Well, there was a little play, and things I read say that is normal, you don't have to compress the belleville washers to put in the lock. They still measured a bit over 4 inches, and still do when the weight is on them. I guess the question I am coming up with now, is how thick can/should you put spacers in. As you put them in, you pull the piston up out of the hydraulic fluid I think. At the point I am right now, I could add spacers so quick and easy.
--- In [email protected], iflysmo...@... wrote: > > Hey Don: I realize this may be a little late now, but before you put the > Belleville spring stacks on the airplane did you make certain that there was > no play or slack in the stack? There should be none, and I have seen the > stacks wear to the point that they are over 1/2 inch short. > Lynn > > > In a message dated 5/26/2010 12:51:46 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, > dongen...@... writes: > > > > > > > I give up. The main tires are at 20, the nose at 15, still get 72-73 > inches on tail height. I really wonder how many people have actually > measured or > leveled theirs. Surely I am not alone in this. > > --- In [email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected]) > , "Donald" <DonGeneda@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Very level concrete floor. Somewhere I read what the strut amount > showing on the front gear was, and mine was correct. I cannot recall the > measurements now. I am going out this morning with a tire pressure check, > although > the main tires look OK. > > Maybe a set of "Tundra Tires" on the mains is in order. > > > > --- In [email protected]_ > (mailto:[email protected]) , Caliendo Dan <djcaliendo@> wrote: > > > > > > Is your front strut not going down as far as it should? That will > lower the nose. > > > Is the floor you plane is sitting on level? > > > Dan C > > > > > > On May 25, 2010, at 8:05 PM, Donald wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I feel like that comic strip character with the black cloud raining > on him and following him around. > > > > I got the used belleville struts with spacers all serviced and > installed today, let it down on its wheels again and could see the wingtips > were > higher, hurried around to the tail with a tape measure, now it is 72 > inches tall, did not gain much. Window sill is not level either. I don't > know > what is next, add more spacers? Is there a limit to spacers? I am going to > check main tire pressures tomorrow, maybe I can get some help there. > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected]_ > (mailto:[email protected]) , "Donald" <DonGeneda@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I would have to assume that the rusting happens on the upper > exposed part of the piston over time and smooth landings. Then comes one of > those teeth jarring landings, and the rusty piston is forced into the strut > body with force - and it don't come back. Once stuck there with rust, it > only > gets worse with time. Just a guess, and I too was surprised with the number > of people who have experienced this. Certainly an area to be checked often. > > > > > For those who have not done it, taking the strut apart, leaving > the piston on the wing, is a very quick and easy operation for anyone. > Dressing the upper portion with some emery cloth if rusty could well keep > you > from being in the same shape I am in now. It is the old "stich in time saves > nine" type thing. > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected]_ > (mailto:[email protected]) , "Hartmut Beil" <hbeil@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > Dave . He has a used one pair ready, but he can't get the old > one out! > > > > > > Now there are already three folks on the list that had rusted > solid struts. > > > > > > > > > > > > I was under the impression that these struts could run low on > fluid, but rusting solid, that's new to me. > > > > > > > > > > > > Hartmut > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > From: bigbrownpilot@ > > > > > > Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:33 AM > > > > > > To: [email protected]_ > (mailto:[email protected]) > > > > > > Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Re: MLG Problems, long post, Need Help! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Finally, someone has a problem that I don't have! > > > > > > > > > > > > Wonder if you can find a new/used pair of oleos? > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected]_ > (mailto:[email protected]) , "Donald" <DonGeneda@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > 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! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
