National Aeronca Association Bulletin Board

I'm still looking at the two different sized holes in the piston rods of your oleos and scratching my head. Does the bushing used in the bigger hole accept an AN4 bolt or an AN5? Oleos such as yours should use a AN4 (1/4 inch) bolt in this location. The no-bounce gear uses an AN5 so I wonder if the correct retainter / bushing is being used here? Perhaps the hole was drilled oversize and is not worn, but it doesn't look right to me.

I think I have some spare parts in my hangar so maybe tomorrow I'll try to take some measurements of the bushing diameter so you can make some comparisons.

Tim

Thanks Tim,

This is what I found out.

I removed the stuffing box from thee of the oelo's that I have. A freind brought me another. I now have two good aluminum pistons. The one had a broken piston.

Someone installed a no bounce retainer on the good oleo (larger pin).

The springs are just under 11" and stock is 11 1/8" so I would think they would be good.

I have one good fiber retainer and the no bounce retainer.

I have two good pistons and rods.

I steamed everything up and it looks good. I am going to order two new packings. and polish everything up. Once you take everything apart it is not that hard to see how it fits together. The problems arise when someone has already worked on them and you have no idea what is good or not. I could probably spend an afternoon and turn a bunch of pistons and retainers.

Dan

Dan,
You've been busy. Good thing you found the cracked piston.

As to the springs, with the standard springs the important thing is that they are equal (length and strength.) If not, the airplane may be lopsided.

If you have any parts made of fiber they should be discarded and replaced with aluminum units. The springs can hammer them pretty hard.

Tim

Tim Juhl wrote:Dan,
You've been busy. Good thing you found the cracked piston.

As to the springs, with the standard springs the important thing is that they are equal (length and strength.) If not, the airplane may be lopsided.

If you have any parts made of fiber they should be discarded and replaced with aluminum units. The springs can hammer them pretty hard.

Tim

The only fiber part is the spring retainer and it is only $30.00 so I will order one also and hope the customer does not freek out.

I noticed your Yellow and blue Champ, here is what his will look like.

My favorite colors


If your customer freaks over a $30 part then they don't have the constitution required to rebuild an old airplane. My experience is to expect the unexpected (read that as expensive....)

Tim