Does anyone know what options there are for replacing the stock Cessna 170 door latches? I seem to have two different types... one that works well and has two parallel coil springs, and one that doesn't work well at all and uses a single small wire spring.



The wire spring (a $50 Cessna part!) keeps popping out of position, requiring disassembly of the latch. Even when it's in position it doesn't work very well.

For some reason I think that the other latch is off of a 150, but I don't know where I got that idea.

I did a search and didn't come up with anything. Fixing the latch is a time consuming and expensive process (drilling and reinstalling rivets), so I'd like to get something in there that actually works.

Thanks

You can install the later 172 rotary latch system.
All the parts are stock Cessna and it only requires enlarging the latch opening in the rear door panel.
There is a no longer supported STC for this as well as a 337 or two on the 170 Association website.

Here's a link
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... ch+springs

Lee Chavez from the C120/140 Club makes & sells these.

https://www.cessna120-140.org/?product= ... -170a-170b

Here's a discussion

http://cessna170.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5875

I used to have a jig for making these sprigs up that I made off a diagram on the C120/140 Club website, don't know if I still have it or if the diagram is still on their site.

Hotrod, do you have the original latch in your plane? I do and hold my breath everytime I shut the door. Notice, I didn't say slam. That spring in the picture for the 170 looks like it might fit mine also.

Bagarre wrote:You can install the later 172 rotary latch system.
All the parts are stock Cessna and it only requires enlarging the latch opening in the rear door panel.
There is a no longer supported STC for this as well as a 337 or two on the 170 Association website.

Here's a link
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... ch+springs

Go with this route. I did, and they work 100 % better, and they're durable.

MTV

Hammer,

I went through this same problem recently with my 56 C172. Lee Chavez has had some health issues and is no longer making the springs. I used coil springs as shown on the 170 Club site. It is an imperfect fix (pm me and I'll send details), but the door stays closed once latched closed.

MTV, I tried the links on your post and they didn't work for me other than the one for Door Stewards which isn't the fix for this as you know. I'd appreciate any additional info you have on a solution.

I've read that the door latch assemblies in the door, not door post, can be replaced with C150 or later C172 units. I'd appreciate any additional information anyone hason this.

Thanks.

Frank

Thanks y'all.
This picture from the 170 website shows what my left side latch looks like...the one that actually works.



I'll see if that will work on the right side. The right side has the locking mechanism, so that might be an issue. No idea why the guy who rebuilt it in the first place wouldn't have made both latches the same...the right one with the Cessna spring never worked well.

180Marty wrote:Hotrod, do you have the original latch in your plane? I do and hold my breath everytime I shut the door. Notice, I didn't say slam. That spring in the picture for the 170 looks like it might fit mine also.

Yup, still have the original latches in my 53 model.
My 170 used the same arrangement, which is why I built the little jig and made some springs myself after buying one from Lee. I have to say, his was better quality.
I might have given the jig away after selling the 180 about 8 years ago. Dumb to get rid of anything aviation related as you never know when you might need it again later.

Ditto to what fshaw did, I fixed my C-140 latch for under $2 bucks. Just like in that photo.

I looked at the door latches on the 180 today, I don't see the little mousetrap spring on the catch.
It appears that mine kight have been modified with coild springs as per Hammer's photo also.
Fine with me, as long as it works.
I'm not gonna tear into that door to get to the latch unless I have to.

On my 56 182 my pilot door will not stay shut. It and early 172 had same spring as 170's and early 180's. Found these on Ebay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2-X-Cessna-172 ... 2749.l2648

Coming from Germany. Hoping they are correct. Ebay ad has correct part number

Or you could have done what Hammer and MTV posted above and got some hardware store springs which work WAY better....

akschu wrote:Or you could have done what Hammer and MTV posted above and got some hardware store springs which work WAY better....

You can install the mouse trap spring without taking the latch out of the door. So there is some value there. I will probably do a full overhaul after the summer. Also found these latches on Ebay. Different part number but Cessna did that now and then. They sure look correct

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-L-19-Bi ... %7Ciid%3A1