Hey guys,

I'm trying to find some gear legs for my taildragger 172 conversion.

Just recently a C188 popped up being wrecked, it's close enough to me that the freight is reasonable but a bit far away to be worth going to look at...

I know the aircraft is nothing like the other 180 series Cessna's, but looking at photos of the gear legs online, the 188 legs look very similar in profile, shape and size.

Does anyone happen to have any actual dimensions or general information about the legs, and if they would fit or not?

I'm also curious about C182 early gear legs. I've read the first set of legs on the original 182 are able to be used (but seem to be super rare), then the legs got shorter when the 182A model was introduced, then shorter again a few generations later.

So the early straight tail 182A, B and C should have higher gear than the later 182's.

My question is, will 182A, B or C gear legs fit into a Cessna 170 - 180 gear box? And is it likely to have enough clearance on the propeller with a standard (74 inch I think) fixed pitch prop?

I have a set of 182N model gear legs here, and they are very obviously too low for the job. I've also got one C170 and one C180 gear leg here (both are L/H), I've been trying to find another to match one of the two with little success so far...

Would my existing 172H gearlegs fit by any chance (possibly with extensions)? Does anybody know how compatible they are with the C170 - C180 gear box?

TIA

Brady

I have no personally have no idea about most of what you are asking, but Tom Anderson knows more specifics, about Cessna gear legs than most folks. It would be well worth a call or cup of coffee if you are close enough.

Take care, Rob

http://thelandinggearworks.com

Brady wrote:Hey guys,

I'm trying to find some gear legs for my taildragger 172 conversion.

Just recently a C188 popped up being wrecked, it's close enough to me that the freight is reasonable but a bit far away to be worth going to look at...

I know the aircraft is nothing like the other 180 series Cessna's, but looking at photos of the gear legs online, the 188 legs look very similar in profile, shape and size.

Does anyone happen to have any actual dimensions or general information about the legs, and if they would fit or not?

I'm also curious about C182 early gear legs. I've read the first set of legs on the original 182 are able to be used (but seem to be super rare), then the legs got shorter when the 182A model was introduced, then shorter again a few generations later.

So the early straight tail 182A, B and C should have higher gear than the later 182's.

My question is, will 182A, B or C gear legs fit into a Cessna 170 - 180 gear box? And is it likely to have enough clearance on the propeller with a standard (74 inch I think) fixed pitch prop?

I have a set of 182N model gear legs here, and they are very obviously too low for the job. I've also got one C170 and one C180 gear leg here (both are L/H), I've been trying to find another to match one of the two with little success so far...

Would my existing 172H gearlegs fit by any chance (possibly with extensions)? Does anybody know how compatible they are with the C170 - C180 gear box?

TIA

Brady

There's a set of 170 gear on Barnstormers under the 170 listings.

MTV

Brady wrote:Hey guys,

I'm trying to find some gear legs for my taildragger 172 conversion.

Just recently a C188 popped up being wrecked, it's close enough to me that the freight is reasonable but a bit far away to be worth going to look at...

I know the aircraft is nothing like the other 180 series Cessna's, but looking at photos of the gear legs online, the 188 legs look very similar in profile, shape and size.

Does anyone happen to have any actual dimensions or general information about the legs, and if they would fit or not?

I'm also curious about C182 early gear legs. I've read the first set of legs on the original 182 are able to be used (but seem to be super rare), then the legs got shorter when the 182A model was introduced, then shorter again a few generations later.

So the early straight tail 182A, B and C should have higher gear than the later 182's.

My question is, will 182A, B or C gear legs fit into a Cessna 170 - 180 gear box? And is it likely to have enough clearance on the propeller with a standard (74 inch I think) fixed pitch prop?

I have a set of 182N model gear legs here, and they are very obviously too low for the job. I've also got one C170 and one C180 gear leg here (both are L/H), I've been trying to find another to match one of the two with little success so far...

Would my existing 172H gearlegs fit by any chance (possibly with extensions)? Does anybody know how compatible they are with the C170 - C180 gear box?

TIA

Brady

Not sure about the rest you mentioned but I'm doing a 56 172 TD and my early taller 172 gear legs are quite different to the 180 gear legs. I found the early 180 gear legs around here pretty easy to find and cheap compared to the HD and later ones, less desirable for the 180's I guess but great for a 172 TD or a 170, shipping would be the killer I guess for you.

I picked up a '56 180 float plane fuselage for all the other parts so if I can help with any measurements on bits and pieces or pictures of areas just let me know.

Rob wrote:I have no personally have no idea about most of what you are asking, but Tom Anderson knows more specifics, about Cessna gear legs than most folks. It would be well worth a call or cup of coffee if you are close enough.
http://thelandinggearworks.com

What he said!

Sorry guys, that was a long way to ask the question.

I just want to know if Cessna 188 or Cessna 182A, B, or C gear legs will fit into a Cessna 170 or Cessna 180?

I'm right down the bottom of Australia where Cessna 170's and 180's are a bit scarce, and the freight from USA is stupid expensive.

I did see those 170 gear legs for sale, I've already spoken to the owner a little while back but the freight was the killer. I purchased some other C170 parts off him earlier in the year.

Cheers
Brady

182 gear legs will not work unless you cut the top shorter and re drill the top bolt and run a 30 inch propeller.

I picked up a set of 182 legs on purpose to shorten my project to fit under my garage door. I'll put the 180 legs on at the airport. 182 legs awe very different shape.

I would suggest that you check the Cessna 188 IPC (Illustrated Parts Catalog), or otherwise research the part number for the 188s gear legs.
See if they might indeed be the same p/n as one of the four versions of the 180 gear leg, all are p/n 0741001:
53 & 54 models used -1 and -2 versions,
55 & 56 models used -3 & -4,
57-63 models used -5 & -6,
64 and up models used -7 & -8.
I believe all year models of the 185 used the -7 & -8 legs.
Hope this helps.

And/or call /email Tom Anderson & pick his brain, as previously suggested.

It's been a while, but I ended up with a set of late model 180 gear legs to use, and a matching gearbox to go with it...

Anyone got any good wheel and brake recommendations?

I plan on using 8.0 or 8.5 x 6.00 tires.

I've also found myself a good IO-360 to use to convert from the O-300 to the constant speed 180hp conversion. So far it looks like I'll go the Stoots conversion, as the engine configuration already matches the STC.

Has anyone here got any first hand experience with this conversion?

Thanks guys!

Brady

Brady wrote:It's been a while, but I ended up with a set of late model 180 gear legs to use, and a matching gearbox to go with it...

Anyone got any good wheel and brake recommendations?

I plan on using 8.0 or 8.5 x 6.00 tires.

I've also found myself a good IO-360 to use to convert from the O-300 to the constant speed 180hp conversion. So far it looks like I'll go the Stoots conversion, as the engine configuration already matches the STC.

Has anyone here got any first hand experience with this conversion?

Thanks guys!

Brady

For the engine conversion, see:

https://backcountrypilot.org/forum/c-17 ... lete-14688

Also:

https://www.airframesalaska.com/ABI-Cle ... s/1513.htm

There’s axle choices too. On those wheels you might squeak by with single-puck brakes and original hollow aluminum axles, but you can do better. Upgrade options include double-puck brakes, solid aluminum axles (produced at one time by the international Cessna 170 association, or better yet, hollow steel axles, or go all in and get hollow titanium axles from the landing gear works.

There’s a couple others on this forum with the Stoots conversion as well.
Cheers,
-DP

Myself, I'd go with the double puck brakes (kit #199-62 comes to mind) and steel axles.
My C180 has those brakes but solid aluminum axles.
I wouldn't even consider hollow amuminum axles, they have a somewhat poor track record.
Don't think I've ever seen new aluminum axles for sale, hollow or solid, but I have seen steel axles and the price isn't too bad.
McFarlane sells them, and so does Spruce (maybe the same product).

...

Thanks for the replies, I've been trying to reply for the last week but couldn't due to a website issue (or maybe my phone).