Wing Lift Struts

[Richard Boyer]

Hey guys, long time no write!

I'm coming up on my annual and also on the re-inspection of my struts. I figured I would just bite the bullet and get sealed ones. What I've noticed is that now there are options on who to get them from. What is confusing is the price difference between the mfg's. Big difference.

Why would I buy the Airframe Alaska's over say Univair? Is there a reason for the cost difference?

Thanks,
Richard Boyer

[N96337]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

Hi Richard!! Long time no see! I don't know the answer, but just figured I better say Hello. Take care of my little yellow buddy there!
John

[mikerice]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

I can not speak to price differences, but beside new struts from Airframe Alaska and Wag Aero, Wag Aero is also sealing your old struts by welding the ends of good struts. Obviously they can be inspected by x-ray and ulltrasound as well. There has been some discussion of some newly purchased struts not fitting the plane, but you can do a search for that info.

PS Search for Fort Parker Fly-In as well. We are trying to get the Texas Taylorcrafts together March 30, 2012 near Mexia for a flyin.

[Tom T]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

What is the #s for the strut ad?

[Steve Green]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

Richard,

I got mine from Univair, based on total cost including shipping. Of course, Univair is right down the road from me, so that played a big part.

They packaged them very securely, so I now have a very nice, strong, storage container for my old struts which I hope to someday convert to a shipping container so they can go to a new home. I'll offer them up this summer, probably. They were perfectly good when we replaced them.

[Ryan]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

I bought airframe Alaska based on price. Shipping to Ohio was also very reasonale and fairly quick. I am pleased with them. The fronts are larger than the unsealed, looking a bit more like piper struts ( they are basically the same size as our pacers). I assume this comes from their background with Supercubs. There has been issue with fit with some who bought airframes. They were right up front with me, emailed me a drawign to measure my attach fitting and struts, and would not sell to me until I did that. Mine bolted right on, no issues, and were packaged well.

[barnstmr]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

Richard,
If you are ready to purchase, call Rick at Univair. They are packaging mine now for shipping. Maybe the can get yours and mine together on the same truck for cheaper shipping costs. I am just an hour north of Georgetown near Temple. I would be glad to meet you halfway (Salado) when they arrive. They are still shopping for best shipping cost right now and so I don't know the exact shipping cost. But they estimated between $100 to $130 from Colorado to TX.

I chose Univair because I assumed shipping would be much less from CO to TX than from AK. Also, I have confidence in Univair since they have been building Tcraft struts for more than 3 decades. I am not knocking Airframes Alaska. But I dont have any prior experience with them. My father in law has Univairs and they are nice quality.

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

To comply with the AD, do we replace both struts on each side?

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

I purchased the (then, Dec 2007) Alaksa Airframes struts. No complaints, other than their degreasing & primer was of a lesser standard than I would expect. However, good price, perfect airfreight delivery, on time, etc.

I understand they have gone through a change of ownership since then.

The main (front) lift strut was larger than previous, but that was not a problem to me. Since then, I understand that the Wag Aero struts are closer to the original dimensions (for a 1946).

Rob

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

To comply with the AD, do we replace both struts on each side?

You don't need to replace any of them to comply with the AD!

(I know what you mean, Richard, and the answer is still the same...you can replace one with a new sealed strut, but the others are still subject to the repetitive inspection, even if it's a different size).

[N-43121]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

One other thing to consider when deciding on struts is the difference in weight. My original struts were in a little rough shape and I didn't want the hassle of taking them off the plane for inspection on a regular basis, so I decided to go with new struts when I did the rebuild last year. I went with Airframes struts since they are just down the road from me. As someone pointed out, the front struts are larger than the originals, and I was surprised with how much heavier they felt as I assembled the plane. I now wish I had actually weighed them for comparison before assembly. I don't know exactly what the difference in weight was ... but it certainly noticable. Had I known ahead of time, I might have reconsidered my decision to replace.

Has anyone actually compared the strut weights?

[lfries]

Re: Wing Lift Struts

When I replaced mine Airframes was 1,000 + less than Univair and the factory. They fit perfect but are a little larger. Personally I believe they are responsible for getting the price reduced to a more tolerable level. I like the idea that their price was driven by a fair profit rather than the factory price. So whoever you buy from mutter a little thans to Airframes. (At least the origional mfg.). I hope everyone who bought from Univair was able to make good use of their credit since they didn't refund cash when they dropped the price.

[Dick Smith]

Re: old/new sealed strut weight differential:

I weighed my old Taylorcraft (1947 vintage) struts at:
Front Right....11 lbs.
Front Left.....11 lbs.
Rear Right....6.5 lbs.
Rear Left......6.5 lbs.

My new Airframes Alaska LLC sealed struts weighed:

Front Right....10 lbs. and 8 oz.
Front Left......10 lbs. and 8 oz.
Rear Right.....9 lbs. and 12 oz.
Rear Left.......9 lbs. and 12 oz.

Using a small scale, I figured I gained about 2 oz. in fabricating the new straps required to mate the wider, new front struts to the original jury struts.

So...40 lbs and 8 oz for the new struts plus 2 oz total for the longer straps required by the wider, new front struts...I figure 40 lbs and 10 oz less 35 lbs for the old set of struts equals 5 lbs - 10 oz of weight gained. I talked with Airframes Alaska and their observed weight is very close to what I recorded using my scales. Feel free to correct my calculations!
Dick

[N-43121]

Re: old/new sealed strut weight differential:

Thanks for the info Dick. I guess there wasn't as much weight difference as I imagined.