Strut Replacement - Best Option

[NC26528]

I suspect that most of the fleet has been retrofitted with lifetime sealed struts by now, but since I'm "in the market" I was hoping to draw on the collective wisdom found here. Are there any lessons learned concerning the replacement options that point to a "best" solution?

If going with brand new, is there a real standout among the various suppliers or is price really the discriminator?

Considering these are going on a BL-65, every ounce counts. Is there a difference in weight among the variety of new struts?

"Remanufactured" struts are available at significantly lower cost than new- any issues with these?

In short, if you had to do it all over again, would you stick with your choice or take another approach?

Many thanks

[3Dreaming]

Re: Strut Replacement - Best Option

If your struts can be repaired and are original size I would have yours done. Wag Aero is who has approval to inspect and repair eliminating the repetitive part of the AD. The disadvantage is you have to pay shipping both ways. They will provide inspection procedures to check your struts prior to shipping. The new struts they sell are closer to the original size for your BL than any of the other available sources. You will need to paint the struts regardless if you go new or repaired.

[astjp2]

Re: Strut Replacement - Best Option

I would send yours out to wag, its the cheapest option. and just as good. Tim

[NC26528]

Re: Strut Replacement - Best Option

Sending these out is an option, but I will want to replace the right forward due to a previous (visable) repair.

So that leads me to weight.... Are the factory struts 4130 or 1025? If 1025, then I'd guess that the newly manufactured parts are 4130, which means they should be thinner wall, and therefore lighter.

Any comment on the relative weight of the factory stock vs. the new candidates?

[astjp2]

Re: Strut Replacement - Best Option

Well any airfoil shaped tubing that is critical is supposed to be magnafluxed when its made if its certified that is why the raw tubing is so expensive, so I would assume that its all 4130. You are only talking about 3~6 pounds total I bet.

[NC26528]

Re: Strut Replacement - Best Option

Probably a safe assumption. I think most of the prewar light aircraft reserved 4130 for longerons only - the remainder of the fuse was 1025- but I can imagine even "back in the day" the suppliers of raw materials wouldnt go to the trouble of making streamline out of 1025.

That said, a swing of 6(ish) pounds on a 700 pound airplane is a HUGE percentage to pay just for a part number change! Personally, if I could reduce 6 pounds with a set of new struts it would be a compelling reason to pay the $2500 for new. Conversely, I'd rather cut off my foot than add 6 with new.

And before anybody says it, yes, I have changed my lifestyle and dropped 35+ pounds in the last few months. I'm about the same weight I was when I left the Air Force 20 years ago - not much more to be trimmed there!

[3Dreaming]

Re: Strut Replacement - Best Option

The original struts have a fairly small major and minor axis compared to some of the new struts that are available. The struts from Wag Aero will be the closest to the original dimensionally. From a pretty standpoint if I was replacing one I would replace both to keep them the same size. It just looks nicer in my opinion.

IIRC from a blueprint my dad had, they used both materials, and several different thicknesses over the years. They don't show a weight, but Wag Aero's front struts are made from, "Major 1.78, minor 1.06, wall thickness .049. 4130 Streamline Tubing".

[PA1195]

Re: Strut Replacement - Best Option

I was told when I replaced my originals with Airframes' struts (http://www.airframesalaska.com/Taylo...uts-s/1859.htm) that they were lighter in the range Tim noted. They are claimed to be stronger under compression which I wanted due to potential snow loads or mainly for me high winds from the rear of the plane.

Gary