......one that I despise. The 100 series maintenance manual is the only step by step thing we have that everyone has access to.....AC43.13 is so specific in the work on a certain part, and so general in overall maintenance that it is just unusable. The final word would be....What are you, and your APIA willing to accept. Brad

Brad Brady wrote:

Robert Harik wrote:Can anyone tell me where I can find a maintenance manual for a 1955 170B.
Was there even a manual for this airplane or is the pre 63 series 100 manual what is used( legal) ? Thank you, Robert

Robert,
The only information that I know of to maintain our aircraft is the TCD sheets, and AC43.13. You used the word "legal" in regard to the 100 series maintenance manual......I would have said use it without any problem, without the word "legal". That gets us into another realm of thinking......one that I despise. The 100 series maintenance manual is the only step by step thing we have that everyone has access to.....AC43.13 is so specific in the work on a certain part, and so general in overall maintenance that it is just unusable. The final word would be....What are you, and your APIA willing to accept. Brad

Your right ,it bothers me too when doing something legal becomes more important than doing something right.
What were trying to do, is do both.
My friend just got his A and P, and I am about to take my oral and practicle so we are trying to do things by the book(CYA).
We want to take the plane up to Alaska this july.
The engine has been rebuilt and is about to go back on and we are going over the plane getting it ready for the trip.

Thanks, Rob

Cessna 170s are from the old days when there weren't so many books. The 100-series manual came later, and it covers the first 172s. There are not very many differences between a 1955 C170B and a 1956 C172, and if you know what those are, you can use the 100 series service manual (1962 and prior) intelligently. We have a mostly accurate Illustrated Parts Catalog for the 170B, and that, in combination with the service manual and an IPC for the early 172, will help a mechanic discover the precise differences. As far as I know, the differences between a 1955 170B and a 1956 172 are limited to the landing gear, engine mount, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and rudder pedal and cable connections to the tailwheel vs. nosewheel. If there are other differences, someone here will probably chime in and point them out.

You should also have a 1955 owner's manual, because that contains some maintenance instructions. You have to use all these sources, along with the TCDS, intelligently and with some common sense and knowledge of acceptable practices. It ain't like a newer model aircraft, where everything you do to it might be documented in such detail that a mechanic doesn't have to think about anything.

None of the tailfeathers are the same. The 56 172 had both gearboxes installed initially, and it had an openable RH window standard, while on the 56 170 that was an option. The other differences that come to mind are the interior trim panels of the 172 were plastic instead of metal. Shortly after introduction, the 172 modified the fuel vent system and went to electric gauges.

jrenwick wrote:You should also have a 1955 owner's manual, because that contains some maintenance instructions. You have to use all these sources, along with the TCDS, intelligently and with some common sense and knowledge of acceptable practices. It ain't like a newer model aircraft, where everything you do to it might be documented in such detail that a mechanic doesn't have to think about anything.

John,
Very well put....I forgot to mention the 170 owners manual....(IE.. the only service manual we have) But as you said, doing things with intelligence and common sense is the way to maintain our aircraft. The real crux of the situation is the new-bees that are coming into the Frey...(I mean no disrespect to you Robert....or any one else, But you are used to see every thing in print in front of you....and make sense out of what Cessna or whoever has printed, as John pointed out ) Once you get your AP you will see what I'm saying......sometimes the stuff just isn't there....and you need to devise your own way around a certain situation..... And it just keeps getting more interesting......Brad

One minor item George. The 56 172 did not have an openable RH window. Cessna cheapened (is that a correct word ) both 56 models by excluding the openable window. I wasn't aware of the option for the openable window on the 56 170, but I don't "think" it was an option on the 172---if so I haven't seen one . Of course I think Cessna made RH rudder pedals an option on the 56 170, but did you ever see one without them? I replaced my doors on my 56 172 so I could have the RH window to open (pretty expensive option). Not sure when they went to electric fuel gauges---maybe in 1960? I don't think there were any differences in the engine mount between the 56 170/172, but of course the 172 has a doubler thingey to accomodate the nose wheel.

Bran pharrt That's correct about the doors. I had a call from an owner of a 56 B-model that had no right-side controls, requesting (TIC170A) supply control components to upgrade his to dual controls. He never called back, tho'. Montana airplane.