Cessna 180 float kit

[skywagon8a]

If those "holes" could handle it landing as a tail dragger... I can't see them being any bigger deal landing as a float plane. TD.. tries to stretch the lower tailcone floor as you paste it on on all three..... and floats will try to compress everything behind the rear float attaches during an "arrival" !

"stretching" and "compressing" are two opposite forces. Therefor they require different stress considerations.

 

[irishfield]

Yah guys.. as an electro-mechanical engineer I understand which way forces go and know how to calculate them...

Are these holes aft of the rear float attach points?

 

[skywagon8a]

they modified it with three camara ports two of which are in the baggage area and one under the pilots feet. Go figure. One of the ports is massive in the baggage area. It is tear drop shaped and roughly 18"-24" wide and about 24"-30" long. They rerouted the cables in the belly and you can pull the cover off of the belly and off of the baggage floor and it is open all the way through. The thing looks like you could mount a belly gun turret to it.

Yah guys.. as an electro-mechanical engineer I understand which way forces go and know how to calculate them...

Are these holes aft of the rear float attach points?

Those are big holes right in the middle of the seaplane landing loads. Would you really feel comfortable just bolting on a set of floats and signing them off? As an IA, I would not, without having engineering look at it.

 

[dalec]

Dave

I am looking to do this to my 55 C-180 this summer as well. Looks like the cub is sold so I can buy floats and install a float kit. Do you still have some of the pieces for the Float kit and drawings available?

Thanks
Dale Carlson

 

[aktango58]

Hey Dale,

Sorry we missed in Skagway. Long night.

Bring one of those birds over, grass is cut.

 

[dalec]

George

I will try to bring the C-180 down your way over the 4th, weather permitting. I am leaving Skagway mid next week and won't be back here other than for a short visit until October.

 

[Dave Calkins]

Dave

I am looking to do this to my 55 C-180 this summer as well. Looks like the cub is sold so I can buy floats and install a float kit. Do you still have some of the pieces for the Float kit and drawings available?

Thanks
Dale Carlson

Hi Dale. I have the drawings and a couple of the doublers.

I am on my rotation at Kulik Lodge for several more days, but will be back in town next week. It's Saturday evening as I write this.

PM me your number and I'll talk to you when I am back in the scary real world. It has been an amazing run of stellar days here. Opening day of fishing, the lodge is hopping, and people are happy.

Katmailand.com .........if anyone wants to know.

 

[dalec]

I am on my rotation at Kulik Lodge for several more days, but will be back in town next week.

Dave I have fished the Kulik and it can be a blast.. I never feel sorry for anyone fishing out there I caught one just over 30" on the Naknek March 30th... I know the addiction. My contact info is in your PM... enjoy the rest of your hitch

 

[Matt 7GCBC]

Looking for a water retract lever and a set of rear fuselage attachments for EDO 2960s if anyone has some stuff laying around the hangar that they would like to donate or sell. Going to try to spend some time in SE later this summer. Thanks very much! Matt

 

[irishfield]

Looking for a water retract lever and a set of rear fuselage attachments for EDO 2960s if anyone has some stuff laying around the hangar that they would like to donate or sell. Going to try to spend some time in SE later this summer. Thanks very much! Matt

First contact should always be Doug Ronan... never know what he has in the barn! doug@dougronan.com

 

[280fx]

I installed the float kit on my 1955 C-180. About 180 hours and $9,000 worth of parts. Had to make quite a few owner produced parts as well,mainly doublers, as those were no longer available for purchase. I have drawings for all year C-180 float kits if you need them.

Jake,
Could you please send me these float kit drawings?
Thanks,
Dean

 

[dalec]

Jake,
Could you please send me these float kit drawings?
Thanks,
Dean

I did this to my 1955 this past summer, If you get in touch with Peter at Skywagon city he was able to provide everything but two skins that we had to purchase from Cessna.

 

[280fx]

I did this to my 1955 this past summer, If you get in touch with Peter at Skywagon city he was able to provide everything but two skins that we had to purchase from Cessna.

Thank you, I got in touch with Peter and he is helping me with the parts...

 

[kb180g]

I was thinking how handy that might be for some preditor control. LOL

If I have to I can replace that belly skin and the baggage floor to return it to stock configuration, and I do have that skin and a spare floor to do it with but I would rather not. The camera bay goes through the floor between the float attach bulkhead and the bulkhead at the rear door post. So it consists of a tear drop hole in the belly skin with a really beefy tear drop doubler that is a good 8"-10" bigger than the hole and extends beyond the bulkheads on each end. The floor has an equally beefy doubler on it as well as and 1/8" aluminum plate over that for the rear seat tracks to bolt too. Other than that the only change was another set of pulleys to route the cables around the hole. The bulkheads are not modified at all. Structurally I think it is stronger than stock. Ether way our FSDO is not known for common since or friendliness so I don't think I will be talking to them about it. About 10 years ago I would have agreed with you but sadly things have changed there.
Shawn

I am about to do the same, I have a float kit from a wrecked 180 and and about to install it in my 64 180. Do you or anyone else know where I can get drawings

 

[willyb]

I got copys of the factory prints directly from Cessna for the 175.I would give them a call.

Bill

 

[new guy]

I know this is some time after your original post, regarding drawings for the early c-180 float kit....are they still avalable...I am a new guy and have a set of early edo 249-2750 amphibian floats that I would like to put on an older 180....do you know where I might purchase a float kit ? I would realy appreciate your thoughts...thanks

 

[skywagon8a]

Welcome new guy, That which you propose to accomplish is extremely labor intensive. A "float kit" which you wish to install is a misnomer as Cessna only supplied the "float option" as a factory installed item which was built into the airframe during the original construction. That being said there have been some installed in the field. I suggest that you study the Cessna 180 parts manual to determine just which parts go where. There are a considerable number of double skins, some of which are compound shapes, which will involve removing a large quantity of rivets on the lower part of the cabin section of the fuselage and up the sides. Unless you are capable and are able to do most of the labor yourself with some friends, you had best be prepared to spend a considerable amount of $$$$$. About 25 years ago I was told by a Cessna shop owner that he had done some of these mods for $10,000 and did not want to do another. Parts availability is another issue as these 180/185s have been out of production for more than 30 years.

That being said, an early 180 on EDO 249-2705 floats is a good performer. Be aware that the extra weight of the amphibs will be like carrying a passenger around all of the time. Also, Do not run the engine with hydraulic pump installed without it being connected to the hydraulic system as it will be destroyed without the constant flow of hydraulic oil. Those pumps are expensive. If you do not have the engine pump with the associated plumbing you would do well to consider installing the later style electric pump system.