Those of you who
are flying, how do you fill the reservoir and how often do you need to
add hydraulic fluid to the system?

Pete,

 

1.  Lose weight before performing each annual condition inspection.

 

2.  Have a "safety person" in the hangar in case you get stuck.

 

3. Utilize an Ace Hardware thumb-pump oil-can filled with Hydraulic Fluid dyed with Red #2 carcinogenic dye (Oh, that's right, it is already red).

 

4. Add a 4' piece of discarded Tygon tubing to the oil can and place the other end in the reservoir opening.  

 

5.  Fill to fill line - This may require refilling the oil can.

 

6.  With the dump valve open, Gear switch in the Down position, have the "safety person" run the pump for a bit.

 

7.  Check the fluid level.  If low, go back to step 5. 

 

8.  Get out of the airplane and have a beer.  With the Airplane on Jacks, Close the dump valve and turn on the power - The  pump should pressurize the down side even though there is air in the system.  If the gear comes up, the wiring is wrong and your "squat" switch ain't worth squat.

 

9. Defeat the squat switch and move the gear lever to up.  Apply power and watch the gear (no doors) come up and stop.  If the gear goes down, there is a great deal wrong - Wait until tomorrow and re-think the whole thing.

 

10.  If all is okay, add the doors and recycle. 

 

11. Continue to recycle until the air is worked out.  Re-check the fluid level. Have a beer. Send the Safety Person home. 

 

12.  With this phase completed, undo the squat override, check that the gear switch is in the down position and the indicator lights indicate down and locked, make sure the wheels are on and lower the plane off the Jacks.

 

Voila!