Hello, I’ve got a 182B I’m prettying up, and getting to the headliner, the previous owner just drove screws about every 4-5” looks real classy. And needles to say doesn’t stretch tight at all, zipper back looks good. So wonderingly if there ’s another option for the retainer with the teeth since mine is gone? Or does anyone have access to some old ones that might be for sale? Thanks! Have enjoyed learning a lot on here.

I've taken 1 piece of metal and bent it to 30 degrees up and then 30 degrees to level again and then put a 90 degree lip on the end. I took 1 flat piece of metal, and riveted it to the bent metal to make a kind of 'mouth'. It works great, and it's about the only thing that is available for dealing with this issue, other than finding used serviceable stuff around.

I've drawn it out, and if I remember correctly I used countersunk rivets, but drew it with universal head, so you have an idea of what i'm talking about, ( I drew the side profile.)

If you need to go around corners you can pie cut it, and rivet it in the shape that you need, or you can hand form the bends around the corners, with a little practice, brute force, and ignorance.

Hopefully the drawing helps


I think I stole the idea off the internet, trying to solve the same problem as you, on a customers plane, years ago, and it works.

Thank you, I’ve kind of decided that is what I will have to do, One is kinda decent, the other is gone all together, I was thinking of cutting the “teeth” edge with peeking type shears to form them, did you find them necessary ? Or does it stay in with out? Thanks again.

Never needed the teeth cut in. I just made sure the sheet metal had a bit of a "pinch" to each other. Done it a bunch of times on different Cessna's, and the upholsterer in our shop, hasn't complained.

Mike

Mike,

I have my '58 C180 in the upholstery shop and we're short a couple of overhead cabin door headliner retainer strips. You posted last year about a drawing that illustrates how you were able to make your own retainers for this purpose.

Any chance you could share those drawings again? Would sure be appreciated as I'm stuck trying to find either parts or a work around.

Thanks,

Mario Brusasco