HP series landing gear info needed

On Sep 22, 2:54*pm, Brad wrote:
On Sep 22, 11:41*am, T8 wrote:









On Sep 22, 1:14*pm, Brad wrote:

Can someone familiar with the HP series of aircraft give me some info
regarding the landing gear shock strut charging process? I am about
ready to install it and need info on fluid type, amount and charging.

Thanks,
Brad
N599GK

Not an HP-18 strut, I hope. *I must have rebuilt mine a dozen times.
Usually on great soaring days when it went flat on the way out to the
line. *Just weld the ef'fing thing. *Or cut off a couple well chosen
lengths of broom handle to fill the space. *The basic problem with the
18 strut was no bearing surface and no way to maintain alignment.
When compressed, it would end up rubbing metal on metal inside the
cylinder, it would gall, the galled surface would then make short work
of the o-rings.

You filled each leg with enough auto tranny fluid to reach the piston
at full extension (rusty memory -- maybe 3" in ea leg), assemble,
then charge from N2 bottle (best) or cessnoid type strut pump borrowed
from spam-can mechanic. *It takes several hundred psi. *On the third
rebuild, go find a broom that needs a shorter handle.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

guys, it IS an HP-18 strut...................is this typical of all
HP-18 struts? dealing with a low tire is one thing, dealing with a
defective strut is another, especially on good soaring days!

Brad

Take a look at how the thing is built. Ask yourself what prevents
metal/metal contact in the cylinder bore. In my case I think the
piston (the very end, just past the o-ring groove) is what chewed up
the cylinder bores. I remember trying to use a brake cylinder hone to
clean things up. It might have helped a little. My ship may have had
some gear alignment issues that pushed it over the edge. Obviously,
it worked fairly well for others. I've seen other HPs with flat
struts over the years. If I were doing it over again, I really would
weld the sucker (make certain you get the alignment exactly right).
Who needs a shock strut when you land at 30 mph?