How to live with wheel pants?

[MontanaT-craft]

With the bracket for wheel pants installed on the landing gear, what is the proper procedure for jacking up the plane to remove the wheel? My plane does not have wheel pants installed but I want to know what problems I may encounter if I do install them.

[M Towsley]

Re: How to live with wheel pants?

Depending upon the pant you would have to remove the pant each time you remove the wheel. I haven't fit mine, (aftermarket fiberglass that came off of a different Taylorcraft), but mine bolts to a special nut that holds my wheels on. Some used different methods to attach the outer part of the pant.

After re-reading you post, I jack mine up in that small area under the axle. I have a small screw jack, from a Ford Taurus, that catches that area enough to jack it up enough to remove the wheel.

I will go to the hangar today or tomorrow, I will take a picture and show you.

[M Towsley]

Re: How to live with wheel pants?

Here are the pictures of how I do it.

[MontanaT-craft]

Re: How to live with wheel pants?

Thanks! That is exactly what I wanted to see. Your wheel pant bracket looks stronger that the one I have. Mine is from Wag-Aero. It looks to me like the metal on yours is thicker than mine. It may just be the photo, but I am worried about it being strong enough to hold everything up. Am I seeing an optical illusion, or is your bracket from a different source?

[M Towsley]

Re: How to live with wheel pants?

It was on the plane when I got it. It is fairly stout, though. I can measure the thickness tomorrow.

[M Towsley]

Re: How to live with wheel pants?

The material is 1/8" thick.