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After my recent post regarding the necessity and technique of adjusting the
main gear cylinder up and down stops, Bob Belshe sent me the following
message: [A couple of months ago I developed a leak in the left main cylinder which
caused me to lose most of my hydraulic fluid in flight.  This required
landing with minimal (if any) down pressure, I turned the pump back on just
before touchdown, and everything held OK.

The O-ring seal around the cylinder shaft had pushed out against the washer
which retains it with such force that the washer had assumed a slightly
conical shape, allowing fluid to squirt out around the shaft.  This
happened, I think, because the up stop was set improperly and was not
seating firmly against this washer when the gear was in the up position. A
couple of extra washers on the shaft outside of the stop collar was all that
was needed.   The other side was set up correctly and the O-ring retaining
washer has remained perfectly flat.]

This illustrates what can happen if the cylinder up stop is not set
properly. The "up stop" is achieved by a reaction of the stop collar and
washers against the cylinder cap. It has to be set and checked under actual
operation, with the middle gear door removed.

Bill Rumburg
N403WR  (Sonic bOOm)

LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html