I have a set of Cessna cabin entry steps that appear to be p/n 0711006 from a C180/185....but they're not. The portion above the fuselage mounting plate is too short.

Does anyone have any idea what they would be from? What other Cessnas used this style?

Thanks,

Chris

They look like the Cessna 170 or 140 steps. But I never pulled one out of its mount to see what the upper part looks like.

MTV

Not sure if this ""link"" will work. Found on Aircraft Spruce under CABIN ENTRY STEPS FOR CESSNA.

There is a chart at bottom which claims they go on a lot from 170 - 170A etc on up through 185 ---
Chart shows serial # ranges. May need to contact for specifics.

Look like one I had to repair on my 170-B

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... rystep.php


Hope it helps - hope it does not violate any BCP rules.

Wannabe helpful

wannabe wrote:Not sure if this ""link"" will work. Found on Aircraft Spruce under CABIN ENTRY STEPS FOR CESSNA.

There is a chart at bottom which claims they go on a lot from 170 - 170A etc on up through 185 ---
Chart shows serial # ranges. May need to contact for specifics.

Look like one I had to repair on my 170-B

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... rystep.php


Hope it helps - hope it does not violate any BCP rules.

Wannabe helpful

Thanks for the info. The problem is that even though they look the same, the measurements for different models (perhaps even different years of a particular model) are different so a picture just won't do it. I'm trying to find some hard data to know for sure.

Chris

mtv wrote: They look like the Cessna 170 or 140 steps. But I never pulled one out of its mount to see what the upper part looks like. MTV

The dimensions for the upper portion of the step should be the same for a 170 vs a 180/185.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/a ... rystep.php shows the same p/n steps fitting the entire 170 180 & 185 line.
Comparing the OP's photo to the step photo on the Atlee Dodge website, the upper portion of the OP's steps is noticeably shorter as he pointed out. The C120/140 used boarding steps mounted on the gear legs, but I wonder if maybe someone modified a set of steps to install on a C120/140? Or more likely, on a C150 taildragger?

If you acquired these steps to install on a 170/180/185, I believe there are outfits which will rebuild them (to the proper length), but I seem to recall that it's not cheap. FWIW I don't know who makes them but Spruce, Sky Geek, and Dodge all sell new steps-- they're just under $400 each side.

I have a K model 172 converted to tailwheel (Bolen). I have the same steps. I was told they are from a C 170. As I recall these are pretty costly steps. Mine are either positioned wrong or something because I cannot for the life of me figure out how to use one to enter the left side of the plane. If I stand on it with my left leg, I can't pull my right leg in and over the seat and if I use my right leg I have to cross my legs and can't pull my right leg around the seat.

mtv wrote:
The C120/140 used boarding steps mounted on the gear legs, but I wonder if maybe someone modified a set of steps to install on a C120/140? Or more likely, on a C150 taildragger?.

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These steps were removed from my 180. Somewhere in the past, they were installed and had a small aluminum block (not pictured) to 'fill' the space between the top of the step and the floor of the airframe. I assume it was some sort of 'in-the-field' repair using whatever parts were on hand to make it work. I will be replacing them with the correct steps, but I'm curious as to what aircraft these are from since they can be of use to somebody somewhere.

Chris

obxbushpilot wrote:..... Mine are either positioned wrong or something because I cannot for the life of me figure out how to use one to enter the left side of the plane. If I stand on it with my left leg, I can't pull my right leg in and over the seat and if I use my right leg I have to cross my legs and can't pull my right leg around the seat.

In between the angle of the photo and the door being open, it's hard to tell but it looks like the step *might be* a little farther forward than the factory 170/180/185 location. I don't think that would make much difference on using them. I put my left foot on the step, swing my right up and in, in front of the seat, and then pull myself the rest of the way in using the v-brace. I have small feet and usually wear sneakers, but even so it's a tight squeak sliding my right foot inboard of my left leg on the initial swing-up. But kinda like climbing aboard a Cub, after a while you figure out the best way, then practice makes perfect.

it's hard to tell but it looks like the step *might be* a little farther forward than the factory 170/180/185 location.

Yes. If the step were 6 inches farther aft, it would work great. I understand the learning to maneuver thing as I had pacer before this, but this step is just in the wrong place on this plane. I'd be better off removing them and selling them on ebay. I'd lighten up, reduce drag and have a few bucks for the annual maintenance fund.

Oxbush

Me thinks Hotrod180 is correct. My PC screen is FULL of my old 170-B.
Now - not to be mean - but mine is a real C-170-B with most of the parts in the correct positions.
Did a little ruler work on both pictures. Mine - 170-B the step is close to the middle of the door.

Looks like Bolen ?!? may have used the OLD gear leg hole to mount the step on yours.
Just a guess - but yes it is further forward than my original 170-B.

Even so - I always slid the seat all the way back before getting in.
With the seat all the way back - and your step a bit forward - just might make it a bit easier. Who knows.

Does you plane have the "grab straps" on the front door post?!?

Hope it helps
Trimj

AirChris

Looks to me as though your steps are or should be scrap.
Did a little straight edge and ruler work. They are both bent at the mounting plate.
All available photos for new ones show them as straight .

Your upper one in the photo has what looks like a 90 degree bend or close to it, and the hole is not centered.
The lower one seems to have the upper bend that more matches photos of new ones. Cannot see the hole.

The alum. block may have been put in AFTER someone re-bent the upper portion after and incident which would make it shorter inside the fuselage and so need a "spacer" JUST A GUESS.

Went to the source mentioned above and the chart shows that they fit every 170, 170-A, and 170B
Up through the last serial number 27169 - including 1,104 numbers never assigned.

Even found a supplier named Johnny Williams - no details - gettin late and still have homework.

Hope I read my scribbly notes correctly.

Be Safe

Treim

Trimtab wrote:....Even found a supplier named Johnny Williams - no details .......

Years ago, there was a Johnny Williams who wrote several articles for the 170 Assn. One, he did a 360 Lycoming & some other mods to a 170B. Another article, he grafted the front end (from the forward door posts) of a Cont IO-360 powered Hawk XP on to another 170B.
I believe he also sold the Williams toe-brake kit for TriPacers that used what looked like Cessna rudder pedals.
Might be the same guy.

Trimtab wrote:... Mine - 170-B the step is close to the middle of the door.....

I came up with the same result after eyeballing some C180 photos.

I've got the '56 C172 with the Bolen conversion. The step seems placed like any other Cessna taildragger, and it does not use the old main gear hole. I'll grab a pic later today.

Gump

Looks like Bolen ?!? may have used the OLD gear leg hole to mount the step on yours.
Just a guess - but yes it is further forward than my original 170-B.

Even so - I always slid the seat all the way back before getting in.
With the seat all the way back - and your step a bit forward - just might make it a bit easier. Who knows.

The location was selected based on retrofitting a step from a C170, I suppose. The old gear leg hole is much farther aft. The fuselage of my plane is tapered differently than a C 170 and the point where the cabin floor intersects the the depth of the step where it's flange meets the outside skin is farther forward. If it were farther aft, it would stick up through the floor or the flange on the outside would not be flush with the outside skin so the more forward position was used even though it's not very useful.

Because the step is so far forward, It's too close to the most forward part of the door opening and really isn't useful at all for a tall person. a shorter person might find it more useful. Fortunately, I'm tall enough to leg up or leg down getting in and out with the seat slid back Not the worst thing to deal with.

obxbushpilot wrote:

it's hard to tell but it looks like the step *might be* a little farther forward than the factory 170/180/185 location.

Yes. If the step were 6 inches farther aft, it would work great. I understand the learning to maneuver thing as I had pacer before this, but this step is just in the wrong place on this plane. I'd be better off removing them and selling them on ebay. I'd lighten up, reduce drag and have a few bucks for the annual maintenance fund.

If 170-size, they do make a great bear-spray attach point. Can upside down, finger hole around the foot peg, zip tie around the leg.

Trimtab wrote:....Looks like Bolen ?!? may have used the OLD gear leg hole to mount the step on yours.
...

Don't think that's the case, nosedragger main gear mounts farther aft-- more like below the trailing edge of the door.

obxbushpilot wrote:....Because the step is so far forward, It's too close to the most forward part of the door opening and really isn't useful at all for a tall person. a shorter person might find it more useful....

I always wished my C150/150TD had a boarding step. The Lowe conversion uses C120/140 gear legs, as does a one-off t/w conversion I saw once.I've only flown in a 120/140 twice, once in each model, and don't remember using the step or not, but the gear leg-mounted step looks waay too far forward to be of much use.