Cylinder Temp Gauges

[MikeB]

I'd like to put a dual cylinder head temperature gauge in my L16 for two reasons (1) as I'm installing a 0200 engine that will undoubtably burn more fuel, therefore make more heat I'm a bit concerned about keeping it cool enough and not frying my new ECI cylinders and (2) I have a spare 3 1/8 hole in my dash as I don't intend to put the vacuum system back in and will just mount the ball type inclinometer on the dash someplace.

The question: is it necessary to have TSO gauges on these old timers since they probably came with war surplus gauges to begin with? (or would anyone even know when it gets right down to it).

Just a thought: no money has been spent yet.

Mike

[joea]

No on the TSO and if you are really wanting a EGT gauge or CHT gauge I might have one for sale!

Only things on our old birds that require a TSO (it was not around when Aeronca's were built) is the ELT and Transponder from what I am told.

Joe A

[MikeB]

What I'm looking at is a dual cyl temp gauge (one on each bank, i.e. left and right). Not too worried about exhaust temp at this point. Let me know what you have by PM.
Thanks,
Mike

[flyingfool]

No on the TSO and if you are really wanting a EGT gauge or CHT gauge I might have one for sale!

Only things on our old birds that require a TSO (it was not around when Aeronca's were built) is the ELT and Transponder from what I am told.

Joe A

Does this include altimeters as well?

My altimeter is accurate when I set to field elevation and fly. But the altimeter setting (barometric setting) is way off the actual setting. The cost of TSO altimeter's are two or three times the price of a non TSO altimeter.

[joea]

ELT and transponder have to be TSO'ed.

EVERYTHING else on the plane does not require a TSO from what I understand. TSO was not invented when our planes were built, thus they are not covered by this.

[Paul Agaliotis]

The TSO means that the item has met a minimum standard. It should not be used to imply any information about quality. One of my examples is the Dodge Dart of radios, the KX170B. It was used in thousands of airplanes and is a non-TSO'd radio. The KX175 is a TSO'd radio.
Paul

[joea]

Paul,

As I understand it, the KX175 is the same radio but with paperwork showing that its IFR legal?

Joe

[Paul Agaliotis]

Joe,
That is correct. Most of the older stuff was never TSO'd in any way. They left it up to the installers to make the airworthiness. If it was junk nobody used them. Somewhere along the line people started to believe that everything needed TSO's. Case in point, the fuel valves. I consider the Aeronca valve to be a standard part, so any valve that shuts the fuel off in the same manner will work. Some people get all freaked out about the valve but run down to the local Model A store for a replacement fuel gauge that sort of works. I think the gauge is as important, if not more so, than the valve.
Paul

[MikeB]

I could be wrong but it seems the fuel shut off valves for the Wag Aero wing tank kits are their code "8" (for experimental use only) type. Of course the kit is stc'd . We're not talking "brain surgery" . All it needs to do is turn the fuel on and off. Some of this stuff is overkill IMHO.

Mike

[Paul Agaliotis]

Mike,
The last set I put in came with the Imperial valves, I don't know when the kit was purchased. The Imperial valve was a stove valve to shut off the natural gas.
As for the kit being STC'd, all I got was a well worn copy of a STC that was approved in the 60's. Which is only used as supporting data. I still had to get approval of the installation,it's not like bolting on a Brackett filter.
Paul

[MikeB]

Paul,
Kind of off the "cylinder temp gauges" here but the valves I got with the WAG wing tank kit seem to fit your description and they weigh a ton each. I never did figure out how they proposed to mount those valves under the dash. I'm sure it could be done somehow but would have been a cobbled mess so at that point I decided to mount the valves where they basically have been mounted on other L16 wing tank installations, up near the wing root. Considering it's a L16 with no headliner it's a easy installation and Bill Pancake sent me a drawing from the Aeronca Corporation with the valves basically in that location. My IA also agreed, assuming I could come up with some supporting documentation regarding the location.

Looking at the paperwork that came with the tank kit it refers to supplemental type certificate # SA19SO issued to Aero Fabricators. As you said, the rest of the installation instructions leave a lot to the imagination. They are not a 'drop in'. I see the STC was initially issued in 1962 and reissued in 1977 and 1996 for whatever it's worth.

MikeB

[flyingfool]

So I can use an "experimental" altimeter sold by the likes of Aircraft Spruce and not have any legality issues?

TomD

[MikeB]

I'd say so but on the other hand it probably fits under "don't ask and don't tell" catagory". They're probably more accurate than most of the 50-60 year old altimeters still installed in these old timers.

Mike

[Paul Agaliotis]

Tom,
I wouldn't shoot it down for being non TSO but I would if it was some kind of Chinese junk. Buy a quality part and you won't be sorry. Now the Chinese do make some good items, Chow Mein comes to mind.
Paul

[Roger Anderson]

So I can use an "experimental" altimeter sold by the likes of Aircraft Spruce and not have any legality issues?

TomD

You're not even required to have a sensitive altimiter installed TSOd or otherwise. Many Aeroncas were originally equipted with non sensitive altimeters where about one inch of the single hand travel equaled 1000'....more or less.