[f-AA] oleo strut maintenance

[Dwayne...@k12.sd.us]

Just brought my 46 7AC back across the state after annual. Before leaving I had some concern that the oleos were not functioning correctly as when I would rock the plane at pre-flight it did not seem to have any correcting response. I thought I had noted a leak puddle on the floor at the backside of one of the wheels. I am hoping to the seals could last until I am back for annual as the person I use is 300+ miles across the state. Imagine my frustration in living 30 miles from Clark, SD, home of Buzz Wagner prior to his death. I bought my Champ e few years ago and was just getting to know him. He was a potential storehouse of knowledge for me, but I only got to visit with him and few times prior to his death. This all would have been a no-brainer for him, but I worry about "newbies" working (experimenting) on my older aircraft at my expense. I think (am hoping) I just need to have fluid added to my oleos. I have been advised that the process of replacing it up to the

correct level is not too difficult, but would like some fairly specific instructions, including the recommended fluid.
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[Cy Galley]

I would call Dave Rude 919-365-3063 who is in the business of re-building
Aeronca Struts. You can email him at dlr...@excite.com as well. Tell him
that The Aeronca Aviator editor sent you.

Cy Galley; Editor - Aeronca Aviator
Supporting Aeroncas every day
www.aeronca.org

[John Rodkey]

You'll probably want to go to http://hangar9aeroworks.com/Aeroncastrut/Aeroncastrut.html

and read and look through that site.  It covers the topic extremely well.

John

--
John (poobah) Rodkey - N9361E 11AC at Goleta

[John Rodkey]

To be specific, I've quoted a section below about operating the airplane with less than full oil in the oleos:

"IIt's important that the strut is filled COMPLETELY with fluid.  Lift the strut high enough so that it can be completely filled. An Aeronca Service Letter (#40, September 8, 1948) included the following information:  "The landing load factor runs extremely high when the fluid gets low in the oleos - 3/4 full is almost as bad as no fluid at all! Oleos must be kept full of fluid." After filled, of course, screw the plug back in nice and tight. The shot below shows us filling the strut.  We used a turkey baster for the job. It worked great.  For those of you who may have seen instructions to fill the strut with 8.5 ounces of fluid, you should know that that instruction applies to the "no bounce strut", not the standard strut.  If you have the standard strut, fill it up! By the way.... there have been reports of major damage to the oleo assemblies from lack of oil.  Some Aeronca owners have reported that the upper retainer will "mushroom" from the pounding it receives if the strut does not have enough oil.  If this happens, repairs are difficult and expensive.

[Cy Galley]

The original fluid is not available. The FAA recommended fluid is 5606 but some use Deere hydraulic fluid. I’m sure of the name someone will fill in the details.  As I understand it you have to buy 5 gallons which might be about the same price as a gallon of the sticky red stuff. If you have hydraulic brakes you must use 5606 so you don’t really have a choice.

[Cy Galley]

But John Baker says he bought just one gallon at one fourth the price of the red stuff.  Just don’t use it in your brake system.

 

Read John’s complete article.  It tells you everything you need.

[Mark PETERSON]

and didn't we add

O'Reilly Oil - Tractor Fluid

Part # 74505

to the list of substitutions...that you can get in a 1 gallon lifetime supply.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/ORO1/74505.oap?keyword=tractor+fluid

---

From: cga...@mchsi.com
To: aer...@westmont.edu
Date: Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:06:54 -0500

[Roger Anderson]

I use the Deere stuff, getting it at a Deere small equipment place in either qts or 1/2 gals, can't remember which it is.  Tractor Supple stuff is suppose to be good also.  The manual of course says "teleo oil or any good quality hyd fluid", or words to that effect. 

[Roger Anderson]

Hi Dwayne.  I see you're getting the usual excellent answers that you will find on here.  For my Chief, I use a wing support stand at the outer lift strut  point like John Baker shows in his instructions.  I already had one available from something else.  Then its just a matter of removing the wheel and releasing the axle bolt so the whole landing gear pivots up...well first before you do that, remove the little fill plug and let the old fluid drain out.  Then to pivot the gear up past horizontal on my Chief, so I can pour new fluid into the drain hole, I have to release one of the upper gear bolts so I get enough slack in the assemble.  Otherwise, it won't pivot up past horizontal. Maybe you don't have to on the Champ. Then just slowly add new fluid, I use a small turkey baster type thing.  Let it slowly fill until it won't take anymore.  Put the plug back in, don't cross thread, and reassemble.  Just don't let a windy day lift your wing out of your support stand...if that is what you're using.   

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dwayne LaFave" <Dwayne...@k12.sd.us>
To: aer...@westmont.edu

Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 1:20:43 PM
Subject: [f-AA] oleo strut maintenance