Son of a.... Tiedown ring spring

[James331]

Hey guys...

My new 185F has a saggy ring, I went to replace my float plane wing lines, which hang from my tie down rings,

I found my right ring has a blown spring and won't retract into the strut.

I know no one will ever know with the wing lines dangling all the time, but I know, and its not right.


Anyone ever tackle on of these before? Tips??


Thanks.

 

[Stewartb]

Never done it. It appears you'll have to drop the strut to access it but it doesn't look complicated from there. Maybe a good time to replace strut fairings while you're at it? My struts came down a couple of years ago. I figured if nothing else I got to inspect the condition of the bolts and the fittings.

Here's a screen shot of the strut end from the Skywagon service manual. You might want to drop the fairing and see if the pins that hold the mooring ring are accessible.

 

[Sleepingsquirrel]

Whatever you do ,DO NOT, put a piece of tape on it to hold it closed!
This would immediately render your aircraft unairworthy.
Wait ,wing lines? It's already unairworthy.

 

[James331]

Well crap, no cheat to avoid pulling the strut for a little spring?

Also any suggestions for where I can download a (ideally free) service manual for a 78' A185F?

 

[Sleepingsquirrel]

http://www.schematicsunlimited.com/c/cessna

This might help.