Cleveland wheel dust cap

[Griphos]

I guess that's what you'd call this. As you can see, wobble in my wheel has chewed up the flange that sits tight against the post that the wheel pant bolts to. Anyone know where to get one of these? Cleveland wheel, and the part I need is the aluminum dust cap with three screws that covers the nut and bearing.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/wheel2p.jpg/

[badger bob]

Phil that looks kinda like the ones that are on my old tri pacer. you mite try to find old piper caps and machine out the centers to fit? hope that this will help you. Bob

[Mikek]

I guess that's what you'd call this. As you can see, wobble in my wheel has chewed up the flange that sits tight against the post that the wheel pant bolts to. Anyone know where to get one of these? Cleveland wheel, and the part I need is the aluminum dust cap with three screws that covers the nut and bearing.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/wheel2p.jpg/

I should have one, pm me with your address. Like Bob said the cap you have has been machined, these caps are to seal off the wheel bearing and the hub cap with the center hole only screws into the dust cap center post.

I also have a few seals that might work without machining will look Tuesday.

Mike K

[rkittine]

Don Jones in Guam has the three screw, dust cover that has the center hole for attaching a hub cap. They are brand new replicas and look great. I recently got two of them from him. He is On EBAY and has other aeronca parts as well. Guam is a U.S. possession and via U.S. mail it took 6 days and $6.00 postage to get the dust covers. donjones at sign guam dot net.

Bob

[Griphos]

Thanks, Bob.

The more I think about it, the more I think these were machined out in the middle for the axle extension (where the hub cap used to be).

[Paul Agaliotis]

Phil,
That was cut out of a cover. If you need to run that style of wheel pant mount you can use the standard felt mounting washers. All of the Cessna's have them.
Paul

[Griphos]

Yeah, I was beginning to think about just putting a felt washer in there. There's a bearing washer between the axle nut that is cottered and holds the bearing (and washer) in (and the wheel on), and the cotter also goes through the wheel pant mount extension. The cover has more of an opening now because the wobble ground it open (did I mention this was caused by some mechanic before I bought it putting the nut on and cottering it! with about 3/16" of play between the nut and the bearing washer?!), but there's still the axle nut and metal washer any dirt would have to get past to get to the bearing. If I put a felt washer between all that and this cover, that should protect it, right?

Right now I've got a 1 1/4" ID sink gasket I got at the hardware store sitting around the axle extension (which is 1 1/4") up against that rough opening. I'm afraid that the turning wheel and cover might create a bit of rubber dust, though, since that gasket is seated on the wheel pant mount and doesn't turn.

[Paul Agaliotis]

Phil,
The mount looks like it's too small for the axle opening. It should slide in snug to the axle I/D.
Paul

[Griphos]

It's a slide fit. Seems close to me. Don't have to push it in, but there's no real play. I had to have it off again just the other day, as that tire went flat after landing. Found two small washers between the tire and the tube just rattling around in the tire. One was pretty chewed up and had worn a small ring into the tube. Eventually, it just went flat. I can't even speculate on how two washers got in there, but it must have been the same guy who cottered the axle nut on with 3/16" play!

I've been doing more research, and it seems that the ones I have are a custom job. The extensions for the pants are longer than normal. I think a regular hubcap was machined to open the center to 1 1/4" to fit over the extension, as Paul says. My wheels seem to be the old Van Sickle type which Cleveland took over. There is no ring or seal and none shows on the Chief wheel diagram I found for this wheel. Just a bearing washer. I've rigged up an o-ring to cover that gap for now, and one of the guys at the field is going to machine a new cap to match the other side. We're just looking for a hub cap that's close to start with.

Thanks for all the help, both here and in pm's. Wouldn't have figured it all out without it.

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Mine uses standard Cleveland parts ala Cessna.





nkh

[Griphos]

Yes, those might work on mine, but I'm not sure because of the particular style of wheel pant post I have. The cotter in your axle nut rides on the outside of your dust cover (and felt washer). Whereas the axle nut on mine puts the cotter further away from the wheel, I think. That's why the dust cover sticks out so far, so that it can clear the cotter.

Thanks for the pics of another wheel, though. I'm pretty certain, now, that my "Cleveland" wheels, are actually the Van Sickle wheel. But it's possible that they are just a mix and match of parts as well.