Pa-28-151 struts

I have a sticky main strut in my Pa-28-151.

Where do you live?

If it's in a cold weather climate, having sticky main gear struts on a
Cherokee is NORMAL at this time of year.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
I have a sticky main strut in my Pa-28-151.


Where do you live?

If it's in a cold weather climate, having sticky main gear struts on a
Cherokee is NORMAL at this time of year.

They stick a lot less if you fly it frequently (at least once a week),
and keep the struts free of dirt. if you do have it rebuilt, have the
A&P check to make sure the strut bushing isn't worn so that the strut
gets cocked slightly, jamming it position. If it is, the only solution
is to replace the strut bushings that the strut rides in.

If it's in a cold weather climate, having sticky main gear struts on a
Cherokee is NORMAL at this time of year.

They stick a lot less if you fly it frequently (at least once a week), and
keep the struts free of dirt. if you do have it rebuilt, have the A&P
check to make sure the strut bushing isn't worn so that the strut gets
cocked slightly, jamming it position. If it is, the only solution is to
replace the strut bushings that the strut rides in.

The last few flights, with the temperature near zero, our left strut stuck
up after landing, only compressing back down when we made the right turn
onto the taxiway, forcing it down with some centrifugal force.

At these temperatures NOTHING moves easily. The yoke moves hard, the flaps
don't retract, the knobs on the radios turn stiffly... You should hear the
noises coming out of my truck.

Hard to believe last Valentine's Day we had to scrub some of our "romantic
sunset flights" because it was *raining* all the time. This year, liquid
water is only possible indoors...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

On 2008-02-12, Jay Honeck wrote:
At these temperatures NOTHING moves easily. The yoke moves hard, the flaps
don't retract, the knobs on the radios turn stiffly... You should hear the
noises coming out of my truck.

The first time I took my shiny new Lexus out in subzero weather, I thought
something was broke. It *never* made that kind of noise before.

I'm already planning on how to seal up the air leaks in whatever I wind up
buying so the cabin heat has a chance to keep up.
--
Jay Maynard, K5ZC http://www.conmicro.com
http://jmaynard.livejournal.com http://www.tronguy.net
http://www.hercules-390.org (Yes, that's me!)
Buy Hercules stuff at http://www.cafepress.com/hercules-390

I routinely put both forearms under the center of each wing tip and lift to
unstick the main struts before each flight. I also do a little bounce on
the step to pull up the nose strut before boarding. It just seems to be a
normal part of owning a Cherokee.

--
Best Regards,
Mike

http://photoshow.comcast.net/mikenoel


"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:NV6sj.29495$9j6.24433@attbi_s22...
If it's in a cold weather climate, having sticky main gear struts on a
Cherokee is NORMAL at this time of year.

They stick a lot less if you fly it frequently (at least once a week),
and keep the struts free of dirt. if you do have it rebuilt, have the
A&P check to make sure the strut bushing isn't worn so that the strut
gets cocked slightly, jamming it position. If it is, the only solution
is to replace the strut bushings that the strut rides in.

The last few flights, with the temperature near zero, our left strut stuck
up after landing, only compressing back down when we made the right turn
onto the taxiway, forcing it down with some centrifugal force.

At these temperatures NOTHING moves easily. The yoke moves hard, the
flaps don't retract, the knobs on the radios turn stiffly... You should
hear the noises coming out of my truck.

Hard to believe last Valentine's Day we had to scrub some of our "romantic
sunset flights" because it was *raining* all the time. This year, liquid
water is only possible indoors...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"