Tweet
So far most of my work and business is on Aeronca landing gear and it often has Cleveland brakes/wheels.
I also have a Taylorcraft landing gear jig and a pile of landing gears to fix, most of them have Shinn wheels/brakes and tapered axles.
Some, a few, of the Aeronca gears have Shinn wheels/brakes and tapered axles, many of the Taylorcraft have them.
Having said all that I really want to say that while working on that stuff I have noticed that about 10-20 percent of the tapered axles that I see are clogged with mud preventing water drainage/drying inside the tapered axle and some of those are badly pitted inside to the point of being un-usable.
My suggestion is that we whom have tapered axles clean them out with with a rod or wire if they are clogged to get them clean. Also inspect them for pitting inside. I can see it somewhat easily on the bench it will be more difficult on the plane.
One scheme is to vacuum out the debris, separate the rust with a magnet then see and weigh how much iron oxide is there to estimate damage. Also a borescope, bore camera or ultrasonic thickness tester will help.
After all the inspection blow the axle bore clean and coat with paint, linseed oil or grease to preserve, also keep it open so it drys out after a rain.
Dave
I also have a Taylorcraft landing gear jig and a pile of landing gears to fix, most of them have Shinn wheels/brakes and tapered axles.
Some, a few, of the Aeronca gears have Shinn wheels/brakes and tapered axles, many of the Taylorcraft have them.
Having said all that I really want to say that while working on that stuff I have noticed that about 10-20 percent of the tapered axles that I see are clogged with mud preventing water drainage/drying inside the tapered axle and some of those are badly pitted inside to the point of being un-usable.
My suggestion is that we whom have tapered axles clean them out with with a rod or wire if they are clogged to get them clean. Also inspect them for pitting inside. I can see it somewhat easily on the bench it will be more difficult on the plane.
One scheme is to vacuum out the debris, separate the rust with a magnet then see and weigh how much iron oxide is there to estimate damage. Also a borescope, bore camera or ultrasonic thickness tester will help.
After all the inspection blow the axle bore clean and coat with paint, linseed oil or grease to preserve, also keep it open so it drys out after a rain.
Dave
Comment