Wheel pant tow hole protection

[togaflyer]

I want to install some type of protection ring around the nose wheel pant tow hole. Is there a product out there or do I need to fabricate something. Any suggestion?

 

[Bill.Peyton]

I know someone out there makes polished metal protection rings. Be careful though, the lineman may think its ok to tow from the reinforcement ring instead of the bolts. I extended my tow Pins/bolts to protrude beyond the wheel pant by just a slight amount just to make it clear that the pins are used for towing. I know of someone who had the wheel pant ripped off by a line guy pulling the plane with the "hole" and not the pin!

 

[Dad's RV-10]

I want to install some type of protection ring around the nose wheel pant tow hole. Is there a product out there or do I need to fabricate something. Any suggestion?

Here's a link to protection rings you can buy from FlyBoy Accessories.

Here's a link to a thread with some alternative ideas.

 

[MacCool]

Here's a link to protection rings you can buy from FlyBoy Accessories.

Here's a link to a thread with some alternative ideas.

Yeah, those are nice but expensive, and they’re a different diameter than standard, apparently…I’ll re-install mine after I re-fiberglass the wheel pants again and can match the hole size. Meantime, I definitely see the need for extended 5/8 pins on the axle in order to mitigate damage from the bars on my Best Tugs tug.

 

[wirejock]

Yeah, those are nice but expensive, and they’re a different diameter than standard, apparently…I’ll re-install mine after I re-fiberglass the wheel pants again and can match the hole size. Meantime, I definitely see the need for extended 5/8 pins on the axle in order to mitigate damage from the bars on my Best Tugs tug.

Anyone have the correct length?
Did you extend with washers or a nut?

 

[Bill.Peyton]

I just purchased chrome hex caps that were longer. aviation section of lowes maybe or fastenal

 

[MacCool]

Anyone have the correct length?
Did you extend with washers or a nut?

Pin adapters /extenders from Best Tugs

 

[MED]

Anyone have the correct length?
Did you extend with washers or a nut?

I used longer cap screws from Fastenal and put a steel bolt sleeve that I cut to length so the lock washer would work. I extended the bolt head outside of the wheel pant about 1/2”. I also made a hole guard from a stainless steel fender washer.

 

[funflying]

I used longer cap screws from Fastenal and put a steel bolt sleeve that I cut to length so the lock washer would work. I extended the bolt head outside of the wheel pant about 1/2”. I also made a hole guard from a stainless steel fender washer.

I used clear 3M tape commonly used on cars for high ware areas and the clear bra.
I cut a 3-4 inch circle, placed it over the hole to be protected, and then cut slices in the hole for the tow bar. I bent those pieces back to the inside of the wheel pant. Still try to be careful with the tow bar but has worked well for 10 years.

 

[Jesse23]

I made these out of SS with an aluminum backing ring with nut plates. The black sleeve is heat shrink tubing outside and pushed into the Bogart end for a really nice fit on the cap screw.

 

[dmattmul]

This works well, use 3:1 adhesive lined shrink tube and fold inside. Longer bolts and sleeves can be purchased at Lowes or Bogert Aviation sells sets.