The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Does anyone make a stabilizer leading edge boot kit? I am puting together our '53B model and would like to protect the leading edge if I can. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you,
Jon S Blocker

Cessna offers an "abrasion boot" kit for the 200 series airplanes that you might adapt to the 170. You might want to run it by your mechanic and local FSDO first to see if they'll approve it for your airplane.

A part 135 company I'm familiar with uses a clear tape on some of their C-210 leading edges (those not equipped with icing equipment)--I guess to keep the abrasion down primarily on fiberglass fairings, etc. I'll ask next week what they use and how it is approved--I'm sure the FEDs have given their blessing. It looks like the same stuff on my pickup on the back quarterpanel right behind the tires.

You might check with the 190/195 club. I believe there is one available for the 195. It may be longer than required for the 170 but I think it can be cut to length. The one I saw was molded to fit the curved leading edge. It also had a thicker leading edge for additional cushion. Installation would problably require FAA approval and a 337.

Larry

A lot of Cessnas have a rubber anti abrasion strip added to the horizonal stab. When I repainted my 172-TD several yrs ago I purchased one of these & had the paint shop put it on. I am very pleased w/ the results. It comes shaped like the leading edge & is thicker at the leading edge & tapers to a thiner material as it goes aft. Seems like it extends back about 4 inches both top and bottom surfaces. Sure puts a stop to those leading edge dings from gravel. Don't know how well it will work on the curved horiz of a 170, but suspect some other members can speak to this. I think I got mine from a company in Thomas, OK that does a lot of part supplying for Cessna & other agricultural planes. Can't remember exactly the cost or their name at the moment. I put tape on the leading edge of my C 140 and while it hid most of the previous dings, if a fairly good sized gravel or rock happened to hit the leading edge it still penetrated the tape. Not nearly as successful as the rubber "boot".

While washing the plane, I noticed that our rubber stabilizer boots are starting to curl at the edges. There is a black adhesive underneath.

What adhesive would you use to reglue the edges or do I need to strip them off and start over?

This forum is a wonderful resource! I have really learned alot over the last few years.

Thanks!

Forrest

Cessna Accessory Kit AK175-35V dated Feb. 4, 1976 called for abrasion boot p/n S1938-1-67.00. It is for all models of the C-170. I couldn't find this p/n online. The closest I found was p/n 1938-3-67-00 which has been superseded to p/n S1938-3-68.00

Concerning this p/n http://www.iwantcessnaparts.com says, "use on tailgear equipped aircraft only (180, 185, &188) other models use 1232040-3" Don't know if this would work on the 170 curved leading edge.

Accessory Kit AK182-217J dated March 11, 1985 also covers the C-170 series. It calls for p/n 1232040-3. This has been superseded by 1232040-5 -- $44.61 each at Iwantcessnaparts.com.

Also p/n 0332127 and 0332128 or 0332128-1 for C-195 may fit. See http://www.the195factory.com/ or contact Bill Milton at 518-882-6392.

I use black electrical tape on the horizontal stabilizer leading edge and on the leading edge of my landing gear leaf springs - works great, looks good and is easy to replace when required.

Forrest Walton wrote:While washing the plane, I noticed that our rubber stabilizer boots are starting to curl at the edges. There is a black adhesive underneath.

What adhesive would you use to reglue the edges or do I need to strip them off and start over?

This forum is a wonderful resource! I have really learned alot over the last few years.

Thanks!

Forrest

I wouldn't increase the workload unnecessarily. My personal choice for most aircraft glueing is 3-M brand "1300-L" which is yellow. (although it may turn brown or black with time.) It can be re-juvenated with MEK, so you might try some MEK on an acid-brush to see if you can't just touch it up.

gahorn wrote: It can be re-juvenated with MEK, so you might try some MEK on an acid-brush to see if you can't just touch it up.

Be VERY careful with the surrounding paint if you use MEK.

hilltop170 wrote:

gahorn wrote: It can be re-juvenated with MEK, so you might try some MEK on an acid-brush to see if you can't just touch it up.

Be VERY careful with the surrounding paint if you use MEK.

YES! In fact, many times the reason boots de-attach is because they were glued onto a painted surface and the ketone in the glue released the paint. MEK will release most paint. If you really want a boot to stick you should put it on an unpainted surface.

Hey George,

I did the repair using 3M glue and a wooden wall paper roller to smooth things out. It worked very well. Thanks for your input.

Forrest