Sealing airworthy struts

[Dan Michaels]

I started this over because the other thread had a lot of unrelated stuff in it.

I took my struts to STORK Twin City Testing Corp today. They are a FAA repair station.

Good news is they tested perfect as far as corrosion goes. $200.00 but the price is going up next year. They do give discounts for more than one set and will go out to the airport to do them on the plane. I think they are flexable so if one were to organize a flyin at Anoka airport, provide a little lunch or refreshments I think the price could get below that yet. You do not even have to take them off the plane and it takes less than an hour.

I also went to AWI Aerospace welding in Eagan, MN with the struts and showed them to Tom Heid "President". I explained what I wanted to do as far as sealing the struts and what the FAA wanted. He said that it would be no problem to do what I wanted and could be easily done. They could also repaint them in their paint booth if one so desired. They are also a FAA repair station (You see their add in TAP). This will make it much easier I think to get it through the FAA. They are in the same town as the FSDO so the local FAA representatives should know Tom. His recommendations should carry some weight I would think.

I have to do some CAD drawings for him to keep the cost down. For him to make the parts on their CNC machines it will have to be in Solid Works which I do not have. I have TurboCad. If anyone has Solid Works and can convert my drawings let me know.

I am going to measure my Adjusting bolt to get the threads. If anyone knows this info already it would help a lot. The bushing will be a piece of cake. The solid adjuster plug will have to be made on the lathe I think because the threads where not common.

On a side note I got my new Speedo cable at the same time. Everything just happen to be within 4 miles or so of each other. D7D instruments 1-800-766-4243. $50.00. 42" cable. Just tell them what you need and they can make it and ship it.

Dan

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Sealing airworthy struts

Dan,
I sent you four strut ends last Wednesday. That would be both ends of a front and both ends of an aft strut. The adjustment screw is included, so it will possibly be a little easier for you to get a solid one made.
These struts were condemned, although they are airworthy in my opinion - unfortunately the opinion of the NDI shop was different and once they were cut open, well, that as they say, was that.

The plane from which they were taken spent most of its life outdoors in Arkansas, North Texas, Ohio, and Illinois. Before I bought it it was about 5 years in a garage all in pieces. Of the 23 years I have owned it it spent 10 years without even a hail shed. No preserving oil was ever added to the struts, although I realize it should have been. No regrets and no woulda, coulda, shouldas because I have new struts.

I hope the strut ends help the tribe.

[Dan Michaels]

Re: Sealing airworthy struts

Thanks Mark,

The FAA will not allow a solid Adjuster because you can just take it out and replace it with an old one. I will have to make a plug with the same threads as the adjuster then insert it below the adjuster and weld it in. There is plenty of room at the bottom, the plug only needs to be 1/4 to 1/2" at the most.

Dan

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Sealing airworthy struts

Amazing.

If the log book stated that the solid adjuster was required then it would be simple to inspect at each annual.

By the FAA logic, why, some low life might take his expensive ELT battery and replace it with Radio Shack junk. Or perhaps someone might remove their MS bolts and replace them with Auto Zone bolts. Come to think of it, I believe I will replace my tires with wheelbarrow tires and only install my good tires to pass the annual each year.

Holy cow! I think I was about to rant and rave