----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]----
Your procedure for servicing the MLG struts is great. My current problem however, is that I have the struts off to install spacers to raise the tail. The Ercoupe service manual says approximately 10 oz of hydralic fluid is required to fill the stut. I have completely emptied the lower portion of the stut and shook all the fluid out of the upper portion (the piston portion with the small hole in the bottom) and there is no way you can put 10 oz in. I can get maybe 5 oz or so in the piston portion and then fill the lower section up to the filler hole, but I still have 4 or 5 oz left in my measuring cup! It seems obvious to me that you must have some air space left for movement of the strut parts or you will have no shock absorber action, it will behave just like one solid piece of metal. My question is how much space? One would think that there should be a fixed amount of fluid one could put in a strut and when you reassemble everything it would be done! This seems to be more art or black magic than science. Again, I assume that there must be some shock absorber action to the strut but when the plane is finally at rest the upper portion of the 'bell' piece at the top of the bellevue washer stack must come to rest on the lower side of the spacer at the top. If this doesn't happen then obviously the spacer does no good and the only think holding the tail up would be the hydralic fluid itself. I really could use some help in figuring this out. How much fluid should a totally empty strut hold? Best and thanks to all, Maynard Kealiher Ercoupe 415C mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- From: IFLYSMODEL [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2001 5:30 AM To: coupers Cc: IFLYSMODEL Subject: RE: [COUPERS] Servicing Struts ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Greg; In order to properly service the Coupe struts, and most others for that matter, you need to remove the load from the strut. I use a hydraulic floor jack with a long 5/8 inch bolt stuck through the knee joint for the mains, and sand bags on the tail for the nose strut. To fill the main struts with fluid, you must remove the rubber bumper on the strut in order to let the strut extend far enough so the inner piston is above the filler hole. CAUTION - one must be careful not to let the filler hole opening cut the O-ring. Use a blunt tool to compress the O-ring slightly by pushing on it through the filler hole. Do this part when the O-ring passes both up and down past the filler hole. Yes, I learned the hard way, and had to replace both O-rings due to cuts! Once you have the strut extended past the filler hole, it is a simple matter using a squirt oil can, or plastic squeeze bottle with a small hose attached, to fill the strut up to the filler hole. Then carefully let it back down and re install the rubber bumper. The nose strut is easier because all you have to do is fill it to the upper mark, about 6 inches from the top, on the dip stick. Remember, the strut must be fully extended to do this, so if you have a cable restricting the travel, you may want to remove it while you service the strut. Don't forget to hook it back up before you go flying though. About 120 pounds properly placed on the horizontal stabilizer, above the front attach bolts, will do the job. Lynn Nelsen N99387 52FL __________________________________________________ To unsubscribe from this list please send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------- to unsubscribe send mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Sid.bAhN69 Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01 ==^================================================================
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