[drivingpairs] Flyer modifications

Nancy from NH,  (longer than I intended)

Re:  your Bird in Hand Flyer.

I've had my Flyer since the 80s.   Same problem with the crab and lack of
groom seat.   I've made modifications to eliminate the problems through the
years.

Don't know what kind of pole you have.   Mine came with an aluminum
telescoping drop pole with a crab on the end of it.  The first thing I
modifiied was the drop pole by adding a spring to hold up the pole assembly.
We welded a flat piece of metal with a hole in the end to the brace under
the dash, and one to the center of the pole assembly.   The ends of the
spring hook into each of those pieces of metal.   The first spring came from
the hood of a car in a junk yard!  But it worked.

The crab:   (remember my pole is hollow aluminum) we took off the crab and
inserted a swivel end in it, which is held in with bolt or pin.   Had a bar
made with a ring on each end for the snap shackles.   The bar is attached to
the swivel with a pin.   Now you have a tongue that swivels up and down (not
rigid) and a pole that is spring loaded.   I snap the tongue directly to the
"D" ring on the breast collar.   You have "give" in all directions and since
the tongue ends are directly in front of each horse, there is no pulling
away from the pole, like with a the rigid crab.

Groom seat:   I'm assuming you have the groom stand.   I do and here is what
I did for a groom seat.   Find a machine shop that works with aluminum and
has a machine to bend a sheet of aluminum.   It sounds impossible, but these
guys are around and it's not as expensive to do as you might think.    What
you want to have is a sheet of aluminum that will fit between the bars of
the groom stand.  Then have them bend the sheet to follow the bends of the
back of the carriage.   Weld two hooks on the top so that it can be hung on
the back brace of the groom stand.  If you don't have one, make one.  Just
use a flat or round metal bar welded between the rails on the groom stand.
The part where the groom actually stands may be too low for a groom to rest
his feet on if he/she is sitting, so I had them weld a small "stop" at the
right height on each rail near the bottom of the groom stand.    This sheet
of bended aluminum weights only about 25 or 30 lbs, so it's not a problem to
put on or take off.   It's strong enough to hold the weight of about 200 to
300 lbs.   It only touches the carriage where it hooks at the top, and rests
near the bottom.   I had it covered in fabric that matches the seat.  When
it's on the carriage, it looks much like a back-to-back trap.   I think it
cost more $$$ to cover with fabric than what the machine shop charged to
make it.

Hope this is understandable.   If you have questions, you can email me
privately.   I also have photos I can send.  and BTW, my Flyer is still in
great shape....18 years later.

Helen


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