I have a '72 7KCAB that I want to change the tires on. The only problem is I can't find my Citabria service manual. I think the wife stuffed it into a drawer somewhere an we can't find it. Anyhow I'm an A&P with many years of turbine business aircraft. I have never changed any GA tires though. Does anybody have any ideas on a sequence of events on how I should go about doing it? Is there anything I need to look out for? Any info/help would be greatly appreciated. Thanx ET
7KCAB Tire changing
- Thread starter aeroguy
- Start date
Robert Szego
New member
Dear ET:
The Club has all Citabria manuals including Service, Parts, Operating and some unique books on these airplanes.
Regards,
The Club has all Citabria manuals including Service, Parts, Operating and some unique books on these airplanes.
Regards,
mike newall
New member
The simple way is to lift the airplane on the engine hoist ring, remove the split pins on the wheel nut, get the wheels off - DEFLATE THE TIRES. Then undo the bolts that hold the split rims together - hence the previous capitals ! You may need to persude the rims apart with a soft, or hard hammer. Once split, get the tire off, check the tube put the new tire onto one rim, put a whiff of air into the tube - just flacid is good, then stuff it into the new tire, preferably with talcum powder. Make sure the valve stem isn't nipped, put the other rim on and tighten the bolts ensuring you don't catch the tube. Check the valve, inflate, refit, repeat, let down, split pin, go fly !
Email me for more detail :lol:
Mike
Email me for more detail :lol:
Mike
Mike,
I have a 7KCAB -farm strip based in UK, and will need to change at least one tyre this coming winter.
Your method of using the engine hoist ring is one that I have not encountered previously and I am slightly nervous about using it. When lifting the aircraft in this way, do both of the wheels come off the ground or is it possible to get a colleague to hold one wing tip down and allow fuel to drain across into one tank? -which I imagine would then keep some of the aircraft weight on one wheel.
The other point which occurs to me is, can the engine hoist point safely support the entire weight of the aircraft? I assumed that it was designed for the weight of the engine only (+ a safety factor)
Thanks for the idea -and also for any response.
regards
ed wild
I have a 7KCAB -farm strip based in UK, and will need to change at least one tyre this coming winter.
Your method of using the engine hoist ring is one that I have not encountered previously and I am slightly nervous about using it. When lifting the aircraft in this way, do both of the wheels come off the ground or is it possible to get a colleague to hold one wing tip down and allow fuel to drain across into one tank? -which I imagine would then keep some of the aircraft weight on one wheel.
The other point which occurs to me is, can the engine hoist point safely support the entire weight of the aircraft? I assumed that it was designed for the weight of the engine only (+ a safety factor)
Thanks for the idea -and also for any response.
regards
ed wild
Do NOT attempt to lift the entire front of the aircraft by the engine lifting ring!
Lift off the engine mount, or with a sling under the prop (lift on the crankshaft). Or, find a jack, and lift one wheel at a time.
The engine hoist rings are intended to lift the engine. It weighs under 300 pounds; the aircraft, 1100.
Jon B.
Lift off the engine mount, or with a sling under the prop (lift on the crankshaft). Or, find a jack, and lift one wheel at a time.
The engine hoist rings are intended to lift the engine. It weighs under 300 pounds; the aircraft, 1100.
Jon B.
mike newall
New member
Jon, I'm sorry, I can't agree.
If you lift on the mount you risk bending a tube - the mount works by the triangulation of forces and also through the design of the Dynafocal ring.
This technique has come from older and wiser men than me, I have used it without problem and have seen it in print elsewhere.
If you lift under the crank, you put even more load onto the mount due to extra leverage.
The hoist point is plenty strong enough and don't forget, you are not lifting the whole weight - only about 2/3rds of it.
A jack pad on the gear is probably the best, provided it doesn't mark the aluminum, propping under the strut/wing joint has always looked way to scary to me and you put a large side load on the tailwheel - if that isn't secure, it all falls down !
If you lift on the mount you risk bending a tube - the mount works by the triangulation of forces and also through the design of the Dynafocal ring.
This technique has come from older and wiser men than me, I have used it without problem and have seen it in print elsewhere.
If you lift under the crank, you put even more load onto the mount due to extra leverage.
The hoist point is plenty strong enough and don't forget, you are not lifting the whole weight - only about 2/3rds of it.
A jack pad on the gear is probably the best, provided it doesn't mark the aluminum, propping under the strut/wing joint has always looked way to scary to me and you put a large side load on the tailwheel - if that isn't secure, it all falls down !
FYI-
Just because it's been in print, or posted on the internet, doesn't make it an acceptable procedure. The engine hoisting ring is designed to hoist the engine. The engine mount is designed to support the engine. There is a good reason seaplanes, Stearmans, etc., have hoisting attachments at the wing roots, engine mounts are NOT designed to support the weight of the aircraft.
The BEST way to jack the aircraft is with a Jack Pad (using a rag to prevent scratching the gear leg), or a Lever Jack if you have oleo gear.
Use of the tripod under the outboard strut attach requires EXTREME care, if anything slips, or moves, you could have the tripod sticking thru the upper wing surface.
Tom-
Just because it's been in print, or posted on the internet, doesn't make it an acceptable procedure. The engine hoisting ring is designed to hoist the engine. The engine mount is designed to support the engine. There is a good reason seaplanes, Stearmans, etc., have hoisting attachments at the wing roots, engine mounts are NOT designed to support the weight of the aircraft.
The BEST way to jack the aircraft is with a Jack Pad (using a rag to prevent scratching the gear leg), or a Lever Jack if you have oleo gear.
Use of the tripod under the outboard strut attach requires EXTREME care, if anything slips, or moves, you could have the tripod sticking thru the upper wing surface.
Tom-