Need new ones for my 69 180. Anyone have a source that won't break the bank?

The chrome on the air version is probably more fire proof, hence worth 10 times as much

I am in need of one also.The handle being very loose and wobbly. The problem is that I am not sure of which piece is worn; the handle or the bracket it attaches to.
It would seem the post the handle attaches to would be the most worn.
Does anyone know if the wear is normally on the handle or the post it attaches to? Is the bracket, the part that screws onto the window available?
Tom

Hman442 wrote:The chrome on the air version is probably more fire proof, hence worth 10 times as much

If you've ever dealt with getting FAA approval for anything,
you might figure that price is pretty darn reasonable for an approved part.

I never have had to deal with producing a part and having to get it FAA approved, and understand that it is quite a process, with considerable expense, time, and frustration typically involved.

However, I, like most, can't help but shake my head at some of the differences in price in "non-critical" items, such as these window latches, as the PMA/FAA piece certainly appears to be the same "pot metal" item as the auto maker used... it certainly does not appear to be a billet machined piece of superior quality, tested and retested, to ensure our safety in the air. Of course, it could be argued that the $200.00 pot metal window latch is assured to be of much higher quality pot metal, to ensure that it doesn't break in flight, causing a distraction, leading to a spin & crash, but I seriously doubt that it is any different.

I have no issue with expense added to test and approve a component, that could cause issues if it failed, like "most" components on my airplane, but don't see the added value on a pot metal latch, or interior door handle.

A bit of going off on a tangent, but relates. A while back, my buddy wanted his wing tips painted red on his cub. I bought four different cans of red spray paint, did test panels, one matched his current red nicely, went back and bought a couple more cans of that color and sprayed the tips. Of course we were "seen", by several hanger neighbors, who were shocked that we weren't using special flame proof speed rated PMA approved " airplane" paint.

Any of you jokers ever consider the kind of volume that manufacturers of this sort of stuff produce? If every airplane in the US used these latches, AND they wore out regularly, I'm guessing the price would still be high.

Now, if you were to be able to sell, say 100,000 a year, that might bring prices down.

Blame the FAA and its certification requirements for anything you like, but don't forget there is this thing called supply and demand......and the demand for 1954 Cessna window latches is, ummmm, kinda small.

MTV

mtv wrote:Any of you jokers ever consider the kind of volume that manufacturers of this sort of stuff produce? If every airplane in the US used these latches, AND they wore out regularly, I'm guessing the price would still be high.

Now, if you were to be able to sell, say 100,000 a year, that might bring prices down.

Blame the FAA and its certification requirements for anything you like, but don't forget there is this thing called supply and demand......and the demand for 1954 Cessna window latches is, ummmm, kinda small.

MTV

Consider the volume ? Used in 100, 200, 300 series for 25 years, AFTER being used in who could even fathom how many G.M. autos since the '40s. Seems like the engineering and approval costs were probably amortized out...60 years ago. My point is, in this example, does the airplane vendor use some special, high quality, pot metal guy that x rays each piece and stress tests every 17th one, or, is the $200.00 latch the same as the $20.00 latch sold by the Chevy restoration shop ?

Hman442 wrote:Consider the volume ? Used in 100, 200, 300 series for 25 years, AFTER being used in who could even fathom how many G.M. autos since the '40s. Seems like the engineering and approval costs were probably amortized out...60 years ago. My point is, in this example, does the airplane vendor use some special, high quality, pot metal guy that x rays each piece and stress tests every 17th one, or, is the $200.00 latch the same as the $20.00 latch sold by the Chevy restoration shop ?

^^^ This. Cessna used the same window latches and door handles straight out of Detroit. As far as acceptance testing/production sample testing - really? Do you really think Cessna did any of that?

Having looked at this several years ago, since I was sourcing my own cast steel parts for several months, I figured it would cost about 1400 in tooling and $7-$9 in parts delivered, for a run of high quality post machined
chromed latches for a run of up to a thousand, and about $6 for 2000 sets. The automotive version is correctly priced, or even a better deal than I'd offer.

It would never be worthwhile to go through the Quixotic process of certifying such a project. The regulatory framework and realities of its execution (culture, ability, and priorities of the FAA) make it absurd to do so and even break even for all intents and purposes. Each unit sold would represent paying a series of interlocutors astounding sums accumulated from the effort unrelated to a value for the sale.

In the end, I put mine on the mill, hogged it out, installed bushings, made some small hinge pins, and now have better latches than they ever were for about $0.50 each in parts and a few hours of spare time. The chrome isn't pristine, but I didnt want to add the time to blast it off and re-plate them until I had more parts to plate.

C180_guy wrote:

Hman442 wrote:Consider the volume ? Used in 100, 200, 300 series for 25 years, AFTER being used in who could even fathom how many G.M. autos since the '40s. Seems like the engineering and approval costs were probably amortized out...60 years ago. My point is, in this example, does the airplane vendor use some special, high quality, pot metal guy that x rays each piece and stress tests every 17th one, or, is the $200.00 latch the same as the $20.00 latch sold by the Chevy restoration shop ?

^^^ This. Cessna used the same window latches and door handles straight out of Detroit. As far as acceptance testing/production sample testing - really? Do you really think Cessna did any of that?

And, how many of those old 40s era cars are still out there? How many Cessnas of whatever stripe, are out there? And, how many of these things wear out regularly?

My point remains: Demand is not very high, so production isn't going to be high. If I could find the identical or real close from an auto restoration outfit, I'd probably use that. I seriously doubt the FAA or your IA could care less, long as it worked.

Cessna never put these things through a certification process. Certification of the airplane took care of that, the window latches most likely came from the original manufacturer of these things for old cars. Not every part on a certified aircraft is individually FAA approved, other than the approval of the airplane it's installed on. They assign a part number.

Years ago, the dogs on my Cessna 170 B door handle stripped out. Bummer. So, I pulled that handle off, and looked at the back side for part number, etc. Guess what I found? A Ford blue oval. Did a quick search on the old auto catalog, found one that looked close and ordered it. Was identical to the other handle, which was apparently the original Cessna part: No blue oval.

So, if you can find a duplicate or close for cheap, go for it.

MTV

lesuther wrote:Having looked at this several years ago, since I was sourcing my own cast steel parts for several months, I figured it would cost about 1400 in tooling and $7-$9 in parts delivered, for a run of high quality post machined
chromed latches for a run of up to a thousand, and about $6 for 2000 sets. The automotive version is correctly priced, or even a better deal than I'd offer.

It would never be worthwhile to go through the Quixotic process of certifying such a project. The regulatory framework and realities of its execution (culture, ability, and priorities of the FAA) make it absurd to do so and even break even for all intents and purposes. Each unit sold would represent paying a series of interlocutors astounding sums accumulated from the effort unrelated to a value for the sale.

In the end, I put mine on the mill, hogged it out, installed bushings, made some small hinge pins, and now have better latches than they ever were for about $0.50 each in parts and a few hours of spare time. The chrome isn't pristine, but I didnt want to add the time to blast it off and re-plate them until I had more parts to plate.

And, how long would it take you to sell 1000 of these things? Your descendants would be trying to sell the things long after you're gone.

MTV

mtv wrote:And, how long would it take you to sell 1000 of these things? Your descendants would be trying to sell the things long after you're gone.

Which was the entire point. Even at a thousand units, it didn't make sense.

mtv wrote:So, if you can find a duplicate or close for cheap, go for it.

MTV

See post #2. There's a link.

Unortunately, the Chevy part is just the handle. I needed the base also. It's only money!

C180_guy wrote:https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail/1266/Chevrolet_Vent_Window_Latch_Handle_Left_Side.html

https://niagaraairparts.com/product/dir ... w-latches/

Received the new latch from Niagra Airparts. Nice piece. The old one was probably original.

For what it's worth,

DJ Vegh, sells his custom cnc milled replacement window latches for the Cessna 150/152. Not sure if they will fit your other Cessna 100 series aircraft. They are NOT PMA approved, but can be field approved quite easily. Very nice, I have bought these for a few Cessna projects.
$255 for the pair.

https://flylinecam.com/product/c-150-window-latch-pair/

Does anyone have a source for the newer style window latches?

Chris


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