F-21 Struts

[lakeboarder]

Hi Guys
I am new to the Forum here but bought a F-21 about a year ago and have totally gone thru the plane and made everything perfect...From new paint to making a instrument panel. I was going to go for the first flight this weekend after I mounted my new Univair struts... I spent all day painting them Friday and ready to go on today .... Well I sent some pictures of what happend... Did I just get a bad batch of struts or is this the kind of quality they think that we pay for ?? I cannot believe how bad they fit. I would never fly the plane with them on their like that. At the Joint, the Struts actually Rubs together !! I am now here asking you guys have you seen this kind of krap before and where can I buy struts that fit perfect ?

[KTW]

Re: F-21 Struts

Lots of people want you to pay big money for parts that are almost good enough

[Marv]

Re: F-21 Struts

Brian if your struts are good you can have them inspected and sealed and you will be good to go, just the same as new struts. Marv

[Eric Tyson]

Re: F-21 Struts

Hi,
I replace my 2 front struts 2 years ago, it was a bitch kind of like yours.
They touched so I touched them up lightly with a grinder which solved the problem. I just got done replacing the rear struts last week so it should be good for another 65 years.

Eric

[Guest]

Re: F-21 Struts

Hi Guys
I am new to the Forum here but bought a F-21 about a year ago and have totally gone thru the plane and made everything perfect...From new paint to making a instrument panel. I was going to go for the first flight this weekend after I mounted my new Univair struts... I spent all day painting them Friday and ready to go on today .... Well I sent some pictures of what happend... Did I just get a bad batch of struts or is this the kind of quality they think that we pay for ?? I cannot believe how bad they fit. I would never fly the plane with them on their like that. At the Joint, the Struts actually Rubs together !! I am now here asking you guys have you seen this kind of krap before and where can I buy struts that fit perfect ?

The gap in your picture is nothing to worry about, its esthetics that's all.

The rubbing is a problem. That needs to be addressed. If the interference is allowed to remain it could/might result in spreading and cracking of the fuselage fitting.

I like Univair, they make lots of good parts. They also make some lousy parts and the engineers there refuse to take input and advice about how to fix them.

Univair is on this forum and perhaps Mike will chim in and help you if needed. He is very good to work with.

Dave

[lakeboarder]

Re: F-21 Struts

Thanks for the input..I was not aware that I could just get my old ones checked out and sealed. It is off a 1983 that has been in az most of its life so I am sure that there are on issues at all.
Any ideas where a good place to send them in to be checked ? I'll walnut blast and put some fresh paint on and hit the sky !!

[Marv]

Re: F-21 Struts

Brian, it was on the forum a while back. I do not remember what outfit it was . I am sure one of the other members will remember. It may have ben where you bought your new ones. You should be able to look it up on the forum. Marv

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: F-21 Struts

It's Wag Aero. Costs about half the cost of a new set. The biggest problem you will have is the shipping. They are kind of clumsy to ship and you don't want to just pack them up and have them get dented. Anything that protects the struts ends up weighing MUCH more than the struts do.
Hank

[NY86]

Re: F-21 Struts

Anything that protects the struts ends up weighing MUCH more than the struts do.

Plastic drain pipe from Home Depot...

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: F-21 Struts

That was my second try. The smallest pipe that can hold four struts is actually a LOT heavier than the four struts! HELL BENT for strong though. Just a little packing to keep them from moving around and some small wood "corners to keep is from rolling and a couple of rope handles.
Hank


First try was a wood crate. Heavy and weak. Needed work. I have heard a carpet tube with 3/4" wood plugs is the lightest and strongest but haven't tried that yet.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: F-21 Struts

Check in the construction supplies department of Aircraft Depot.
I'm thinking the cylindrical concrete form tubes could be spliced into one longer tube. The concrete formwork tubes are stiff cardboard, telescopic, and very tough. Three tubes could be telescoped and taped into a pretty good package.

[N96337]

Re: F-21 Struts

I like Univair, they make lots of good parts. They also make some lousy parts and the engineers there refuse to take input and advice about how to fix them.


Dave

Amen, Dave! I've got a Stinson spar (horizontal stab) from them that's been sitting here for years... absolutly junk but they wouldn't hear of taking it back, even told me that the 7 aircraft that I was measuring were "freaks" (the engineer's word exactly)... so I just built my own that fit perfectly.
JH

[Howard Wilson]

Re: F-21 Struts

My struts came from Alaska in a box made of 2x4s and plywood, with small air filled plastic rings to keep them from chafing.