Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace

Ask Questions and Offer Advice Related to the Cessna 120 & 140 Type

Moderators: 6643, 6183, V529

Forum rules
You must be a member of the Cessna 120-140 Association in order to post new topics, reply to existing topics, or search for information on this forum. Use the "Join" link in the red menu bar.
Post Reply
rapple
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:14 am
Name:
Aircraft Type:
Occupation-Interests:
Contact:

Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace

Post 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
Attachments
_DSC5601.jpg
_DSC5601.jpg (53.9 KiB) Viewed 2281 times
_DSC5600.jpg
_DSC5600.jpg (52.89 KiB) Viewed 2281 times
_DSC5597.jpg
_DSC5597.jpg (51.9 KiB) Viewed 2281 times
User avatar
6643
Posts: 2326
Joined: Tue May 01, 2018 7:00 am
Location: KLCI
Name: John C
Aircraft Type: 1946 C140/C90
Occupation-Interests: A&P, semi-retired
Contact:

Re: Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace

Post 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.
User avatar
8233
Posts: 276
Joined: Wed May 02, 2018 6:52 pm
Location: Kansas City
Name: David Freeland
Aircraft Type: 1946 C120
Occupation-Interests: Program Management
Contact:

Re: Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace

Post 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.
David Freeland - CFII
1972 Bellanca Super Viking and 1946 Cessna 120
User avatar
6643
Posts: 2326
Joined: Tue May 01, 2018 7:00 am
Location: KLCI
Name: John C
Aircraft Type: 1946 C140/C90
Occupation-Interests: A&P, semi-retired
Contact:

Re: Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace

Post 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.
rapple
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:14 am
Name:
Aircraft Type:
Occupation-Interests:
Contact:

Re: Bottom Tail Skin Repair/replace

Post 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.
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 8 guests