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This is a very detailed good instruction on filling the struts, snubber cable or not. The basic operation is to fill the strut at is fully used length (fully extended). Whether that extension is fixed by the snubber cable or by the bumper of the nose gear linkage. Filling it up to the top is sufficient in my eyes, especially when you service the electrol gear (which I did yesterday). There is no measurement rod in that gear and it is supposed to be filled to the top. Overfilling will lubricate the inner strut bearings. Not a bad thing I guess. "Note: If the strut is overfilled, some hydraulic fluid may leak out around the top of the large bronze bushing at the top of the exposed part of the polished hydraulic strut. This leak should stop when the fluid is down to the correct level." Hartmut ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [email protected] Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 4:14 AM Subject: Re: [COUPERS-TECH] Original nose strut ----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any advice in this forum.]---- Fred, This is the procedure that I use on my Alon. It may or may not be applicable to your strut. Check with your A&P mechanic before using this procedure. I would NOT use the tail tiedown ring to pull the tail to the ground. It's not made for that and you may end up damaging the fuselage structure. Servicing the Alon Aircoupe Nose Gear Strut with Hydraulic Fluid Note: Use MIL-H-5606 AM2 red hydraulic fluid or equivalent. 1. Chock the main gear wheels. 2. Open the left side engine cowling. 3. Lower the tail to the ground with a thick pad under tail, and a pad and weight on top of horizontal stabilizer. Center the weight on the horizontal stabilizer mounting bolts. Make sure the weight cannot slide off of stabilizer. 4. Extend the nose strut to the full length allowed by the snubber cable. 5. While the nose wheel is off the ground, check the nose wheel tire and wheel assembly, and rotate the tire to check for bearing play and/or noise. 6. Remove the filler plug in the top end of nose gear strut using a 5/16" open end wrench. 7. WARNING: DO NOT COMPRESS THE STRUT WITH THE FILLER PLUG REMOVED OR HYDRAULIC OIL MAY BE SPRAYED ALL OVER THE FIREWALL. 8. Check the level of the hydraulic oil by inserting one end of a white 7 inch nylon ty-wrap into the plug hole. Loop the ty-wrap through itself and pull it tight in order to avoid having the ty-wrap fall in the hole. The oil level should be approximately 3 inches from the top of the filler plug hole. If the oil level is OK, go to step 14, otherwise go to step 9. 9. If the oil level is low, add approximately 1/2 cup of hydraulic oil using a pump type oil can with a clear plastic hose attached. 10. Reinstall the filler plug (do not safety wire). 11. Grasp the nose wheel tire and work the nose wheel up and down several times so that the strut is compressed until it stops when it hits the taxi spring, and extended until the strut is stopped by the snubber cable. Move the strut in and out in this manner 3 or 4 times. 12. Allow the strut to remain fully extended to the limit of the snubber cable for about 2 minutes to allow all of the hydraulic oil to drain back into the lower part of the strut. 13. Repeat steps 6 through 12 until the oil level remains at 3 inches from the top of the filler plug hole. 14. Reinstall and safety wire the filler plug. 15. Carefully lower the nose back to the ground by removing the weight on the tail. 16. Wipe up any spilled hydraulic fluid in the engine compartment. 17. Inspect the engine compartment for tools, rags, etc. 18. Close the left side engine cowling. 19. Note: If the strut is overfilled, some hydraulic fluid may leak out around the top of the large bronze bushing at the top of the exposed part of the polished hydraulic strut. This leak should stop when the fluid is down to the correct level. ============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm ============================================================================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
