Light Aircraft Association

Many thanks Bertrand and I appreciate all your advice. Although I have read items regarding the properties of 4130N many times in the past, it is not easy to remember the details when working with the metal is merely a hobby and it is useful to be reminded of the correct procedures. In all the circu...

Many thanks Bill. That sounds like wise counsel to me and I will suggest this to my welder.

Ian

My plans call for a number of 4130N steel washers to be brazed to the wing fittings to locally reinforce the areas around vital holes. A number of fabricated steel shackles require the adjoining "faces" to be brazed. These are obviously critical components. The aircraft welder who will be welding an...

Many thanks Tony. Instinct has been telling me not to mess about with the bore of the cylinder.

Ian

Could anyone offer advice as to how best I might service my "Pull" type Cleveland master cylinders? I have the Parker drawings, parts lists and kits of "O" rings etc. for my 10-23 cylinders. I also have the benefit of an old broken cylinder of similar type and the innards look fairly straightforward...

The only source I know of in the U.K. is Dudley Pattison and if I need any spruce in future I will buy it from Dudley. A few years ago I corresponded with Jeremy Freeland at Collars. He was very helpful and interested in my project and would have supplied me, but in the end I went to Western Aircraf...

Many thanks Brian and I'll give Aluminium Warehouse a try. I'm sure steel would be better, but maybe galvanic corrosion would be an issue if I replaced the top plate only, although I should think it would be OK if I primed and painted it thoroughly? - The rest of the box is aluminium as far as I can...

I'm looking for an offcut of aluminium alloy to repair a carburettor heat box - the top plate has cracked again. Ideally I need about 1 foot x 6" ( that may be a bit generous) and a minimum of 0.063" thickness for something like 2024/6061. Thicker would be better, up to around a maximum of 0.125". T...

Ian, By coincidence, earlier today, I looked at some of the Starrett holesaws I have and realised I could easily remove the 1/4" drill piece in the arbor and replace it with a stepped shaft that I should be able to machine in my elderly lathe, with care. I'd need 2 new rods - 1/4"dia. at the top and...

Ian, Ideally I need the following, preferably from 4130N steel or an equivalent that is at least as beefy: # OD ID Thickness 16 3/4" 6mm 0.063" 16 5/8" 6mm 0.063" 8 1/2" 6mm 0.050" 8 1/2" 4.5mm 0.050" Tolerance/thickness isn't really critical; as already described, they will be brazed in place on th...

I need 48 non-standard size steel washers to complete my wing spar fittings: they have to be brazed in place before reaming holes to size. To save a lot of time I planned to have these laser or water jet cut. The last quote for laser cutting was for £90 + VAT, so it looks as though I shall be floggi...

I used a GRP tailspring on my Taylor Mono, using the Pazmany book as a source of guidance. Used layers of MDF to make a mold and Roger Target laminated the spring for me. It was much lighter than the old steel cart spring, but was very "bouncy" when taxiing. At the same time, I made a locking tailwh...

Many thanks Pete and Mike - I'm becoming more confidant with the benefit of your tips!

Ian

Many thanks Ian & I'll keep that in mind.

Ian

Many thanks Mike and I will follow your excellent advice. I did manage to clean up my spraygun quite well, using toothpicks to remove some stubborn old paint that had escaped attention before, after watching a helpful video on the web. A few judicious blasts of compressed air also removed quite a fe...