Welcome! Becoming a registered user of ShortWingPipers.Org is free and easy! Click the "Register" link found in the upper right hand corner of this screen. It's easy and you can then join the fun posting and learning about Short Wing Pipers!
Hi Alessandro,
Good work so far.
I thought about a convoluted boot (like on motorcycle forks) to protect the nose strut from contamination, but have found after nearly twenty years that is not really necessary.
The leather seal was a wiper to keep dirt and sand etc from damaging the O-rings that seal the strut.
This has been superseded by a X-ring, the quad seal you mentioned.
It comes as a length of material, you need to very carefully cut it with a razor blade to length, so it just fits in the groove.
It's not supporting the strut, so if you cut a bit too much it still works but it's best to get it ~1% too long and a snug fit in the groove. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catal...trutjmpa22.php in Europe: https://www.aircraftspruce.eu/j-m-pi...t-seal-kit.htm
Anything that might damage the tough chrome of the strut will really be hell on your aluminum prop. Stay away from that stuff if possible.
I keep an oil squirt can and rags/paper towels in my baggage compartment supply basket (with oil, some tools, lockwire, duct tape, hand cleaner, towels etc.)
The oil squirt can contains red hydraulic fluid, same stuff that is in the strut (and brakes) and what you use to pre-wet the seals during assembly.
Before and after each flight, and especially after landing somewhere dusty or buggy, I squirt some hydraulic fluid up into the seal area at the top of the exposed chrome, and wipe it clean with a rag, it is a solvent for itself and dried smashed bugs. Then I squirt a little more in there and wipe it around with my fingers, to rewet the wiper. https://www.grainger.com/product/38G...P7A1P:20501231
I have gone over ten years without a seal failure, while my buddies tend to get half that life without following my advice.
A santé,
Glen in Oregon
Last edited by Glen Geller; 10-28-2020 at 05:09 PM.
Hi Alessandro,
Good work so far.
I thought about a convoluted boot (like on motorcycle forks) to protect the nose strut from contamination, but have found after nearly twenty years that is not really necessary.
The leather seal was a wiper to keep dirt and sand etc from damaging the O-rings that seal the strut.
This has been superseded by a X-ring, the quad seal you mentioned.
It comes as a length of material, you need to very carefully cut it with a razor blade to length, so it just fits in the groove.
It's not supporting the strut, so if you cut a bit too much it still works but it's best to get it ~1% too long and a snug fit in the groove.
A santé,
Glen in Oregon
Good advice Glen. Looking at the Piper drawing the length of the wiper to be purchased is 5-1/4".
The one I cut a few months back just touches the 5-1/2" mark. I cannot say that that is where I was losing the oil, probably not..er Most probably not.
This time around I started my tear down while my mind was occupied elsewhere and I pulled the bolt at the block/tube assy. and gave it a couple wacks then woke up to what I was doing. Well without knowing I caused the plug, that is also attached by that bolt, to slide up to the other end of the tube. When I pulled it apart there lay this plug that I never saw before, ha! It does not show the plug in the Piper Tri-p manual and the way the Piper drawing is it is kinda hard to pick up there. You would think that the plug's O-ring would be included along with the other serviceable items. I am surprised oil does not pour out the bottom when that O-ring dies?
Am I missing or confusing the layout? I waited for this to really bother me before posting another dumb thought here but most likely not long enough.
This time around I started my tear down while my mind was occupied elsewhere and I pulled the bolt at the block/tube assy. and gave it a couple wacks then woke up to what I was doing. Well without knowing I caused the plug, that is also attached by that bolt, to slide up to the other end of the tube. When I pulled it apart there lay this plug that I never saw before, ha! It does not show the plug in the Piper Tri-p manual and the way the Piper drawing is it is kinda hard to pick up there. You would think that the plug's O-ring would be included along with the other serviceable items. I am surprised oil does not pour out the bottom when that O-ring dies?
Am I missing or confusing the layout? I waited for this to really bother me before posting another dumb thought here but most likely not long enough.
Bill,
Can you post a pic, a sketch, the Piper drawing with some scribbles indicating this mystery plug of which you speak?
Uncertain what you are talking about.
Oleo.jpg
The Plug looks like a little piston and its wrist pin would be the bolt that holds the chrome tube to the aluminum block. It's top faces up and has an O-ring instead of a piston ring.
I sure haven't yet figured out what keeps the pressure back but I am pretty sure it is not the o-ring in the plug because mine was old, hard and flat on one side so it would have failed my bubble test a few days ago and it is still holding strong.
The drawing must be deceiving. A good cut away pic would be nice. Anyway, the plug must be there to keep it from getting packed with dirt/corn stalks...er whatever the farmer has in that field.