185 Gear legs for C170A (Moved from MX Library)

[wingnut170]

Does anyone know if the gear from a 185 will fit on a 170A?......Thanks.....Ray
email: rbock@chartermi.net

[blueldr]

I've never known anyone to try to install C-185 gear legs on a C-170 0f any sub series. However, C-185 gear legs will fit a C-180, and C-180 gear legs will fit a C-170. So-------! I would immagine that C-185 gear legs would be adequately stiff to handle the mighty C-170.

P,S. You'll probably have to "skinny down" the locking wedges due to the extra thickness of the C-185 legs.

[hilltop170]

They should fit but I do not know of any basis of approval.

If I had a set of 185 gear legs I would find someone with a 180 and trade them for their 180 legs plus some boot.

I would then put the 180 legs on the 170 with one of the STCs that are out there.

180 legs are just the right stiffness for the 170, especially when at gross wt. The 185 legs would be too stiff in my opinion and I don't know of any STC for the installation.

[marathonrunner]

Do the 180 gear legs. the 185 would be too stiff. Bigger is not always better. Just ask your wife I think she will agree.

[mekstrand]

Ray,

Here’s the short answer. Yes, they will fit.

I would agree with the other posts that the 185 gear would not be my first choice for a 170. In addition to being heavier than necessary (5-7 lbs additional weight per leg), the axles would be moved a couple inches forward which would place additional weight on the tailwheel assembly. (This would also be a consideration if installing late 180 gear P/N 0741001-3 & 0741001-4) The 170 tailwheel assembly and leaf springs are not as robust as the tapered rod assembly used on the 180-185 series, and in my opinion any additional loads would not be desired.

I just went through this process myself and I believe early 180 gear (P/N 0741001-1, 0741001-2) is the best for retrofit on the 170 series. The suggestion to trade your 185 gear for 180 gear (and $$) is a very good idea.


The basis of approval for 185 gear legs on any C-170 does exist.

STC SA01756NY allows the installation of landing gear legs P/N 0741001-1 through -8, or 054118-2 through -3 on any Cessna 170, 170A, 170B, and 180.

The STC is available from:

QCR Aviation
694 St-Gregoire
Les Cedres, QC J7T 3A4
Canada
(450) 452-2567

The STC was $230 USD when I purchased it last year.

Take Care,

Marshall

[blueldr]

Try running the CG numbers backwards. Moving the main gear axles 3 3/4" forward doesn't make that much difference. I used axle forward gear legs on my airplane when I installed the heavier IO-360 engine and CS prop.

[mekstrand]

Try running the CG numbers backwards. Moving the main gear axles 3 3/4" forward doesn't make that much difference. I used axle forward gear legs on my airplane when I installed the heavier IO-360 engine and CS prop.

My experience is that axle forward gear will add a significant amount of weight to the tailwheel. This is most noticeable in the 3 point attitude (in soft sand).

Blueldr, what was the weight on your tailwheel before and after the gear swap?

[blueldr]

I do not have any idea now what the weights were before the gear swap, but the the weight of the airplane changed considerably with the change of the engine to the IO-360 and the CS prop. They were both done at the same time, and in addition I moved the battery back behind the baggage compartment and made some other modifications. The airplane was re weighed after everything was done.