Jury strut clamps

[3Dreaming]

What is the consensus? Do you use friction or some other tape under the jury strut clamp, or nothing at all?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Jury strut clamps

Electricians tape of the same colour.

Rob

[PA1195]

Re: Jury strut clamps

Electrical tape that's removed and replaced each annual to check for any underlying corrosion. It can trap moisture.

Gary

[astjp2]

Re: Jury strut clamps

I used nothing...

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Jury strut clamps

I'm with Gary. Electrical tape that is taken off to check for corrosion at annual. I have seen struts that had nothing and evidently had the bolt slightly loose allowing the strap to vibrate. Chewed a slight groove into the strut. It could have taken decades, but the tape is quick and easy. If you use black tape and trim it next to the strap, be VERY CAREFUL to NOT cut into the paint on the strut!!! It WILL corrode there!

Hank

I have a stack of the old struts I collected and I learned a LOT about old Taylorcraft struts from them. Especially how STRONG they still are even with holes rusted all the way through at the bottom!

[PA1195]

Re: Jury strut clamps

I've yet to see a jury clamp band that contacts the strut evenly and uniformly distributes the loads. By their pinching design it seems they like to contact the strut in certain areas that can cause fretting from pressure. Metal (plus routine airborne abrasives) against paint don't last long before it's metal<>metal. And also rarely does the underlying tape (if present) not show wear from the clamp when removed. Pushing on the struts to move the plane might accelerate the process, especially on skis when the effort to reposition is increased.

Gary

[n6346m]

Re: Jury strut clamps

Has anyone tried the thin self adhesive cork like is often used on gas tank straps?

[Scott]

Re: Jury strut clamps

I hate electrical tape, ends up in a sticky gooey mess and is a poor performer in terms of abrasion resistance.

Try silicone rubber baffle material or even strips cut from an old inner tube. Cut the strips about 1/8" wider than the clamp and secure them on centre to the clamp with a few drops of superglue. Makes a nice tidy and effective installation.
S

[Nefj40]

Re: Jury strut clamps

I used a silicon tape that only sticks to itself. It is a little pricey but you only need a couple wraps. Really easy to remove if you want and it don't leave any goo behind. I had never seen it on the UH-1Hs that I crewed, but the parts guy at the autoparts store said that he was an electrician in the Air Force and that it's what they wrapped all the jet wiring with.