Cracking on rear engine cowling.....

[hharney]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-337-S...f#ht_539wt_689


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-337-S...f#ht_500wt_689

[Ernie Martin]

My '73 has had some cracks in the upper tailcap, which required some metal work with doubler and has held up well, but nothing on the lower tailcap. One of the rings (either 35 or 48 in the figure) broke and I replaced it with a carbon-fiber STC unit from Owen Bell at Aviation Enterprises, which has held up well.

Ernie

[edasmus]

Thanks Herb for the eBay link. I did see that one but the part numbers do not match. Not sure if it would work or not but I will look into it. Ernie, that carbon fiber sounds interesting. I will look into that.

Thanks everyone. I will keep you posted.

Ed

[edasmus]

Ernie, one more question for you.

It is number 35 in the drawing (the lower ring, part number 1552127-2) that keeps cracking. The entire assembly has other patches on it that seem to be OK but it is the lower ring that keeps failing. Anyway, reference the carbon fiber option, is it the ring that is actually made of carbon fiber? How does it get attached to the rest of the assembly? Is it riveted? Can carbon fiber be riveted to aluminum? I have sent an email to Owen asking if he had the entire assembly but I have not heard back yet but this sounds like a potential option to me.

Thanks,

Ed

[Ernie Martin]

It was indeed the lower ring. See pic for earlier attempts at repairing the original metal ring. If memory serves, the carbon-fiber unit was riveted to the Lower Tail Cap Assembly.

Ernie

[edasmus]

Ernie,

This is the exact issue I have on both sides of the lower ring over and over. Just so I have this strait, the lower ring on your Skymaster is now carbon fiber and you do not believe you have had any issues since. My concern is that the stronger carbon fiber would simply transfer the issue to somewhere else on the cowling. You have not had anything like that?

Sorry to be such a pain but I appreciate your help immensely.

Thanks,

Ed

[Ernie Martin]

All is good. No transfer of excessive stress to the Lower Tail Cap Assembly, which remains in perfect condition.

Ernie