Strut diagnosis thoughts

[Senior]

When I grasp the wing on one side of my standard Oleo Chief (that would be a "Bounce" Oleo ) & rock it up & down I see approx 1/2 play where the strut exits the housing case. It also makes a slight clunk when rocking it. Any ideas on what diagnosis might be before I pull it apart? Be nice to have an idea what I'm looking for.

Thanks

[Mnflyer]

Hi Senior, from your description it sounds like the oleo bushing in the case frame is worn badly. I'm thinking you mean radial play not up & down play.

[Mikek]

When I grasp the wing on one side of my standard Oleo Chief (that would be a "Bounce" Oleo ) & rock it up & down I see approx 1/2 play where the strut exits the housing case. It also makes a slight clunk when rocking it. Any ideas on what diagnosis might be before I pull it apart? Be nice to have an idea what I'm looking for.

Thanks

Senior,

You say that when you lift up on the wing you see 1/2 in movement or is it just the extenson of the strut?

t
To check the bushing you need to push on the wheel or wheel pant froward and backward and see if there is play in between the strut / bushing.

The clunk could be a broken spring, no fluid in strut, or the fact that the attachment bolt up at the frame buy the door or under the frame at the center point has been enlongated.

Like most Chiefs you might need to remove the wheel pant to get a good look and the ablity to rock the wheel.
Mike K

The

[Senior]

Senior,

You say that when you lift up on the wing you see 1/2 in movement or is it just the extenson of the strut?

t
To check the bushing you need to push on the wheel or wheel pant froward and backward and see if there is play in between the strut / bushing.

The clunk could be a broken spring, no fluid in strut, or the fact that the attachment bolt up at the frame buy the door or under the frame at the center point has been enlongated.

Like most Chiefs you might need to remove the wheel pant to get a good look and the ablity to rock the wheel.
Mike K

Yes highlighted above is what I meant.
But it seems to come with a small "clunk"
I was trying to check for elongated bolt holes up at frame both front & back but not sure how you do short of pulling the bolts?
I will try rocking the wheel front to back today to see if there's movement that way but I don't think so, no wheel pants.

Thanks

[Mikek]

Senior,


I will try rocking the wheel front to back today to see if there's movement that way but I don't think so, no wheel pants.

Thanks

With no wheel pant you can take your foot and place it against the front top of the tire and rock it back and forth, you should see if there is slop in
the bolts and or bushing.

Do it several times and only look at point at a time.

You can get a friend to lift up on a wing at the strut attachment points to get some weight off the gear and than take you hand and move the gear back and forth.

Do not try to jack it up yourself untill you really think about how you will do it.

[Paul Agaliotis]

Senior,
If it's not the attach bolts you might have a damaged oleo piston or piston attach pin. This area is probably the most important, yet, most overlooked area of the Aeronca's. Even running a short period of time with an under serviced oleo can cause serious piston damage. There is a Service Letter that is applicable to this problem.
Paul