Well you are quite correct of course, but I guess the question is if it is worth the hassle to maintain with brake fluid. Several others reported the same problem I had. These were rebuilt well only three years ago, and the plane was flown fairly frequently in those years for short few hops around the pattern mostly. I feel sure the IA on annual (or the owner assistant) just flipped the filler cap and squirted brake fluid in the hole until it ran out, assuming it was then filled. With the piston stuck down, obviously none got inside cylinder and it all ran out, eating the paint off the outside. Since this was missed by myself on pre-purchase as well as an IA, I would wonder how many other coupes are flying around with stuck struts just like I did with mine. Sure worth a check is all I am suggesting.
--- In [email protected], "Kevin" <kgass...@...> wrote: > > It sounds to me that you are describing a strut that was not properly > maintained for many years. I also have a set that was neglected for many > years. They developed pin holes and leak but they never stuck together. I > would blame both of these problems on poor maintenance before I would condemn > all use of brake fluid. > > Kevin1 > > > > --- In [email protected], "Donald" <DonGeneda@> wrote: > > > > > > > > The dribble down the outside is not the problem other than looking bad. > > The piston and cylinder will have a light coating of brake fluid on it as > > well, with the same rusting. Then after getting a good coat of rust, the > > first landing will stick them in the compressed state, making them solid > > instead of springs. Frequent use would probably wash the rust down into > > the fluid each time, not my choice of happening either. After they stick, > > the rust continues to seal the piston to the cylinder, so far I have been > > unable to pull them apart. > > > > --- In [email protected], William R. Bayne <ercoguru@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > This is not unavoidable. > > > > > > 1. Oleos in good condition do NOT eject fluid. It is instead forced > > > up into the piston. That which comes out after servicing (and/or after > > > the first few subsequent landings) should be wiped off rather than > > > allowed to sit and eat. > > > > > > 2. DOT 5 Silicone fluid is not aggressive like this. > > > > > > 3. Sand or bead blast the exterior followed by properly mixed and > > > applied Stitts epoxy primer. Finish with a hign quality industrial > > > epoxy paimt like Deft. Bulletproof. You can see identical results on > > > any steel ship in salt water that is not properly prepared before > > > painting and/or otherwise neglected. One doesn't take the ship out of > > > salt water, for that is what it is built for ;<) > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > WRB > > > > > > -- > > > > > > On Jun 21, 2010, at 14:05, Don and Geneda wrote: > > > > > > > [Attachment(s) from Don and Geneda included below] > > > > > >
