a boot out there to keep the cold out??

[DKirkpatrick]

Hello. Have a C-172D. Has the center control column, not the 172 with the big center fairing... The center control column has quite a bit of travel required, and the carpet isn't really keeping Mother Nature out (the cold wind gets in...). Is there somebody out there that makes a boot that can go around the column, to keep the wind out of the floor so badly?
Coaching would be much appreciated.
thanks
dan

 

[DKirkpatrick]

I'm not describing the control column very well. It's the vertical bar, has a plastic cover on it, attached as a Tee to both pilot and copilot yokes. Has carpet around it, but a little less daylight would be helpful.
thanks

 

[Dan Thomas]

I'm not describing the control column very well. It's the vertical bar, has a plastic cover on it, attached as a Tee to both pilot and copilot yokes. Has carpet around it, but a little less daylight would be helpful.
thanks

You have other problems. There should be no daylight there at all. The firewalls and bellies of those airplanes are sealed to keep carbon monoxide out of the cabin. You need to get under the airplane and check the firewall and belly for openings. There are boots on the nosewheel steering rods, and they are often tattered and shot. McFarlane has them. There is also an inspection opening in the belly directly under that column, and maybe the cover is missing or warped or loose. There should be seals around the main landing gear legs at the fuselage. All the cables and controls running through the firewall should have closure plates or other seals.

 

[DKirkpatrick]

thanks Dan. Will get a pair of A&P eyes on all those things. Appreciate the help.
dan

 

[Gary Ward]

thanks Dan. Will get a pair of A&P eyes on all those things. Appreciate the help.
dan

Like Dan said, something is up if you are seeing day light in the middle of cockpit. But I am not familer with the older 172s.

Early on when I first got my plane my CFII asked me why he could see the ground down by his rudder peddles on my 1980 N model 172?
My steering boots were junk.

New ones were not that hard to replace with the right tools and soft rivets.

These are economy boots, not kevlar. I was on budget at the time?

They have held up good so far now for 4 years and 800 hrs flying. Easy enough to replace when needed in the future.

 

[Dan Thomas]

Like Dan said, something is up if you are seeing day light in the middle of cockpit. But I am not familer with the older 172s.

Early on when I first got my plane my CFII asked me why he could see the ground down by his rudder peddles on my 1980 N model 172?
My steering boots were junk.


New ones were not that hard to replace with the right tools and soft rivets.

These are economy boots, not kevlar. I was on budget at the time?

They have held up good so far now for 4 years and 800 hrs flying. Easy enough to replace when needed in the future.

Those boots are supposed to be of fireproof material, for obvious reasons. It's why the right stuff isn't cheap.

https://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/products/product/MC0543015-6/

 

[Magman]

On some aircraft the rivets are structural and secure more than just the boots.

Zero points if you make the holes bigger or use wrong rivets!

 

[DKirkpatrick]

all good coaching. MUCH appreciated