Donald, I experienced the same problem with one of the coupes I owned. Even after removing the entire assembly, it was impossible to separate the two pieces. I put a bunch of different stuff in it to free them up and nothing worked. I then used copious amounts of heat and still didn't work. Tried compressing them just a bit to break them free. Absolutely nothing worked. If you have an extra pair and can remove the top, I'd use the spare pair. Unless you are sure the spare pair are in perfect condition, I'd disassemble them, hone the cylinders, install the modification with the brake cups and then install them. Just a suggestion. Lee
I had been using your web instruction posting. Although I hate to ruin the MLG housing, I have a spare set so will not be a big problem. Since it is stuck compressed, I can see no place to get penetrant into the rusted area, but am going back out and squirt some this evening just in case it will work. I assume the rust is along the entire length of the piston, an awful lot to break loose, and about inpossible to get penetrant the entire distance. I may try a torch on the bottom portion to see if it will enlarge a bit and maybe break loose. --- In [email protected], "Hartmut Beil" <hb...@...> wrote: > > Donald. > Did you try to freeze up the rusted pistons with some rust penetrating fluid? > You should be able to squirt it in between strut and piston. > I have never heard of the MLG struts to rust frozen. > I know it won't help you much, but here a few pictures of the strut removal. > http://www.ercoupe.info/?n=Main.MainGearServicing > > When I had everything out, including the upper portion of the strut (piston) > I had the wings off. > I noticed that is almost impossible to get the upper bolt off, because one > needs to reach to a cotter pin first and then can put a wrench on one side, > but the other side is held by a screw driver, since this is a big clevis pin. > Really, without the wings off, hard to do. > > Don't smash the MLG with the bigger hammer. > Maybe fill the gap between piston and strut and let sit for a few days and > try again by wiggling the thing off. > > Gee that is a nasty problem. > > Hartmut > > > > From: Donald > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 12:02 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Re: MLG Problems, long post, Need Help! > > > > > > I guess I was not clear, the snap ring has nothing to do with my problem. My > problem is that the center portion of the strut is frozen to the outer > housing - in a compressed state. In all probability it got rusty, then on a > landing it forced it up and stuck there. > > --- In [email protected], BRIAN BARAGWANATH <baragwanath1@> wrote: > > > > once you remove the snap ring they should fall apart. > > > > Brian Baragwanath > > N3085H > > Cranland-28M > > > > --- On Sun, 5/23/10, Donald <DonGeneda@> wrote: > > > > > > From: Donald <DonGeneda@> > > Subject: [ercoupe-tech] MLG Problems, long post, Need Help! > > To: [email protected] > > Date: Sunday, May 23, 2010, 5:20 PM > > > > > > Fitting in with the MLG postings of late, I decidewd to jack mine up and > > put in the spacers to raise my tail today. As I was taking thinga apart, I > > was surprised to see there were already a set of spacers there. Strange, my > > tail is pretty low. > > I decided to measure my donut stack, three and 1/2 inches, although the > > rubbers look as good as new. I jacked it up to measure again no load - > > still three and a half! What the heck is going on here. I have a pair of > > bellville spring equipped struts, measured them, and the stack is about > > four and a quarter inches! > > I decide to take things apart to see what is going on, drop the bottom > > bolt, swing the strut back to pull it off - and it won't move! Now I > > understand why the rubbers are compressed - the strut is froze solid in a > > compressed state! Take the other side off, same thing. > > Easy, just pull the top bolt out - whoops, I think you must have to pull > > the wings to do that AND have some special wrenches, not what I wanted. I > > found I could put a drift down thru between the wing and center section, > > and pound on the top of the strut to try to beat the bottom part off. No > > luck, gave up for the day and came home to get a bigger hammer - a LOT > > BIGGER hammer. I may have to heat the outside of the strut to release it, > > probably burn up the rubbers, and I don't even know for sure WHERE the > > sticking is! > > Has anybody else had this problem? I could sure use an easy solution right > > now. > > No wonder I had such a devil of a time with smooth landings, darned thing > > had NO spring action whatever! > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > ____________________________________________________________ Penny Stock Jumping 2000% Sign up to the #1 voted penny stock newsletter for free today! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3131/4bf9cff327b67860a9st03duc
