XtraTuf
2011-10-30 03:49:20
I have a small electric motor attached to a gearbox that controls the throttle on my Detroit 371. This servo-motor was originally used to control the flaps or ailerons on a large airplance. A lot of fishing boats in the 60's and 70's adapted these motors to use as throttle controllers, but they are getting hard to find these days. Mine is starting to fail and I'm looking for a replacement to re-build or use for spare parts. The tag on the side says: Rotary Actuator, Model No. 164DTI, Lear, Incorporated, Grand Rapids, MI. I searched for Lear, Inc. on line, but I think they went out of business long ago. I'm guessing this unit was built in the 1950's. If anyone out there knows where I can get one of these, I would sure like to hear from them. My phone number is: 907-738-1198
XtraTuf
2011-10-31 02:55:37
Thanks Capt. Midnite, If you can find your old one I'd like to take it off your hands. I'd be happy to pay you for it and for shipping. I'll try calling Shoreline Diesel, too.
mswkickdrum
2011-10-31 04:33:52
What you need is to find a copy of "trade a Plane". Its the Hemmings motor news of the aviation world.
There surely is a plane or two that use that unit, once you can find out the specific plane that was
used on, you will be able to find vendors who service, rebuild, or sell new that unit. I don't think
lear makes much in the line of parts for small planes anymore, mostly just their jets. Your looking
for a part that was "adapted" to be used in boats, it doesn't "belong" in boats. The "right way, wrong
way, way that works" situation. Obviously they work great in this application or no one would
ever have done the modification to use them. However the application is now outdated so
no one in the marine industry will have much know how about them, just maybe some "old timers"
in old wood boats. (that would be trollers) Alaska is FULL of bush pilots and good AP mechanics
who keep a ton of old birds flying, you should have no problem finding someone who can
figure out where that parts original application is, or how to fix it maybe. You're just looking
up the wrong tree, you're thinking "boat part" because that's where you found it, and since
no one is using those parts in boats anymore, having a tough time. Once you start thinking
of it as a "airplane part" which it really is, you'll get hot onto the trail of finding your solution.
Find a small airport, one with the oldest beat up planes you can find, (like wood trollers) and
you'll find some good help with that part. I'm saying this as a pilot, my dad had a
cardinal built in 67, and in the world of used airplanes, it wasn't even considered old.
All those beavers and otters you see flying up there are older then a car from the 50s.
Virtually every part on them has to be fabricated or restored to keep them airworthy
this long. Someone can help you with that part, you've just got to network and find
them. Send me a personal message if you have no luck, I'm super busy but know some
AP's that might be able to help if you can't make any progress.
MSW
XtraTuf
2011-11-01 15:45:10
OK, thanks. I just bought the one on Ebay. It's not exactly the same, but some of the parts should match up.
Capt. Midnite
2011-11-08 03:16:54
I finally got into my gear shed, after digging through a virtual commercial museum I was unable to find any of those ww2 bomb bay door motors, but what a trip back in time. I have to say that I truly miss my old boat, but I hated the electric throttle. I hope you get fixed up. "MORSE CABLE"