From: LANCAIRMIK@aol.com
Message-ID: <0.86aee85a.253f46a4@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 12:24:04 EDT
Subject: Re:Gear hydraulic cylinders(LNC2)
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

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N360CR was test flown by Don Goetz(a very brief and unintended flight at 
that!!) on the day before Fathers Day,1999.Seems the brakes were sticking 
upon hard rudder application and rather than turn the Lancair into a three 
wheeler Don thought I would like it much better if he somehow could get the 
project airborne before damage occured. (More on that situation in another 
post).Keeping the gear down he made three circuits of the field and landed 
rather unevently.Prior to my first flight attempt a week later I decided to 
jack up the A/C to check the brakes during rudder application for possible 
sticking. I thought that as long as I had it up off the floor I would also do 
a gear swing test since Don had not raised the gear during the his "test 
flight". Imagine my surprise when the right inboard gear door (hydraulic) 
failed to close. All previous gear swings had been 100% OK.After much 
troubleshooting the culprit appeared to be the right landing gear 
cylinder(Arotek) which had a double score in the barrell and there were many 
aluminum particles lodged in the right gear door cylinder.Ordered new gear 
cylinder from Vern and rebuild kits for ALL other hydraulic cylinders, 
removed the Oildyne pump, shipped back to Minnesota for check and 
recalibration. Received the rebuild kits and the new landing gear cylinder 
which was no longer Arotek( surprise,surprise,surprise) but Wolstenholm!!! 
Reinstalled everything and did the requisite gear swings with no evidence of 
any problems. Flew off the mandated 40 hrs. for the FAA(and myself) 
uneventfully.The other day (at 80 hrs TT) I  took a friend of mine (a Glasair 
owner and FEDEX pilot) for a ride which left him thoroughly impressed.After 
pushing the plane back into the hangar for bug splat  removal I noticed a 
long trail of hydraulic fluid on the A/C belly.Further examination revealed 
the right gear cylinder (the rebuilt Arotek) to be leaking .Thoroughly P----D 
I called Lancair and ordered a replacement gear cylinder for $107 U.S. which 
I now await delivery of. QUESTION to everyone----has anyone experienced any 
failures with the new Wolstenholm cylinders?The Arotek cylinders? I know from 
reading all the posts to this outlet as well as LNN that Arotek is not held 
in very high regard and was the reason  for the nose gear failure of the 
doctors A/C in England.To your question that I anticipate---Yes ,I did flare 
,polish and wash out ALL hydraulic lines prior to installation and the entire 
360 project took 2 and1/2 years to complete. Any comments are welcome ( 
especially Dan for humor and Brent for just being Brent). 

Mike Rowell
Collierville,TN.
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