Jack R. Thompson:
I’m trying to figure out if I can adjust/aim the landing light on my 1977 Sundowner. Anybody know? Any info available on installing a right wing taxi light? Some of the planes seem to have them.
Editor:
There is no provision I have ever seen for aiming these lights in these planes. The bulb mounts in a cut-out in the intercostal (bulkhead and sub-rib), and is held in place by a typical bulb-retaining ring.
These bulbs can get pretty hot, particularly if you are using the correct 250-watt landing light lamp. Our lights have fairing lenses, so they don’t get a lot of cooling airflow; particularly if you have to use it for ground taxi. You can try shimming the bulb with tape, to move the focus point in the desired direction. If you try this, I recommend using the metal-foil tape commonly used to seal HVAC duct-work. It is available at any Lowes or Home Depot, in with the metal heating-cooling ducts. Even if the adhesive deteriorates due to the heat, the metal foil won’t shift under the clamping pressure.
These planes were certified with optional taxi lights, in both wings. A large percentage of them came from Beech with a single-pole, double-throw, center-off switch, labeled “Landing”, “Off”, and “Taxi”. They also had the taxi light wiring pre-installed in both wings. If you have the wiring and switch, it is a simple matter to add the left wing taxi light.
While they are listed as different part numbers, there is no difference between the single-light intercostal and double-light intercostal except the second hole and retainer. Same metal, same dimensions, etc. A decent metalworker can easily add the second hole and place the fasteners (I seem to recall they are floating clip-nuts). You buy the bulb retainer (PN 169-110000-235, $24), install the taxi light bulb, and connect the wire. For next to no expense, you have a taxi light and back-up landing light. All that should be required are complete logbook entries for the installation, as it was a factory option.
You can also have the right wing taxi light installed, though it will cost more. You have to buy both the intercostal (PN 169-364017-4, $45) and the retainer, plus the lens (PN 169-110000-237, $308) and lens retainer (PN 169-110000-239, $116). You also need the small standard hardware. Beech offered a combined retainer-lens assembly (PN 169-110000-247, $550), but it was exorbitantly expensive. All these parts are still available from Beech. The intercostal, the most specialized and critical piece, seems like a relative bargain in today’s parts world. The retainer could easily be field-fabricated, and the lenses are available from PMA suppliers. If you are lucky, you can probably find a good retainer with lens from a salvage yard, though most have cracks due to being over-tightened.
Then the scary part; the hole has to be cut in the (very expensive if screwed up) wing, and the intercostal properly riveted in place, with flush rivets on the wing surface; you can use the left wing factory installation as a model. You use the new intercostal and the lens retainer to properly locate the wing cut. The rest is easy. Please note that this level of work requires both care and experience to do a professional job, without causing serious damage.