Havard of Hurricane Spade Grip

The Canadians (oh forgot to say that Graham’s grip is Canadian)….used spade grips in Hurricanes and Harvards….early Harvards still had the Bowden cable ‘guide’ attached….later these were ‘shaved off’ the 2040 casting for pure Harvard use….later 2242’s were fitted that had castings that were already modifed to remove the guide…..if anyone is suitably sad i could post phots of all the types, tho that would show how sad I am!!

When you say early do you know what date this Grip is likely to be?ie when the 2242’s were introduced? isnt 2040 the Hurricane number also?

You are getting your favourite Dunlop numbers muddled, Graham.

4040 is the Spitfire Triple Brake Pressure Guage, 2040 is what is on your grip, as the picture shows quite clearly.

Ah yes get over excited about numbers again, I am confused, it seems the only real difference is the omission of the pillor and the brake lever that sits on it, did Canadian Hurricanes use brass firing butons?? So it’s a Hurricane grip modified by removing the brake lever to fit a Harvard?? is that a fair comment?

The Canadians (oh forgot to say that Graham’s grip is Canadian)….used spade grips in Hurricanes and Harvards….early Harvards still had the Bowden cable ‘guide’ attached….later these were ‘shaved off’ the 2040 casting for pure Harvard use….later 2242’s were fitted that had castings that were already modifed to remove the guide

Hmm. Interesting stuff.

tho that would show how sad I am!!

I couldn’t possibly comment.:D 😀

You are getting your favourite Dunlop numbers muddled, Graham.

4040 is the Spitfire Triple Brake Pressure Guage, 2040 is what is on your grip, as the picture shows quite clearly.

My honest opinion is that it is Harvard. When you won it on Ebay it had the stainless bolts fitted that hold the retaining piece (that restrains the brass pneumatic gun tubes). This implies Harvard as the Harvard had no need for a brake lever. The fact there is a piece of Bowden Cable in the holder is a complete ‘herring rouge’ it has probably ‘fallen into this position’ as without a brake lever that would be pointless.

Having said all that, if you asking can it be fitted to a Hurricane? Well yes it can provided you fit the correct brake lever post and the parking catch.

Think you might have got the AH number wrong…hope this all helps? Any luck with the skin old chap?

Have turned both my workshops upside down looking for that skin, its not with all the other panels i have in a box, I think i have put it somewhere safe!!!!. Its triangular with a steep curve, looks like it was fitted around the windscreen. It will turn up , we are having a major tidy up.

Its definately marked AH 4040 (see picture) which was i understand used on the Hurricane . The bit of brake cable is welded in with corrosion I don’t think its been added. This may have been used on a Harvard but it seems to me that their is no difference in the grip design. I also have an original grip sat on top of a Hurricane column and other than the post that holds the brake lever there’s no difference, my grip does have a bako button not brass.
Perhaps these grips were used in both aircraft types? The plate that covers the air tubes to the button is also present on the Hurricane grip. will upload some pics seems I have exceeded my quota.

So why would the Bowden Cable “holder” be there in the first place then? Isn’t that cast in and therefore an integral part of it?

The Canadians (oh forgot to say that Graham’s grip is Canadian)….used spade grips in Hurricanes and Harvards….early Harvards still had the Bowden cable ‘guide’ attached….later these were ‘shaved off’ the 2040 casting for pure Harvard use….later 2242’s were fitted that had castings that were already modifed to remove the guide…..if anyone is suitably sad i could post phots of all the types, tho that would show how sad I am!!

I agree with Tony’s views.

To me, the absence of the pins/posts on which the brake lever and parking catch are mounted is always a warning that you are looking at a Harvard grip which has merely had the screws which hold the stainless restraining plate removed.

Why would anyone go to the trouble of removing the pins? It’s not as straightforward as unscrewing them, the brake lever pin is also locked in position by a tiny pin which has to be removed – not easy to do.

By contrast, I bought a “proper” Hurricane grip off ebay which was also missing the brake lever and parking catch – however both pins are still in situ.

By proper, I mean it is still attached to the upper portion of the column, and bound to it by years of dirt and corrosion.

I’ll sell it to you for an obscene amount of money, if you like! How about £500 and your grip taken in p/x? 😀

The fact there is a piece of Bowden Cable in the holder is a complete ‘herring rouge’ it has probably ‘fallen into this position’ as without a brake lever that would be pointless.

So why would the Bowden Cable “holder” be there in the first place then? Isn’t that cast in and therefore an integral part of it?

I have what I think is a Hurricane Spade Grip. Its got the brake lever fitting with the cable holder and it even has a bit of the old cable attached. Its marked AH4040. I have test ftted an original brake lever as it arrived without one and its fits perfectly. The problem i have is I have been told its Harvard and its also got a brass firing button. Any comments gratefully recieved.

My honest opinion is that it is Harvard. When you won it on Ebay it had the stainless bolts fitted that hold the retaining piece (that restrains the brass pneumatic gun tubes). This implies Harvard as the Harvard had no need for a brake lever. The fact there is a piece of Bowden Cable in the holder is a complete ‘herring rouge’ it has probably ‘fallen into this position’ as without a brake lever that would be pointless.

Having said all that, if you asking can it be fitted to a Hurricane? Well yes it can provided you fit the correct brake lever post and the parking catch.

Think you might have got the AH number wrong…hope this all helps? Any luck with the skin old chap?