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Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 3:21 pm
by rapple
HI,
I have a 1947 140 that has some cracks on the top rear left side of the skin. The right side was repaired more than 40 years ago. We are wondering if anyone has a source for the preformed skin? it is P/N 0412118 skin station 173.4-200.3 from the parts manual.
We have already replaced the tailwheel assembly and will replace the attachment bracket, when we deal with the skin.
Thanks
Rick
cell 403-560-5991
Alberta, Canada
Re: Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:24 pm
by 6643
If you don't want to put another patch on it, I would remove the skin and make a wooden form for each end, then bend a new skin around the wooden forms. It's a flat piece and a simple shape, so it should be easy to form.
Re: Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:10 pm
by 8233
While you are there, you might want to look at the tailwheel mount bracket. That should be installed with rivets versus bolts I believe.
John, you can probably explain it better but I seem to remember that bolts leave potential for some play if the holes are not the exact size and the rivets will expand to fit whatever the space is.
Re: Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace
Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 9:36 pm
by 6643
Yes, the rivets expand to fill the holes. Unless you ream the bolt holes to size they will never fit as tightly.
BTW, I don't understand what you said about rep;acing the tail wheel bracket before the skin; the bracket is on top of the skin.
Re: Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace
Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2021 11:53 pm
by rapple
Hi John,
I have been told that a tailwheel assembly that does not steer and release properly can cause the tailwheel bracket to crack and eventually the skin to fail. All I was saying was that the steerable tailwheel had been changed and we are now looking to replace the tailwheel bracket and either repair/patch or replace the skin.