Ercoupe 415-C 9CF Baggage Compartement STC and 1320lb Gross Weight STC

After reading the description of required modifications for the 1320 STC (Alpha Aviation), I don't see any requirement to adjust the elevator travel. It appears you keep the 13 degree up limit of the 415C. This STC only existed because of the Light Sport eligibility weight limit of 1320#. Due to recent changes, that limit is now much higher. Have you considered just converting to a 415D and getting the 1400# limit? (that does require a 9 degree up elevator limit).

If anyone sees that I am incorrect on any of this please correct me.

Similar to what Brooks was saying on the baggage area, Alpha Aviation also has the 1320 STC and it has a PDF you can read over. Looks like a slightly bigger trim tab and limit it to 9° only on the up travel and your bird has to meet certain criteria to be able to use it. (On the PDF)

Point of Interest if you have time and money, you can upgrade your 415-C to a 415-D model which increases the max weight to 1400 lbs: www.univair.com/content/ERC_IL01.pdf

Ronald Raty talks about this here but that is EXPENSIVE. Requires rebuilding parts of the aircraft to reinforce things and you strictly follow the 787 and submit a 337: ercoupe.org/index.php/forum/general/344-c-to-d-upgrade.

Forum discussion on this topic with @larrysnyder: www.ercoupe.org/index.php/forums/non-tec...ons/1200-1320-lb-stc

Here's the link to the STC and kit for it: www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/ercoupe05-15054.php

STC PDF Overview: www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pdf/ERCOUPESTC.pdf

Hi Brandyn,

I have just the small cloth baggage area but I do have the 1320 STC, let me read that over and get back to you with what I find on it tomorrow else I defer to the awesome folks here who are far more knowledgeable than I on all things 'Coupe.

Meanwhile look over the sister Ercoupe site, I think Vern runs this site?
Ercoupers repair pages:
www.ercoupe.info/pmwiki.php/Main/InteriorInstallation
www.ercoupe.info/pmwiki.php/Main/InteriorInstallation-06

Brandyn,

I did the baggage compartment STC and am VERY happy with the results. The baggage space is so much larger, easier to access, and now I have something much sturdier than a canvas bag protecting my control mast from falling items. I flew to Oshkosh and a full set of camping gear fit very nicely in the new baggage compartment and stuff wasn't even stacked above the bottom of the windows.

Some photos and info from a previous thread

I purchased the STC (paperwork) from Alpha Aviation, and then called Vernon Gregory who sold me all of the parts -used taken from a salvage plane - except for the wooden pieces. I spent some time cleaning and repainting all the metal parts, cutting the wood pieces, and then installed it all which took 6-7 hours.

If Vernon hadn't had the used parts, it wouldn't have been difficult to fabricate all the parts. the STC paperwork is excellent and includes full-scale drawings of every single part. It comes with a "shopping list" to order all the metal stock you'll need, and the only ambiguous part is that some of the angle metal they don't specify whether its "L-angle" or "U-angle" but when you order... it's all L-angle.

For the wood, I bought a sheet of beautiful 1/4" plywood from a kayak building supplier and grabbed some stain & varnish locally. In truth a half sheet would have been plenty - I had enough leftover to cut two sets of new floorboards.

I would recommend tools to have on hand:
1. A decent-quality small drill, like a Milwaukee M12 or similar 
2. A set of numbered drill bits - a cheap set like this is fine.
3. A 6x32 thread tap - you're tapping aluminum so don't need an expensive one.
4. A small combo sander - a cheap one like this is fine.
5. A small bandsaw - a simple one like this is fine.
6. Nice but not crazy expensive  metal shears .
7. Maroon Scotchbrite Pads to clean & scuff the metal for painting.
7a. Bonus: some Alumiprep to prep the metal for for priming 
8. A spray can each of etch primer and whatever finishing color you like. 
9. This is the battery cable crimper I used. It wasn't needed for the baggage compartment STC because I left the master switch in the "behind the passenger's right shoulder" position, but then I also did Alpha's Master Switch Solenoid STC and that did require modifying the battery cables. The STC came with all the wire and ends, but not a crimping tool which was required.

The process for limiting elevator travel is to change the location of the "elevator stops" that are on the yoke shafts. Look under your instrument panel, each yoke shaft has a ring bolted on that stops the yoke when the pilot pulls it all the way. Changing the position of this ring changes the maximum "pull" on the yoke and therefore the maximum "up elevator."

You need two people. Leave the yokes and shafts installed, but get under there and unbolt the elevator stop rings. Now they slide fore and aft freely. Have the other person hold the elevator at the desired position while you slide the rings until they touch the back of the control panel as if they were stopping the elevator at this new maximum up angle. Mark this new elevator stop bolt position and then drill a new bolt hole. You'll want a nice spring-loaded center punch to get the drill started in the right place!

 

   

UPDATE: I forgot about one part of the installation. There are three platenuts to install - they're used for the AN526-1032 screws that hold down the baggage compartment wooden floor panels.

If you're like me and always looking or a reason to buy a few extra tools... the best stuff to have would be a 2-Lug 10-32 Plate Nut Drill Jig, a Microstop Countersink attachment for your drill, a 3/8" #40 countersink cutting head, and a rivet squeezer with flush rivet heads.  

On the other hand, this is just six small rivets that don't actually DO anything while you're flying - they just hold the plate nuts in place when you have the floorboards out. Far be it from me to flaunt AC 43.13 but some people might see this as a case where a perfect rivet job isn't strictly vital. You can do without the plate nut jig by using the plate nuts themselves to mark the drill holes - tedious if you were building an entire RV8 but that ain't the case here. The microstop & countersink head would be great to have at about $50 for both, but if you're lacking a squeezer... these are tiny 3/32" rivets and a decent set of parallel jaw pliers or vice grips will squeeze them. 

Alternately, someone around your airport has this stuff and would give you a hand for setting three plate nuts. 

Hi everyone, 

I am considering going through the process of installing the 9 Cubic Feet Baggage compartment STC and the 1320lb Gross Weight increase STC for my 415-C. I wanted to ask this forum if anyone has done these and if they could give me a general idea on the process involved with installing these? I want to see if it might be worth it to have a mechanic or shop do it. 
The Baggage Compartment installation looks like there will be some cutting and rewiring for the battery control switch. This looks like a lot of work but it seems straight forward. 
And the Gross weight increase looks like I will be installing a new 1 3/8" trim tab to replace my smaller tab. I have heard that there is an additional step to limit the travel of the elevator but I can't seem to find that anywhere online.

Thanks!