FAA Description of Airworthiness Concern: Main Landing gear tie strut

[Mark Bowden]

Buy and use these from Amazon. They also work well for filling Cessna landing gear hydraulic pumps and keeping 5606 oil from making a mess on the carpet.
They are cheap and used for dental gum cleaning. "TecUnite 8 Pcs Syringe 12cc Dental Irrigation Syringe with Curved Tip Wisdom Teeth Syringe"

https://www.amazon.com/TecUnite-Disposable-Measurement-Irrigation-Mouthwash/dp/B078K8SVMN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=U6M2YOAM6OAZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DPtfSKbqCmfyog16LD0j3XRvGfaUORVbVllKiLB6gyrrTWgK8rXltdpbrKEDxKpK7mygP3zdOjo0tix8PbKFAI1Ibr9HF7aQO2iOvA0EeJUHFXLaalZsqK8qWc3OcjHG-qxiKCCXIOiroUs334_Nc4GlCUyeXZgeB1i7eiVD4V5us70FQ-Re5TO6VpnS1ithS5VW_hxOWQMSJoSJADAtTY2yjaEZtXW15RErWRtcfKQ67UeNpD-II0UHaTTpka8zuGvE78vP_atX2IeKEo15CYmPc_1DSm8kMWEDUPCWgESSlcEWei7MEpqZP3H1GT-yv2aOXPHFwxpPJ4jwIdF62zMM4eZprCaEZCflt288eM4i_LQJTrNVj1GTjMz-OBYd.tuNQb2j0CFufgVrvwf5fUrdjVV37TLvBiaP3DznD_ww&dib_tag=se&keywords=TecUnite%2B8%2BPcs%2BSyringe&qid=1736898950&s=hpc&sprefix=tecunite%2B8%2Bpcs%2Bsyringe%2Chpc%2C108&sr=1-1-catcorr&th=1

[3Dreaming]

You can typically pick up syringes at farm supply stores. Our local Rural King has them, or you can order them from Amazon.

[Hank Jarrett]

If the pharmacy gives you any problems (ours was worried we were just trying to get a syringe for drugs! SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?) you may need to show them what you want to use in it. Filing it with oil in front of them "should" convince them you aren't going to try to use it for drugs. I finally gave up and went to our Vet and got a used one from them. Not like it needs to be sterile for oil! Plus our Vet knows I mess with airplanes.

[Scott]

Just put the corrosionx in the holes you drilled. A large syringe from your local pharmacy works well.

[braol]

You DO NOT want to weld both ends of the diagonal brace! It is pinned at one end so the tube isn't subjected to regular bending loads. DON'T WELD BOTH ENDS!!!!

Oh, I meant at the top where it is welded together near the bungees. I know that the existing design can't be changed but am always looking at Carbon Cubs and stuff of that sort where they have struts with adjustable ends, etc...

We just inspected my struts two days ago and there were NOT holes in my struts. We drilled both sides according to the SB. Left side was dry but some water came out of the right side, clear water thankfully. We're still trying to see where those struts might have an opening in the top so we can put LPS 3 or Corrosion X in there.

[Hank Jarrett]

You DO NOT want to weld both ends of the diagonal brace! It is pinned at one end so the tube isn't subjected to regular bending loads. DON'T WELD BOTH ENDS!!!!

[braol]

Well, at least it looks like some intrepid owners and mechanics have developed both a repair as well as a fabrication technique. Question about the weld: Is the weld stronger than any type of pin arrangement could be...given new materials and techniques available today? I haven't looked at any pictures of Carbon Cubs or any of the new high performance old Pipers for comparison's sake.

[PA1195]

All's it's going to take for an AD is another accident. Then the NTSB recommends and the FAA develops if they choose to do so. Please inspect your gear. At least confirm the drain hole is present and open by blowing shop air in the hole while looking for corrosion blowing out the top near the bungees. Or take it off, turn upper cluster down, and tap. Gary N36007

[3Dreaming]

The top end of the diagonal is typically open, you just can't see the opening. If the drain hole was not drilled to let water out it gets in there and stays.

[[email protected]]

I got the gear legs from my 1940 BC65 cleaned up this past week and was disappointed to see some pin holes on the bottom side of one of the streamlined tubes. I was hopeful as there has been very limited and minor indications of corrosion while cleaning up the fuselage. I cut the tube to investigate further and thought well this isn't good. The other gear assy. sounds like it has a table spoon of sand in it so it's not good either; but no holes.
The top end of the diagonal tube is sealed on these. I wish I could say I was confident of the origins of these but, after a review of the logs and the FAA docs I am reasonably confident one or more may have been replaced prior to 1960.

[PA1195]

If that lower gear hole is normally covered by brake parts then not much will enter - speculation. The upper bungee - tubing cluster is exposed to the elements and potentially engine exhaust which contains water vapor. What do you think is best going forward for stopping corrosion?

[3Dreaming]

No rattles when shaken.

[PA1195]

3D, any visible rust? Anything come out when the gear is tapped? Preservative oil next and plug?

[3Dreaming]

Yes, my gear have that hole, and it is open to the tubing on the "V" portion of the gear. I'm not sure of its purpose, but it may have been a vent for welding.

[PA1195]

UNIVAIR shows a hole. I have Grove brakes so the factory originals may have used that opening. It's not sealed as I recall. Look for rust inside the tubes.