The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

I am restoring a 1947 C-140 and have purchased a new set of Cleavland wheels and brakes. I tried to mount the brakes today but the fitting that holds the caliper assembly holds the assembly 5/16” away from the rotor. The fitting is mounted between the gear leg and the aluminum axel. What am I missing? The axel nut screws on to where there will be no problem getting a cotter pin installed. Will I need a different axel?
Steve Hawley, Bull Swamp, SC.

Try turning the torque plates around?

I may not understand your issue so my suggestion may be worth about as much as what you paid for it, but have you tried to actuate the brakes after assembly? I found that there is a gap between the pad and rotor that takes up once you apply the brakes. I just went through this a couple of weeks ago after changing a flat tire.

That may not be your issue but thought I would throw it out there

Mike

The picture David placed on the request made all the difference and the plane is now on its gear, the first time in over 40 years! Yesterday I completely disassembled the control column, removed all 72 year old hard grease and dirt, oiled, painted, and reassembled it. Sure glad I took several e pictures before I took it apart! This plane had been converted to tricycle gear back in the 60s and then used hard and put to bed wet. I am returning it to the way it should be. It will never be a show plane but it will be a very solid clean airplane. This is number 23 of the planes I have restored. My last one was a Bucker Jungman.
Steve

A 140 converted to tricycle gear? Say it ain't so, sacrilege!

I don't suppose you have any pictures in that configuration?

Met-Co-Aire had (has, if you're interested) an STC. I've seen one. They're fugly! Sort of like a metal Tri-Pacer.

I believe you John, I bet it is ugly. I would only be interested to make fun of it

I don’t have any pictures of the plane when it was nose wheel equipped but it had already been converted back to a tail wheel when I bought the project. The plane was flipped on its back in the 80s and the landing gear box was tweaked on both sides so I rebuilt the whole section. An interesting thing I discovered, the conversion used a 150 engine mount, only four attach points at the fusalage so I had to buy a 140 mount. I replaced the belly skin under the cabin, there were 14 jillion rivet holes in it!
Steve

Here is a picture on one I had that was a nosewheel airplane years ago.

Here is picture from a few years ago. The balloon is not attached.