[Boatanchors] ATC/ART-13 Maintenace Crank Opportunity

[Bill Carns]

The Collins Collectors Association is in the process of making some video
and printed training material that applies to the ATC & ART-13. There is an
opportunity to obtain the very hard to find Autotune manual maintenance
crank tool.

 

Well, Opportunity is knocking.  (and please reply off list)

Recently I had the privilege of spending several days working with a
gentleman that was involved with the Avionics Repair facility in the Air
Force that supported the Berlin Air Lift. The C-54 aircraft involved in the
Air Lift all carried ART-13s and this gentleman has overhauled and repaired
more ART-13s than you and I will ever see in our lifetime - combined. He
then worked for Collins Radio and was recently involved with overhauling and
getting the Fifi B-29 ART-13s up to snuff.

In the process of going through the training, I learned a LOT about the
ART-13 and how to maintain it and how to R&R the autotunes and align them.
This has all been documented and will be presented on the website when it is
edited.

In the process, I learned that, in order to maintain an ART-13 properly, and
align the servos if they are removed, you need a special tool that is a
crank that inserts in the right side (from the front view) of the autotune
drive and allows you to operate it manually while you are aligning
everything.

These cranks were supplied to repair facilities and have long since
disappeared. I had never seen one before and never even heard of one.

The man that was training us has a son who is a model shop machinist and he
has made several cranks for use in Cedar Rapids.

He has offered to make them in volume and supply them to us for our
maintenance needs..  The initial estimate of the cost is $35 assuming we hit
a minimum volume where he can buy the materials in a cost effective
quantity.

I have seen this crank and used it and it is first class work.

The final cost would then be $35 + shipping, so say around $40.

I am now asking for you to send me an email if you are interested in
purchasing one or more of these cranks. I will then add up the quantities,
and get a final quote and then let you all know what the final price is..
It may go up or down a little depending on the total quantity that is
committed.

Please do not tell me you want one if you are not going to follow through.
We do not want to hurt these guys financially.

So, send me your needs, and I will add it all up and we will proceed.

By shortly after you get your crank, the training video will be up on our
CCA website, and there will be written instructions available to help you
understand the use of the crank and the alignment process.

Standing By here for inputs, and if you think that you may be working on an
ART-13, now is the time to get your crank. Given the circumstances, I think
this is probably a one-time deal.

 

Please reply OFF LIST by email.  If you have questions, feel free to email
or call me.

 

Bill Carns, N7OTQ

K0CXX, Trustee MRCCC

President Collins Collectors Association

Editor, Signal Magazine

Founding Member # AC94-0009

512 618 2762 (Cell + VM)

512 847 7010 (Home + Fax)