Wobbly dang seat

[DKirkpatrick]

have an antique C172D (1963). Wobbly pilot seat. Seat tracks don't LOOK bad to me. Reckon it's the 60 year old wheels that slide on the seat rails? And if that's maybe the problem, are these a big deal to replace? thanks alot... coaching very much appreciated.
dan

 

[Magman]

There is a recurrent AD on this very topic.

I’ve had to replace the seat “ Grips” on a few.

Articulating seats also have issues with loose / missing roll pins.

IMHO seat back problems stem from moving the loaded seat

with your shoulders rather than lower back.

 

[Gary Ward]

have an antique C172D (1963). Wobbly pilot seat. Seat tracks don't LOOK bad to me. Reckon it's the 60 year old wheels that slide on the seat rails? And if that's maybe the problem, are these a big deal to replace? thanks alot... coaching very much appreciated.
dan

Post a close up picture of your seat track.
How does it roll on the tracks?
I am not sure wore out wheels would make it wobble?
What condition is the seat frame in?
New rollers are not hard to install, I got mine from McFarlane in a kit with side washers.

 

[DKirkpatrick]

Seat seems to be in great shape… maybe a better description is that it’s generally loose…seat wobbles left and right and up and down seems loose. Loose enough that it’s gotta be fixed. Thanks for the replies… will try to get a photo posted but airplane is in Avionics’s shop right now.
Dan

 

[Dan Thomas]

Cessna seats of that vintage tended to be welded steel, with the roller housings welded to them. Hard to replace. The wheels were aluminum and will wear out. The tracks get chewed up on the top by the wheels, and on the edges and underside of the rails where the housings grind on them. Those rails might be thin enough to break and let you flop back and lose control.

Wear is often aggravated when people lube those rollers. The oil attracts grit that then grinds away at everything. The AD specifically forbids lubrication because of that.

That AD mentioned by Magman is here: https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/cawis-swimn/AD_dl.aspx?ad=2011-10-09&cn=US&ft=pdf
It gives extensive details on what is to be inspected and the tolerances for wear. In Canada we had an AD for this, dating from 1987.

I have found many, many defects overlooked by previous mechanics on their "inspections" for this AD. Stuff that certainly did not happen in the last 100 hours or one year since the last AD inspection. I would suggest that the OP get a competent mechanic to look at his seats and rails.

 

[Magman]

A fatal accident and resulting lawsuit in spite of an existing SB is why Cessna

stopped single engine production for about 10 years. Later came the 87 AD

which was superseded by the 2011 version.

IIRC 150’s and 152’s stayed with welded tubing. These DO break

and repairs while keeping alignment is difficult at best.

172’s switched to a different method in early ‘60 ish that used

riveted “ grip assemblies “ ( my term).

ALL aircraft require inspection of the seat system.

Some may require a squeeze to adjust while other need replacement.

btw I know of 2 folks that had the seat roll back on Takeoff.

Consider seat stop placement carefully so YOU can still handle controls.

If access is harder you can get in on the RIGHT side!

 

[DKirkpatrick]

wow. GREAT responses with valuable, experienced information. All things that make this PoA website invaluable. She goes in for an annual next week, and she's gonna get fixed. I don't have an open checkbook, but safety can never be "deferred"... Much obliged for the coaching with this. —dan

 

[Mikey52]

There is an outfit than can rebuild Cessna seat frames. Last I checked they were $4500 per seat for a C150. Can't imagine what the hand cranked articulating seats would cost.

 

[Magman]

Cessna seat repair but AvFab - you tube video will provide some insight.

IIRC seat maintenance is PM for the owner/operator.

However; please don’t be in a hurry to jump into this.

Some knowledge of weldable materials and techniques may be needed.

In all cases alignment is CRITICAL.

Improper repairs may not be easily corrected and repair costs

can skyrocket.

I’ve met 150 seats improperly repaired via brazing.

You never weld over braze so you have scrap!

 

[Dan Thomas]

IIRC seat maintenance is PM for the owner/operator.

FAR 43 Appendix A:

(15) Replacing seats or seat parts with replacement parts approved for the aircraft, not involving disassembly of any primary structure or operating system.
You're lucky down there. In Canada TC takes seats and rails very seriously. Note #4:



Note the absence of "seat parts" there.

 

[Magman]

I’m not sure “ lucky” is correct here?

Relying on a previous owner to address it correctly might

not be “lucky”?

 

[TrueCourse]

With the title of this thread I was expecting it to see a new brand of seats, made by the Wobbly Dang Seat Company.