DonMuncy

Take a look at mine in my gallery. If you are handy, you might consider building your own. I can build them with about $450 in parts and materials. One downside, it is not really portable.

Bart, I know this will be hard to believe, as I probably would not have believed it when I started looking to buy a plane. (I almost died thinking about spending $1000 on a pre-buy, knowing it could not be recouped if I did not buy the plane) But the purchase price is almost insignificant in the ownership picture. An extra $20,000 on the sales price gets lost during the next few years as you have to install stuff, repair stuff, pay insurance, have annual inspections and all the other stuff it takes to fly. I know; anyone who says $20,000 is insignificant must be either rich, stupid or both, but sadly enough, in most cases it is true. Virtually every one of us here appreciates the necessity of not overspending on anything, but be careful of what the cheap plane you find does not have, needs updating, requires repair, etc.

I wish you guys would stop with the new toys that I really ought to have.

Also very interesting to know. I may have to get me one of those small heat guns. They should work much better in tighter spots.

Thanks Lancecasper. That is consoling to know. I was worried that the heat necessary to activate them seemed to be much lower that soldering temperature, and would not bond properly. I like that heat gun. It is neater for this job than the large one I used. Everyone should try these connectors.

Does anyone have any thought as to whether these are make an electrical bond that is secure long term. I got some of them and like them. But they are so easy, I am afraid I am missing something.

Look at the pics I posted, showing mine in place, and make sure our planes are close enough to the same, that it will work. I think they should be, but we want to be sure.

Come on Paul. Interjecting actual knowledge into the discussion? It is a lot easier, and more entertaining to get a mental picture of a kid sitting in front of a mud hut one week and be piloting for Ethiopian Airlines the next.

With that much effort, you could move to Texas. We see snow about every third year, and it generally lasts about 1 day.

Truth is, if a Chinese company geared up and built 1000 of them, they could probably turn them out for $2. You saw where Aircraft Spruce wants $70 for a pair of devices to do the same thing. (My belief is that one of them would provide plenty of security) With the way I bought the material, I have about $12 in one. (Those spring ball latches are pretty expensive.) With the design work in it, I have no idea how much time I have in mine. If I were diligent, I could probably make one in an hour, plus the time for the JB Weld holding the ball latch in place to set up. Knowing that I have no intention of trying to make a living making them, and I really don't want to even turn a profit, how much would you charge for them? It would have to be enough to deter too many people from wanting them. I don't want to wind up spending a month turning them out Additionally, anyone wanting one would have to measure from their usual seat position back to the front of the rear seat, or have me make it long and have the user use a hacksaw to cut to size. Remember, these are hand made, and you would have to live with the quality of my abilities.

I measured the material for the anti-seat latch failure device, in case it is of value to anyone. It is channel aluminum 1/16 inch thick, and 1/2 inch inside width. The step-up shim is 1/8 inch thick by 5/8 wide. The spring ball latch is 5/16 inch outside diameter. The over all length of mine is 16 1/2 inches, but of course, dependent on the usual seat position. I think I keep mine in the second hole from the front.

Three reasons not to overvalue your plane for insurance. 1. The insurance carrier will not go for a GROSSLY evaluated number. 2. Insurance premium goes up some. But most important 3. Say you could somehow insure your $100,000 plane for $200,00. If you have an accident which would require $175,000 to repair, the carrier would pay the $175,000 and you wind up with a plane with significant damage history. You may wish you had $125,000 to replace it. These are exaggerated numbers, but the principle is the same. No right or wrong answer. Your decision.

Here are a couple of photos of the device, in place. I don't think Home depot has the materials. I got mine at a high class hardware store in Dallas (Elliott's). The spring ball catch came from Rockler (Woodworking place). Unfortunately, I left it at the hangar. I will try to get back out there and get the dimensions of the aluminum channel. I will post them when I get the measurements.

I'm not smart enough to have thought of that at the time. I'll see if I can get one.

Pardon me. My eyes saw the post, but my mind read "trim chain cover". They say the memory is the first thing to go, but I think it might be comprehension (or paying attention).