- Joined
- Sep 17, 2017
- Messages
- 1,184
- Location
- Indian Mound, TN
- Display Name
- Mooney Fan
- Home Airfield
- KHVC
Here is a summary Cherokee 140
1- April 25 - Nose strut was at about 2". During the Annual it was 'serviced'. When I picked the plane up the strut was extended 3.5"
2- May 25- Walked in the hangar and the strut is completely collapsed. Nose strut was removed and serviced using Kit PN-TPNS-1. Again, when I picked upp the plane the strut was at the correct extension. But something new happened, when I get up on the step to get on the wing swoosh, the tail drops and the nose jumps up to what I believe to be full extension. And when I pull the plane out of the hangar there is a 1.5" drop off to the ramp. The nose drops off and strut collapses to normal height. But it has been slowly losing the pressures.
3- Jan 25- My new mechanic looked at it and added nitrogen to 5". When I got to the plane days later it was more like 3.5". When I got up on the wing again, the tail drops nose shoot up to what has to be max extension. And it stayed there. I blurpped a little nitrogen out of the strut thinking it should collapse the strut a little. No change. Rolling out of the hangar the strut not even compress a little. Flew multiple T&Gos and rolled the plane back in strut greatly extended.I couldn't even see the top of my tail which is my guide when parking. Went back 10 days later and the again, the strut was still fully extended. But heres the kicker, I grabbed on the prop (yes, by the hub) and lean in and swoosh, the strut goes from fully extended to what looks to be 2- 2.5" I attached a picture as you may see it differently. Maybe I let to much nitrogen out? Again, I just bumped it twice.
Plan- I have read where some shops don't change the upper o-ring or the crush washer under the schrader valve. I will make sure that is done, I want everything changed. As for the chrome, my strut chrome looks great but is there chrome inside the tube it rides in that can get pitted and cause problems?
This is super frustrating.
1- April 25 - Nose strut was at about 2". During the Annual it was 'serviced'. When I picked the plane up the strut was extended 3.5"
2- May 25- Walked in the hangar and the strut is completely collapsed. Nose strut was removed and serviced using Kit PN-TPNS-1. Again, when I picked upp the plane the strut was at the correct extension. But something new happened, when I get up on the step to get on the wing swoosh, the tail drops and the nose jumps up to what I believe to be full extension. And when I pull the plane out of the hangar there is a 1.5" drop off to the ramp. The nose drops off and strut collapses to normal height. But it has been slowly losing the pressures.
3- Jan 25- My new mechanic looked at it and added nitrogen to 5". When I got to the plane days later it was more like 3.5". When I got up on the wing again, the tail drops nose shoot up to what has to be max extension. And it stayed there. I blurpped a little nitrogen out of the strut thinking it should collapse the strut a little. No change. Rolling out of the hangar the strut not even compress a little. Flew multiple T&Gos and rolled the plane back in strut greatly extended.I couldn't even see the top of my tail which is my guide when parking. Went back 10 days later and the again, the strut was still fully extended. But heres the kicker, I grabbed on the prop (yes, by the hub) and lean in and swoosh, the strut goes from fully extended to what looks to be 2- 2.5" I attached a picture as you may see it differently. Maybe I let to much nitrogen out? Again, I just bumped it twice.
Plan- I have read where some shops don't change the upper o-ring or the crush washer under the schrader valve. I will make sure that is done, I want everything changed. As for the chrome, my strut chrome looks great but is there chrome inside the tube it rides in that can get pitted and cause problems?
This is super frustrating.
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