Gear retraction test

M

Mark Gronneberg

New member
I have a 14-19-2 that I restored in 2002. Although everything worked fine before this years annual, during the annual we haven't been able to complete the gear retraction test. We initially used the hand pump on the power pack to raise the gear but we could only get about 500 psi. I had the power pack rebuilt in 2001. We then tried hooking up a hand pump between the hydraulic reservoir and the engine driven hydraulic pump. The results were the same as the power pack hand pump. I would rebuild the power pack again if that is the problem but I don't want to send it in to be rebuilt if that isn't the problem. Could there be another problem? Are we hooking up the hand pump (hydraulic mule) incorrectly?
 
Mark, did you try your mule on the down side of the power pack? Tying in there would tell you if the power pack is at fault or the problem is downstream. Can you work your flaps with the hand pump? Are they very very slow? This would split the power pack ie flaps or gear. I'm sure you have looked for any leaks or Hyd stains on the hoses and actuators, Is the fluid level full? I find it is always the simple things and we always go for the juglur first. Lynn my 2 cents between computer fixes. :roll:
 
It's about time you showed up, Lynn...my advice was just plain silly. :oops: I should have asked, does the gear go up and down despite the low pressure indication instead of focusing ON the indicator.

Mark:

On thing, of the few smart things, they came up with to test my replacement power pack after the original went on strike was to run the hydraulic pump with a high speed drill.

Jonathan
 
Mark Old Man do one thing and that is fix that Gear Problem before you fly. Just ask Jonathan, it is not worth the risk of a gear up!! The last problem I had with the crate turned out to be the engine driven Hyd pump. I had that fixed and rebuilt my gear retraction cylinders. The hand pump has always worked but strange when the eng pump was going the flaps worked very very slow with the hand pump. Lynn :P :P
 
Hmmmmm....we seem to be having an interesting conversation here, Lynn, but it appears Mark has moved on and probably addressed his hydraulic problem :lol:

As a total off-topic aside I received a letter from Bob Taylor - the founder of the Antique Aircraft Association on whose airfield in Blakesburg he and his sons put together the best damn fly-in in America every year. One of his sons has been reading this forum, appreciated our high praise and Bob wants to join the Club. I'll send him the stuff as he is not much of an online guy.

He asked me to pass along his best wishes to you :)

Jonathan
 
Jonathan , you should pass Mr Taylor's request thru Bob Szego and Cy G. I know they always talk up Oshkosh and Sun&Fun but these are not REAL flyin's. The best I have ever been to in 30 years of Pvt Flying and 25 yrs of aircraft ownership hands down winner tadah Blakesburg. I now see a trip to Lee Bottom Ind. as a contender but nothing of yet to me has ever topped Blakesburg> Laid back class with no airs just old planes and all kinds of pilots and nice people. It is not a trade show it is a real flyin. :!:
Lynn N9818B the crate
 
I just read Julie Boatman's article on Lee Bottom Sound in this month's AOPA Pilot....oh yeah, Lynn, I'm heading there! They also printed a letter I sent to Al Marsh not knowing our correspondance would end up in print <imagine an emoticon for "Oy Vey">

As Bob Taylor has always stressed, people who say OSH is the one and only important fly-in may represent the popular point view but not the only point of view. OSH has become a trade show...albeit one that charges you if you bring a cooler with you, and one where the biggest risk is starvation if you lose your wallet. Still if you are interested primarily in every new gadget that has or may make it into production then that's your show.

Jonathan
 
Oops, I meant to say that OSH is, as you said, a trade show.

The thing with so-called non profit organizations is that such status does not mean that the folks who run the thing have to be paid modest sums. I wonder if such status, however, requires them to reveal the salaries of their execs...I'll get back to you on that 8)

Jonathan
 
Glenn:

You don't live all that far from either airfield I see :)

As you may or may not know, Blakesburg is held on Labor Day weekend. Lee Bottom has its two major events later in September. Here's their event list:

http://www.leebottom.com/event_schedule.htm

You're quite right. Either or both places would make excellent rendezvous sites :D

Jonathan
 
It certainly sounds like a low key way to wind down the fly-in season, Lynn. Yep, I had it wrong - last weekend in September, not mid September. First Blakesburg and all the aircraft we admire so. Then Lee Bottom featuring all the aircraft we actually get to fly :)

For those of you on the West Coast, or who don't mind flying to the West Coast, there will be the first of what I hope will be a tradition at Hood River, Oregon. It's the weekend after Blakesburg http://www.waaamuseum.org/

Terry Brandt will, for the first time, be opening his collection for public display. He has around 25 rare early aircraft, and recently acquired an Aeronca LC at an auction.

This should be a great year for those who crave interesting airplanes :D

Unfortunately all of this merry chatter has nothing whatsoever to do with triple tail gear retraction testing.....I blame Mark for not returning to the thread he began :?

Jonathan
 
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