Leather Nuts!

We received a good restoration hint from Charles who is rebuilding a turning motor for the Bayport Aerodrome, New York.  He normally works on player pianos.  He recommends replacing old leather nuts with plastic ones.  Charles says that leather nuts supplied today are full of acid and he has had steel threaded rods destroyed in less than 10 years by them.  He recommends plastic nuts with a ¼” hex head which look something like a leather nut. 

Alathon Nuts sold by Klann Organ

They are available from Klann Organ Supply,  www.klannorgan.com .  They have a #50 center hole and will go on to most small threads.  They tend to crack if the thread is too big so it is best to drill out the center hole to about 0.010” under the outside diameter of the threads you are going on to.  #50 = 0.070”.  A tip of the hat to Charles. 

Elevator valve cleanup, lube, & new hoses

Elevator valve is cleaned up, lubricated, and ready for reinstallation.

Our Esp’s Elevator Valve was so old and dirty that the top and bottom sections were “stuck” together. We cleaned it up, lubricated it with gun oil, and connected it to the pitch bellows with new 5/8″ vacuum hoses.

This video shows the elevator valve refurbishing, and describes its operation.

Rock N Roll

The aileron valve controls the trainer’s bank angle.

We have been working on our aileron valves.  The primary problems involve old gummy lubrication which caused them to be stiff, dirty dry linkage, and cracked hoses.  We removed the valves, disassembled them, cleaned the old dirt and grease off, then lubricated them with gun oil.  We replaced worn and cracked hoses.  The aileron valve moves smoothly now.  

Check out the Aileron valve section under Restoration hints for more info.  

Place one cent stamp here

Here is a tinted postcard of the Link Trainer Building at Napier Field, Dothan, Alabama.  Napier Field was built as a military base during World War II.  The postcard description is ‘ “Learning to fly by not flying” these Cadets and their Instructors are busily engaged in piloting Link Trainers to a successful landing by the use of instruments only.’  It was published by Dothan Cigar & Candy Company. 

Notice the light horizontal streaks on the floor?  Likely a photo touch-up covering the large cables between the trainer and the instructor’s console.

Link Trainer post card published during WWII.

Back of Link Trainer post card.