Seat Cam Chewed Up - Replacement Needed

[DualRatedFlyer]

Curious if anyone has replaced their seat cam reclining mechanism.  I have had mine pop back into the reclined position a few times, and after removing my seat this week, the most upright position appears to be really chewed up and rounded.  One side looks to be worse than the other, and I believe this is causing an uncomfortable lean to the right.  I couldn't find any solid leads searching through the forum. 

Does anyone have a replacement part or fix that they recommend?

[Marauder]

Let us know where you go with this. Mine are worn but still hold the seat correctly. I would think someone who has a machine shop can help with the owner provided parts approach. Did you check with Mooney (Stacey) to see if they are still used in the current production planes?

[75_M20F]

I have some serviceable seat cams I bought a few years back and never installed that I will sell. I will get some pictures and report back. (next trip to hangar this weekend).

I ended up buying fully articulating seats.... so no need for the replacement cams.....

 

Edited March 1, 2018 by ABCDEF

[Sabremech]

I had new ones machined for my bird. I can have some more made but unsure of the lead time. 

David

[DualRatedFlyer]

4 minutes ago, Sabremech said:

I had new ones machined for my bird. I can have some more made but unsure of the lead time. 

David

Do you have drawings or plans for this?  I may be able to see if the machinist at work could help make me a set. 

[Sabremech]

2 minutes ago, DualRatedFlyer said:

Do you have drawings or plans for this?  I may be able to see if the machinist at work could help make me a set. 

My machine shop has the drawings. 

Thanks,

David

[DualRatedFlyer]

27 minutes ago, Sabremech said:

My machine shop has the drawings. 

Thanks,

David

Thanks David -- let me know what a set of these cost and the potential lead time.

Anyone else have off the shelf solutions?  

[carusoam]

Seat cams went away with the newer seats.  Crank handles and threaded rods are all the rage! 

The steal seat parts are pretty rough on the aluminum cam...

for used parts like these...  @acpartswhse can be helpful...  the challenge would be they are an integral part of the more valuable complete seat.

Best regards,

-a-

[DualRatedFlyer]

9 minutes ago, carusoam said:

Seat cams went away with the newer seats.  Crank handles and threaded rods are all the rage! 

The steal seat parts are pretty rough on the aluminum cam...

for used parts like these...  @acpartswhse can be helpful...  the challenge would be they are an integral part of the more valuable complete seat.

Best regards,

-a-

The crank handles and threaded rods are part of the new seats and are not kit parts that can be installed on the old seats, correct?

[carusoam]

Newer seats are also a very expensive upgrade...

I’m not aware of updating a cam adjustment with a screw adjustment.

I was pointing out that the cam adjustment is no longer the standard, and they got replaced with the newer seats.

Sorry for any confusion.

Best regards,

-a-

[Andy95W]

10 hours ago, DualRatedFlyer said:

Thanks David -- let me know what a set of these cost and the potential lead time.

Anyone else have off the shelf solutions?  

IIRC, José ( @Piloto ) had an interesting solution of adding a piece of split rubber hose to the flat aluminum piece that rides on the cam.

[Guest]

I’ve filed the flats on the recline cam smooth and square and riveted a 1/16 aluminum disc to the inner surface of the cam.  This disc holds the seat back arms in place on the cam.  

Clarence

[yvesg]

6 hours ago, M20Doc said:

I’ve filed the flats on the recline cam smooth and square and riveted a 1/16 aluminum disc to the inner surface of the cam.  This disc holds the seat back arms in place on the cam.  

Clarence

Clarence, would you have a picture of this?

Yves

[EricJ]

6 hours ago, M20Doc said:

I’ve filed the flats on the recline cam smooth and square and riveted a 1/16 aluminum disc to the inner surface of the cam.  This disc holds the seat back arms in place on the cam.  

Clarence

That's an excellent idea.   I didn't even know I had reclining/adjustable seats for a while until discovered it by accident, but then also discovered that it's a really crappy system.  This sounds like a useful improvement.

[Guest]

8 hours ago, yvesg said:

Clarence, would you have a picture of this?

Yves

No pictures, but I made the discs from 1/16” 2024T3 aluminum sheet with an appropriate sizes hole saw.  Essentially you end up with an aluminum washer, you have to drill the hole to the same size as the recline axel.  I knocked the roll pin out of the recline cam to remove the cam from the axel.  With the cam removed I filed the recline flats smooth and square, then drilled holes to attach the washer to the recline cam and riveted it on.  Reinstall the cam to the shaft with the roll pin.

Most hangar ferries or elves can do this.

Clarence

[yvesg]

Thanks Clarence!

[Sabremech]

I'm looking to have a batch of these made. I should have pricing available late Monday. 

David

[Sabremech]

For anyone interested, I can make a set of 4 (2 per seat) for $400. The more I make the less they cost. If anyone is interested, message me or post here. Lead time is about 4 weeks.

David

[Yetti]

[Ned Gravel]

David

I am in. Let me know how you want payment and how you intend to ship them to Canada. 

[Hank]

23 minutes ago, Yetti said:

I thought they were remaking what is in my plane the 3-lobed cam that sets seatback angle, not the wide knurled knob used to turn it . . . .

[Yetti]

I thought it was all one piece.  Seems like if I were to make one, it would be one piece.  I do better with pictures.

[Hank]

I haven't looked that close. But it sure would be easier to make if the outer cam was a separate piece from the knob / handle. Purely from a machinist's perspective, no need to turn all the excess handle material away to leave the cam larger than the knob.

[DualRatedFlyer]

Do you need a handle? What if it was just a much wider cam piece?  It has enough sides (4) so that you could grip it and turn by hand hand. In the future if the cam wore down you could flip it to the other side and continue to use it. 

[Sabremech]

Here’s a few photos of the seat handles that I had made a couple of years ago for my bird. This is what I’ll be making for Ned and anyone else who would like a set.

David