The International Cessna^® 170 Association

At annual I finally decided to fix my cowl latches once and for all (at least for my lifetime). I bought the DIP DAVIS latches and they came today. They look beautiful and came with all the paperwork. I plan to install them this weekend and will let you know how they turn out.

Keep us posted, I'm going to use the same latches when I get around to rebuilding my cowl. Let me know what you think of them and if you run into any install quirks.

I installed a set of Dip Davis' latches on a 140 that I used to own. I thought they were brilliant in their simplicity and they were very easy to install. As I recall, it took maybe an hour and a half to install all four. Once installed, they were very secure in flight.

I have flown a 170 with the standard cowl latches that came loose in flight and watched the cowl twist and turn in front of the windshield. It was not fun. The latches did not have pins, similar to safety pins, to keep the latches from opening. Later when I bought my 170 it had the safety pins but the latches wore out, the parts were hard to get, the pins were a pain to deal with in the cold, etc.

I got a set of Davis latches and had them installed in a couple of hours by an A&P. Every time I use them now I think how much I like them. They are secure, sturdy, and very easy to use. I am very pleased with the outcome and do personally highly recommend them.

Another change I have made to my 170 is the addition of Bass reel shoulder harnesses. Though they are pricey I have been very happy with their addition to the plane.

SteveF
52 170B
SN# 20505

Note that the Dip Davis latches are only for the 48-52 model cowls, not for the later model smaller access door, which use Hartwell latches.

Miles

I've got my cowling off for repairs due to a broken latch. I can I order the Dip Davis latches? Looked in all the catalogs and Google but no joy.

Larry

You didn't do a "search" for "dip and davis and latches" , didja?

http://cessna170.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... is+latches

Includes a picture and contact info.

STC # SA01139CH
W.D. "Dip" Davis
411 Pawnee Trail
Marengo, IL 60152
815-568-6811

Thanks George.

Larry

My fix was to drill through the lower half of the cowl latch and fasten a #10 stud there then drill a clearance hole through the upper half of the latch and after closing it the regular way, screw a knurled nut down onto latch. Never had a problem since. I'll try to take a picture of it tomorrow and post it. Looks better than safety pins.

Can you shrink those pictures a bit George? I reduce mine by cliking on web large or small under edit pic, I think thats about 600 pix or so. Anyway they fit on the forum page that way.

I left them that way for detail. (How's that for an answer from a guy who hasn't learned how to re-size pictures?)

(The picture is hosted at photobucket and was originally posted for another discussion where detail was considered important. I simply re-linked to it.)

You didn't do a "search" for "dip and davis and latches" , didja?

http://cessna170.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... is+latches

Includes a picture and contact info.

STC # SA01139CH
W.D. "Dip" Davis
411 Pawnee Trail
Marengo, IL 60152
815-568-6811

A minor correction to the above address. The state is ILLinois. IL., with the zip code at 60152-2957.

The price is $189 for Phillips head camlock and $194 with Wing head camlock.

Thanks. I didn't notice the typo, which was cut-and-pasted straight-from the source document. (I have edited/correct the error.)

My DIP LATCHes are installed and although I haven't flown the plane yet, they are smooth and secure.They each consist of three pieces, an upper backing plate to which the latch with a male Camloc, is attached. The third piece is the lower backing plate with the female receiver. The instructions were clear and there was full paperwork included.Why Cessna didn't think of these latches in the first place I'll never know. The catch is cut large by Dip Davis and has to be trimmed to fit each cowl. The one difficult part was that on each of the upper and lower cowl two rivits per latch are behind the stiffeners and to replace those was extra work. Also at annual I finally decided to replace the door springs. The Cessna kit came with two springs for each door plus new door pins which I found to be also worn. Now my doors fit nice and tight and close without slamming. Another change was Monarch caps with moat fillers. Now I'm ready for camping under the wing even if it rains.

Note that the Dip Davis latches are only for the 48-52 model cowls,

Do all '52s have latches? What about this one that uses only camlocs? Is it field fabricated?