Saratoga Gear Retract Problem

In article ,
wrote:

On Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:19:54 GMT, john smith wrote:

I have a seneca 3. My problem started out like that, easy to sort of fly
with. Then it got worse. Sometimes wouldn't at all retract, or just
partially then pump would go off.
We, flushed out and changed fluid, swaped up and down relays(they are
the same), measured pump pressure, changed pump/motor, gear was in no
way binding. The last thing checked was an over pressure limit switch
that was going faulty and shutting the pump off.
2000 Saratoga? Mmmmm, nice.
Our gear is probably similar in design?? Good Luck.

John, which engine on the Seneca drives the hydraulic pump?

The electric one bolted to the top of the powerpack-think Meyer snow
plow.

(Sound of Homer Simpson "dope slap")
Can you tell I'm not a multi-pilot? :-))

"john smith" wrote
John, which engine on the Seneca drives the hydraulic pump?

The electric one bolted to the top of the powerpack-think Meyer snow
plow.

(Sound of Homer Simpson "dope slap")
Can you tell I'm not a multi-pilot? :-))

Don't feel bad, it's the left engine on our Aztec, no electric hyd pump.

Now... along those lines... what would cause a sudden "over flow puddle"
from our Aztec's hyd system? Plane's annual was this summer, hyd system
topped off with fluid, we've flown it about 40 hours since then. Saturday,
the engines were due for fresh oil and filters so I took her out for a short
joy ride to warm everything up. Changed the oil and filters but didn't have
a chance to pull it back out and do a run up to check for leaks. So last
night I go up to the hanger to do that and I notice a puddle of hyd fluid
directly below the overflow tube near the rear of the nose gear wheel well.

The drop hanging from the overflow tube confirmed where it was coming from,
nothing else wet or washed off, but why? why after 40 hours of flying and
probably a dozen gear/flap extensions and retractions would it decide to
overflow any excess fluid at this time??

I was able to add about 6-8 oz of fluid to the system to top it off. Ran
the flaps up and down, no leaks noticed anywhere, no additional overflow out
the overflow tube. System fill tube stayed full.

Any ideas??? TC what ya think??

Thanks
Jim

I think that raising and lowering a rubber hose to blindly
service/verify the proper level in a power pack reservoir is really
goofy. Not sure if that's how yours works or not, but on the newer
models the hose was clipped to the side of the nose.

In the past, whenever I serviced an Aztruck pack, it would typically
vent some on it's first or second (or third) flight, but it never
appeared to be very much.

I guess I would keep an eye on it to make sure that it isn't still
venting, or if it does drip a little more, make sure that it stops
after it decides it's at the proper level.

TC

I think that raising and lowering a rubber hose to blindly
service/verify the proper level in a power pack reservoir is really
goofy. Not sure if that's how yours works or not, but on the newer
models the hose was clipped to the side of the nose.

Goofy. Ditto. Raise it, fill it, lower it, check it, raise it, add some
more, lower it. Clip it back in place. Goofy.


In the past, whenever I serviced an Aztruck pack, it would typically
vent some on it's first or second (or third) flight, but it never
appeared to be very much.

The puddle seemed to be about two tablespoons full I would guess. Created a
stain about 6" dia.

I guess I would keep an eye on it to make sure that it isn't still
venting, or if it does drip a little more, make sure that it stops
after it decides it's at the proper level.

Present course of action. Plane's leaving for a 4 day trip this weekend.
It's topped off now and we'll see what it looks like when it comes back.

Thanks as always.

Jim

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 13:16:25 -0600, "Jim Burns"
wrote:

Goofy. Ditto. Raise it, fill it, lower it, check it, raise it, add some
more, lower it. Clip it back in place. Goofy.

The only one I've come across that is goofier was the old Navajos. The
powerpack fill pipe was hooked to the side of the brake reservoir. You
over-filled the brake reservoir until it ran into the power pack.

Another goofy thing about this system (which carried through on the
newer models) was the screw-down Thermos-type combination
stopper/dipstick. Was mounted under a little flapper door on the top
of the nose.

The "rubber" on the stopper was semi-incompatible with 5606, and
usually leaked. Depending on the amount of precipitation present,
water would run under the door, around the stopper and into the
reservoir.

This wasn't typically a problem until winter, when the globs of water
would freeze in the lines, either rendering some/all of the brake
system inop, or trapping pressure in the lines-locking some/all of the
brakes. Had most of the line guys trained to crack the bleeders and
shove the !@$% thing into the hangar to thaw out when it happened when
I wasn't around.

In the past, whenever I serviced an Aztruck pack, it would typically
vent some on it's first or second (or third) flight, but it never
appeared to be very much.

The puddle seemed to be about two tablespoons full I would guess. Created a
stain about 6" dia.

Sounds familiar.

I guess I would keep an eye on it to make sure that it isn't still
venting, or if it does drip a little more, make sure that it stops
after it decides it's at the proper level.

Present course of action. Plane's leaving for a 4 day trip this weekend.
It's topped off now and we'll see what it looks like when it comes back.

Good deal.

Thanks as always.

My pleasure.

TC