Piper J-4 Cub Coupe Model Guide
Piper J-4 Cub Coupe · Model Guide
Overview
The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe is a two-seat, single-engine piston aircraft built from 1938 to 1942. The Sensenich propeller list shows J-4 variants with Continental, Franklin or Lycoming engines from 50 to 85 hp. The supplied documents give no weight, speed or range figures, so rely on the aircraft's own paperwork for those.
- Two seats. Engine depends on variant: 50, 60, 65, 75 or 85 hp (J-4, J-4B, J-4A/J-4F, J-4E, J-4 with C-85).
- Piper Service Bulletin 836A covers all J-4 Coupes: check battery and starter cables for aluminum wire and replace it with copper.
- Norwegian airworthiness directives call for repeated 100-hour checks of strut fittings on Piper Cubs. Ask for the compliance records.
- No weight and balance data, speeds or performance figures were supplied. Get the aircraft's own flight manual and weight and balance.
Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.
Reference only, not for flight. Use the current approved manual for your aircraft. See terms, section 5.
Document
Source
Copy found at sprinkle.com. Sprinkle hosts a reference copy with an added summary, specifications and searchable full text.
Document details
- Type ·
- Model Guide
- Year ·
- 2026
- File size ·
- 47 KB
- Copy found at ·
- sprinkle.com
Specifications & performance
Extracted from this document.
Specifications
- Seats ·
- 2
- Last year ·
- 1,942
- First year ·
- 1,938
- Continental a50 (hp) ·
- 50
- Continental a65 (hp) ·
- 65
- Continental a75 (hp) ·
- 75
- Continental c85 (hp) ·
- 85
- Franklin 4ac171 (hp) ·
- 60
What engines were fitted to the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe?
The Sensenich list shows the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe with a Continental A-50 (50 hp), Franklin 4AC-171 (60 hp), Continental A-65 (65 hp), Lycoming O-145-B (65 hp), Continental A-75 (75 hp) and Continental C-85 (85 hp), depending on variant.
Is there a mandatory service bulletin for the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe?
Yes. Piper Service Bulletin 836A, dated August 26, 1986, lists the J-4 Series Coupe (all serial numbers). It requires inspecting battery, starter and ground cables for aluminum wire and replacing it with copper.
Do the documents give performance figures for the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe?
No. For the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe, the supplied documents give no speeds, range, weights or useful load. The weight and balance document had no readable text. Get these figures from the aircraft's own manual.
What is the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe Model Guide?
The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe Model Guide is a model guide for the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe, dated 2026.
What year was the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe Model Guide published?
The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe Model Guide — the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe model guide on file — is dated 2026.
Most owners only have the POH. Here's the essential set for the Piper J-4 Cub Coupe.
- Pilot's Operating Handbook / AFM
- Checklist
- Maintenance Manual
- Parts Catalog (IPC)
- Systems & Wiring
- Service Bulletins on file
- Type Certificate (TCDS)
More Piper J-4 Cub Coupemanuals & documents
Related documents
In this document
Engines and propellers
Sensenich lists these J-4 pairings: J-4 with Continental A-50 (50 hp), W76B-47; J-4A, Continental A-65 (65 hp), W72CK-42; J-4B, Franklin 4AC-171 (60 hp), W70F-47; J-4E, Continental A-75 (75 hp), W70DK-42; J-4F, Lycoming O-145-B (65 hp), W70LY-36; J-4 with Continental C-85 (85 hp), W76RK-2-46. Confirm the fitted propeller matches the engine.
Tailwheel and landing gear
Scott lists tailwheel and rudder-arm parts for the J-4 Coupe (rudder arm 1140 fits Cub J-3, J-4 and J-5). Scott's handbook sets spring connector tension at about 25 to 30 pounds and recommends 45° of steering each way. A Norwegian directive says the J-4 has rubber-cord gear springing, unlike the bent-axle telescopic-strut gear that needed X-ray axle checks on another Cub Coupe type.
Inspection items to ask about
A Norwegian directive lists the J-4 for fabric tears at the cabin attachment under the upper windshield. The scan is partly illegible, so verify compliance. Another directive covers cracked strut fittings on Piper Cubs: inspect with good light and a loupe, at the first 25-hour check and then every 100 hours. A third covers loose aileron-balance flange rivets: check every 100 flight hours.
Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.
Safety notes
- SB 836A: corroded aluminum battery or starter cables can overheat and start an electrical fire. Replace with copper within 50 hours of the next inspection.
- Cracked fuselage strut fittings on Piper Cubs could cause total failure. Have an authorized mechanic inspect them and check the records.
- The directives in the documents are historic. Confirm current airworthiness directive status for the specific aircraft.
Summary written by AI from the source document. Check the original before relying on it. See which parts of Sprinkle are written by AI.
Full document text
Piper J-4 Cub Coupe Model Guide The Piper J-4 Cub Coupe is a two-seat, single-engine piston aircraft built from 1938 to 1942. The Sensenich propeller list shows J-4 variants with Continental, Franklin or Lycoming engines from 50 to 85 hp. The supplied documents give no weight, speed or range figures, so rely on the aircraft's own paperwork for those. • Two seats. Engine depends on variant: 50, 60, 65, 75 or 85 hp (J-4, J-4B, J-4A/J-4F, J-4E, J-4 with C-85). • Piper Service Bulletin 836A covers all J-4 Coupes: check battery and starter cables for aluminum wire and replace it with copper. • Norwegian airworthiness directives call for repeated 100-hour checks of strut fittings on Piper Cubs. Ask for the compliance records. • No weight and balance data, speeds or performance figures were supplied. Get the aircraft's own flight manual and weight and balance. Engines and propellers Sensenich lists these J-4 pairings: J-4 with Continental A-50 (50 hp), W76B-47; J-4A, Continental A-65 (65 hp), W72CK-42; J-4B, Franklin 4AC-171 (60 hp), W70F-47; J-4E, Continental A-75 (75 hp), W70DK-42; J-4F, Lycoming O-145-B (65 hp), W70LY-36; J-4 with Continental C-85 (85 hp), W76RK-2-46. Confirm the fitted propeller matches the engine. Tailwheel and landing gear Scott lists tailwheel and rudder-arm parts for the J-4 Coupe (rudder arm 1140 fits Cub J-3, J-4 and J-5). Scott's handbook sets spring connector tension at about 25 to 30 pounds and recommends 45° of steering each way. A Norwegian directive says the J-4 has rubber-cord gear springing, unlike the bent-axle telescopic-strut gear that needed X-ray axle checks on another Cub Coupe type. Inspection items to ask about A Norwegian directive lists the J-4 for fabric tears at the cabin attachment under the upper windshield. The scan is partly illegible, so verify compliance. Another directive covers cracked strut fittings on Piper Cubs: inspect with good light and a loupe, at the first 25-hour check and then every 100 hours. A third covers loose aileron-balance flange rivets: check every 100 flight hours. Safety notes: • SB 836A: corroded aluminum battery or starter cables can overheat and start an electrical fire. Replace with copper within 50 hours of the next inspection. • Cracked fuselage strut fittings on Piper Cubs could cause total failure. Have an authorized mechanic inspect them and check the records. • The directives in the documents are historic. Confirm current airworthiness directive status for the specific aircraft.