I am getting ready to put on the cessna rubber horizontal stabilizer rock guard on my 170B.
Do you also put it on the curved leading edge of the elevator?
How do you get the straight rubber guard to conform to the curved leading edge? Use a heat gun, or cut v-slots?
Is this a minor modification and an A&P needs to sign off on it or can I just do it?

AKclimber wrote:I am getting ready to put on the cessna rubber horizontal stabilizer rock guard on my 170B.
Do you also put it on the curved leading edge of the elevator?
How do you get the straight rubber guard to conform to the curved leading edge? Use a heat gun, or cut v-slots?
Is this a minor modification and an A&P needs to sign off on it or can I just do it?

Best ones I've seen are attached to wheels -Brush with piece of plywood to keep rocks off the bottom of wing and tail. The "boots" -rubberized tape is available from Aircraft Spruce and the like . Heavy vinyl tape 3 inch wide will work . Go to "Hobby People" -hobby shop on internet and you can get the old mono coat trim with adhesive back about 3 ft. long and 4 inch wide in colors that will last forever .

I used black 3'' wide 3M polyurethane protective tape on the leading edge of my horizontal stabilizer. Aircraft Spruce has different widths and lengths to choose from in black or transparent. Depending on how long the role is you get, you should be able to do a few planes with it.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/c ... eading.php

I was down in Moab and a 207 had Mudflaps on it. Where do you get them and are they a field approved item or does someone have an STC?

Jaerl wrote:I was down in Moab and a 207 had Mudflaps on it. Where do you get them and are they a field approved item or does someone have an STC?

I suspect these are what your looking for; Areo Twin in Anchorage sells them http://www.aerotwin.com. They are STC'd for the models listed below, but i have seen them field approved for other Cessnas. Be prepared to bring money

Sorry, i'm not computer savey enough to get the pictures to attach

Main Landing Gear Gravel Deflectors
for all models of 208, 207, 206, 185, 180, and 182
Prevents damage to your stabilizer and aft fuselage. Keeps mud and snow off of your wings.

Installing Main Gear Gravel Deflectors will help prevent costly downtime and repairs by deflecting gravel and rocks away from the horizontal stabilizer, fuselage, and the lower surface of the wings.

These are widely used by bush operators around the globe.

Installation requires no additional holes in the structure and takes one person approximately two hours. Performance is unaffected.


All kits are FAA STC/PMA Approved
C180: Kit No. GD5-100
C182: Kit No. GD5-102 (Through Model 182R)*
C185: Kit No. GD5-105
C206: Kit No. GD6-100
C206: Kit No. GD6-200 (for oversized main tires, [8.50 X 10] )
C207: Kit No. AT-GD-1001
C208: Kit No. GD8-100
Installation time: 2.0 hours.


*Attaching bolts, sold separately, vary by serial number

(Installation times are a guideline. Actual installation time will vary depending on tools, experience, etc.)

WOW!! you weren't kidding about price. $1,680.00 and they don't even have the chrome naked lady's on them. I guess I'll pass.

Jaerl wrote:WOW!! you weren't kidding about price. $1,680.00 and they don't even have the chrome naked lady's on them. I guess I'll pass.

Thats why my bird dosent have them either . i can think of a lot of other places to use that kind of money.

Chris

AKclimber wrote:I am getting ready to put on the cessna rubber horizontal stabilizer rock guard on my 170B.
Do you also put it on the curved leading edge of the elevator?
How do you get the straight rubber guard to conform to the curved leading edge? Use a heat gun, or cut v-slots?
Is this a minor modification and an A&P needs to sign off on it or can I just do it?

Seems that the crowd got off onto the direction of mud flaps all of its own accord. I gather you were asking about rubber boots on the horizontal stab in the OP. My 170B stab leading edge has proper boot stock that I got someplace on Merrill Field. Probably Stoddard's, or Ward's Aero. It is superior to any of the thin tapes, which won't prevent pebbles from denting metal. It's made of firm black rubber comparable to tire rubber, pre-formed in a U-shape, with the heaviest thickness corresponding to the leading edge. Once applied it extends about 3" aft on the top and bottom surfaces.

You should find the application goes pretty well, in spite of the radius on the leading edge of the stab. Prep the mating surfaces with a light touch of MEK. Cut a small scrap of the boot stock, and use it to scribe a line showing you how far aft to apply contact cement on the stab. Then apply contact cement to both surfaces, according to instructions. 3M contact cement has performed very well in my situation, for about 5-6 years now.

Apply the boot to the plane once the contact cement is ready. Work from inboard to outboard. Leave it extra long on the outboard end. Trim it later when it is well-cured, to allow for any shrinkage. I do not recall heat being necessary. I think the little bit of MEK helps soften things just enough. Experiment with scrap. Blue tape or even duct tape can help anchor the inboard end. This is easily cleaned up later on. An extra set of hands can be pretty helpful. You should definitely not need to cut V-slots.

I have never seen a 170 where it was also applied to any part of the elevator. 206, yes.

Good luck

Jaerl wrote:I was down in Moab and a 207 had Mudflaps on it. Where do you get them and are they a field approved item or does someone have an STC?

I suppose it would be good for cow shit too.

Tim

Probably would be. I think I'd still call them Mudflaps. If you told people you had Shitflaps on your plane they might think your flaps aren't working.

I like em but 10 bucks worth of Material and a couple of hours of welding and assembly. Tempting to just----oh nevermind.

Tim

DenaliPilot,
Thank you. That is exactly what I was asking about. I already got the thick rubber protectors from seaplanes north - those guys highly recommended it over the thin tape, which as you say doesn't do much except keep the paint from chipping.
Did you have to have a logbook entry for it?