Bungee Covers

[Steve Pierce]

Decided to take the aluminum bungee covers off. Anybody got an opinion on the best source for the snap on covers? Or any other comments would be appreciated.

Steve

[PA12driver]

CC, Stoddards in Anchorage, perhaps Univair.

I will take one off and take a picture, I am sure any auto/boat/plane interior place could whip them up in no time!

Tim

[Stan]

Just completed removal of metal and installation of covers from Univair. Approximately $50 for two covers. Easy to install, easy to remove for bungee inspection. Wouldn't go back to metal. :P

[PA12driver]

I don't know anyone that "uses their cub" that still has the metal covers on them? I have a shelf full for sale at 50% of new??

Tim

[SuperCub MD]

Don't worry about the legality of flying without the metal covers. At annual, your IA will be so happy he doesn't have to mess with those things, he won't say a word.

[PA12driver]

Besides that, if you are worried about speed lose, put your cub up for sale, and buy a bike!

Only advantage they serve is to identify the user as someone that doesn't fly their cub into the places they were designed to be able to go?

nuff said,

Good original posted question!

Tim

[supercub]

Well..........ahhhhhhhhhhh.................geeeeee eeee.ahbh oh those white things............ya, I know they look like metal bungee covers....but they're ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ..........well.............fabric.........ya, canvas covers..just look like metal.......whew..........don't want to be thought of as someone that doesn't use his cub LOL............"Brian" :wink:

[PA12driver]

Not to worry! You fit right in! My cub looks butt ugly to some but it is mine, it's paid for, and it usually minds when I tell it where to go!

Keep flying,

Tim

[Anne]

Well, okay, I've only had my cub since end of June, and it has (came with) the aluminum bungee covers on it. Why would I want to take them off? What's the advantage of the cloth covers over the metal ones? How do you even get the metal ones off, anyway? Any advantage to the metal ones?

Anne.

[PA12driver]

Anne, there is no "compelling" reason to take them off except as MD stated--they are a Pa..n in the a..s at annual time, cause if your mechanic does a "real annual" he should remove them to check the bungees, the hydrasorbs, for leakage, corrosion, bolt security etc. The most critical, most abused part of your cub is the part between the 'gear legs' and it is the part covered up by the "tin cans". Even a backwoods stuper like me can make the covers if you must? I just went to an apolstery shop, got some scrap naugahyde, a $20 snap tool, and made a copy of the ones that the suppliers sell for $50! 5 snaps and you can inspect your own gear!

If you want you can remove the cans by jacking up the plane, remove the umpteen #4screws from each end, unbolt the strut that connects to the Bungee/fixture and slide the can off. carefully put them on a shelf and if you must you can reinstall them at time of resale? (why would you do that?)

Hope that helps


Tim

PS: you may loose a little top speed, but isn't that what we are trying to do? slow the world down?

[Anne]

Super cub time - yes, its own time zone. Not much "top" speed to lose.

Don't the metal cans protect the bungees in case of (very small) impact? Or from weather? Would the cloth covers protect the cord just as well as the metal ones? It seems like the cloth ones are much lighter than the metal ones - why would you lose speed?

Anne.

[PA12driver]

Anne, I have seen no evidence that the cans protect better than the vinyl covers? Infact most damage comes from wear from movement and rubbing agains each other, (not easily visable do to the hassle of access to the bungees behind the cans.

The cans are streamline and may make a small difference in parasite drag.

As for speed, (guess I just like to see more for a longer time)

Tim