Strut Installation tips we should share

[Guest]

Before you install your struts I suggest that you remove the adjusting screws and coat the threads (male and female) with anti-sieze compound and grease so they remain free to turn for a long time.

Do the same for the front strut top bolt too as it goes thru a bushing on the new sealed struts.

I actually coat all the bolts.

I have to make one jury strut clamp since the new fronts are a different size than teh old struts.

Dave.

[alwaysoar]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

Another tip is to attach the struts to fuselage fitting first and tighten the nut on the bolt before you attach to the wings the reason being that if you move the strut fore and aft without struts being bolted to the fuselage fitting you could easily crack those little ears.

[Guest]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

Another tip is to attach the struts to fuselage fitting first and tighten the nut on the bolt before you attach to the wings the reason being that if you move the strut fore and aft without struts being bolted to the fuselage fitting you could easily crack those little ears.

Ed, good point, mine had cracked ears on the front most ear on both sides and I wonder if that's how they got that way. Were cracked emanating from the front corner of the slot for the front strut tab.

Probably you don't want to tighten the bolt so tight that the strut can't rotate up to the wing wasily though.

Dave

[Robert Lees]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

Good thread, Dave. What is "anti-sieze compound " in your eyes?

My tip is to ensure that the foot-step can be moved by easy hand pressure, to verify that the strut fitting bolt is not so tight as to potentially cause fitting over-stress.

[tawadc95]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

Rob
anti-seize compound in your eyes is" hazardous" to answer your question above

[Guest]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

Rob
anti-seize compound in your eyes is" hazardous" to answer your question ----above

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lol

[Guest]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

Good thread, Dave. What is "anti-sieze compound " in your eyes?

My tip is to ensure that the foot-step can be moved by easy hand pressure, to verify that the strut fitting bolt is not so tight as to potentially cause fitting over-stress.

The most common anti-size is a silver-gray paste availible in roughly a 4 oz plastic jar or a small tube at most hardware stores or auto parts stores.

It's a fine molybedenum (sp?) paste in oil.

[fearofpavement]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

The most common anti-size is a silver-gray paste availible in roughly a 4 oz plastic jar or a small tube at most hardware stores or auto parts stores.

It's a fine molybedenum (sp?) paste in oil.

The bottle/jar I have is made by Permatex and aptly named "Anti-Seize Compound" So if you go into you local National Aircraft Parts Association store and ask for it by that name they won't give you that hollow stare one receives frequently when they don't have a clue as to what it is you want. One jar of this stuff is a lifetime supply for most people. I use it on caliper pins, exhaust manifold bolts, etc. (automotive) It is very useful stuff and everyone should have some on the shelf. It is probably not more than ten bucks. Not sure as I got mine a decade or two ago...

[TimHicks]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

I punched a hole in my fabric removing the struts one time years ago. It seems that that the upper end of the strut was still attached to the wing. I removed the lower bolt. I was jiggling the strut to try to free it from the lower attach fingers. At one moment, when I was pulling up, it broke free, rotated about the upper attach point and the lower end went right into the fuselage.

If I were doing it again, I might detach the upper joint first, or just make sure that I push down, not up on the lower end.

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

One thing we should do is replace all the strut bolts and nuts. Is there a part number or specific bolt and nut we should use for this?

Frank D
N43684

[VictorBravo]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

One thing we should do is replace all the strut bolts and nuts. Is there a part number or specific bolt and nut we should use for this?

Frank D
N43684

IMHO a good, new, genuine AN bolt and nut is more than enough for these loads. There are NAS bolts with higher shear strength but I believe the engineers will verify they are not nearly necessary. There should only be a couple of thousand pounts or less in shear on each of the four primary lift-load bolts. (1200 pounds at 6G = 7200 pounds, divided by four bolts).

Just get a good new AN bolt the same length as the one you took out, put the anti-seize goo on it as mentioned, and put LPS or Boeshield anti-corrosion spray in the holes liberally.

Although not MUCH rotation at all, the lower strut fitting does rotate a fraction of a degree in flight. The cabin entry step rotates several degrees and uses the same bolt. So use a drilled shank bolt and a castellated nut with a cotter pin. The bolt is loaded 100% in shear so do not tighten the bolt to a high torque.

[Guest]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

One thing we should do is replace all the strut bolts and nuts. Is there a part number or specific bolt and nut we should use for this?

Frank D
N43684

Frank, order them by the AN number. I do not have it commited to memory. Supplier catalogs often have an AN size and length chart that gives the AN number.

[Garry Crookham]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

The Taylorcraft parts manual I obtained from Dorothy Feris in the early 1980's show the strut attach bolts to be: 2 ea AN5-13, 2 ea AN5-15, and 2 ea AN5-25 along with 6 ea An310-5 nuts.

Garry Crookham
N5112M
Tulsa

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

Thanks to all for the info. You are very helpful. Hope I can return the favor someday.

Frank D
N43684

[tabranch]

Re: Strut Installation tips we should share

One thing we should do is replace all the strut bolts and nuts. Is there a part number or specific bolt and nut we should use for this?

Frank D
N43684

The main page of the taylorcraft.com site shows the harware for their strut replacement kit Part # SK100 which includes all of the required hardware including those bolts.