I'm at last to the point of putting pieces onto NC55100 towards final re-build. The airplane, when I bought and disassembled it only had rudder pedal return springs on the front set. That must have been inadequate as some prior owner added a set of auto part store carb throttle return springs to help add some force...poory. The rear pedal pair didn't have springs. According to the J3 parts manual there are four required, two for the front and two for the rear. They are a real piece of work to get installed, handle the U clamps, and all the grease. I have a plan, having heard Magnus's nightmare tale about installing his. I'd like comments on my plan, or a better way.
I have four new springs. I've safety wired them so that each loop on the spring is pressed solidly against the other loops. So, they are now compact at least. I can remove the safety wire compression wires after installation. However, as compact as they are, the spring loops even squeezed together make a package a bit wider than the space betwee the pedal bracket and the verticle pedal bar. I see no option other than to grind a little of he pedal metal mounting tab on the fuselage, and to take a little smidge out of the bottom of the floor boar to make room for the loop bundle. Also, the end of the spring opposite the "hook" that goes behind the verticle pedal bar had to be bent a bit further around to even begin to allow installation where it lies up agains the forward edge of the pedal bar mounting tab. I hope my word description suffices.
I haven't yet done the grinding on the tab nor have I relieved the floorboard bottom yet in case I'm overlooking something very obvious that master restorers know.
So, comments, thoughts...my solution should work but there might be something better?? If someone thinks it will help me get to a better solution, I will supply some pix.
I have four new springs. I've safety wired them so that each loop on the spring is pressed solidly against the other loops. So, they are now compact at least. I can remove the safety wire compression wires after installation. However, as compact as they are, the spring loops even squeezed together make a package a bit wider than the space betwee the pedal bracket and the verticle pedal bar. I see no option other than to grind a little of he pedal metal mounting tab on the fuselage, and to take a little smidge out of the bottom of the floor boar to make room for the loop bundle. Also, the end of the spring opposite the "hook" that goes behind the verticle pedal bar had to be bent a bit further around to even begin to allow installation where it lies up agains the forward edge of the pedal bar mounting tab. I hope my word description suffices.
I haven't yet done the grinding on the tab nor have I relieved the floorboard bottom yet in case I'm overlooking something very obvious that master restorers know.
So, comments, thoughts...my solution should work but there might be something better?? If someone thinks it will help me get to a better solution, I will supply some pix.
