National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

Hello, new to the group here, what great resource for Aeronca information! I've been a 7AC owner for 5 years and love the airplane.

I need some help. I lost a bearing dust cover. I'm looking at options for proper repair. One thread set on the wheel are broken out and another is stripped reason for losing the cover. A&P said we could use some hard puddy to build up the broken thread set, drill, then tap it. I'd like to check into replacing the outter half, but I cannot identify the wheel. The serial/part number sticker is half way torn. It is different than the other side - which clearly is a Cleveland DMB.

Can someone help identify this wheel? Here are 2 pictures.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T7 ... directlink

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uz ... directlink

Thanks in advance

Brent McCasland

Hi Brent, looks like a Cleveland wheel to me. You can find them on e bay from time to time, the Piper Colts Pacers and TriPacers used a similar wheel (different model number and higher wt rating) but will slip right on.
Welcome to the Aeronca group.

Agree and its not a Goodyear. Aeronca's of this vintage usually had either Goodyear or Cleveland main wheels.

Here is a picture of my other wheel. It is clearly stamped a Cleveland.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/E0 ... directlink

The one in question doesn't look anything like this.

Thanks, I'll keep my eyes open on ebay.

Brent, don't worry, they are both Cleveland wheels. The one in question appears to be an early model actually made by Shinn, before being bought out by Cleveland. The fix is easy; drill and tap the 3 extra nodes cast into the wheel half and get a new dust cover from Univair or WagAero.

nkh

Thanks Nathan, I saw the nodes and wondered about doing that, but then thought surely not. I'll proceed down that path as well.

You guys are good!

Thanks

My Goodyear wheels on my Chief have several sets of additional holes around the wheel where the wheel hubcap's 3 screws screw on. Guess through the years, each set of holes had been stripped out finally. I drilled and tapped the last set. I just make sure I don't over tighten them now...and don't let anyone else do it for me. Like you, I lost a hubcap before I got around to drillng new holes.

By the way, welcome to the forum Brent! You've got a nice looking Champ.

nkh