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<< Lancair Builders' Mail List >>
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Brake fluid- is not brake fluid-is not brake fluid. I recently had the displeasure of telling two builders that they must completely disassemble their brake system, flush it out and replace all the seals. In one case the builder used Automotive DOT3 "disk brake" fluid, thinking that it says "good for all disk brakes", meant what it said. In the second case the builder got some ill advice and used DOT4 "silicone" based fluid, that basically says the same thing. In both cases the seals started swelling up after a few months to the point that I had difficulty taxiing the aircraft, and fortunately discovered the error before a failure occurred. Use only MIL-H-5606 or it's equivilent, but be damn sure that it says MIL-H-5606 on the can, it's RED and is so much fun to work with....... And yes, this is the same fluid used in the aircraft hydraulic system.
And speaking of taxiing; I've always taught to "taxi the Lancair aircraft at a speed you wouldn't mind departing the taxiway or runway at", because if you lose a brake, you are going to head for the unimproved area (ditch, snowbank, lake) soon. On landing, once firmly on tera-firma, test the brakes to ensure you still have both, and if not go around and go find a nice stiff x-wind on the side of the bad brake. I've had to do this on 2 occasions, and was able to stay on the centerline, which is another sore spot... Pumping or testing the brakes in-flight can be hazardous to the health of your tires, if the pads are thinning and a puck sticks, or the slide pins are rusting and not moving freely, and you touchdown lightly with a immovable tire, it makes the prettiest bulls-eye you've ever seen and all this before you get the full weight on the tire. "BendAir-DoneDat"
Mike DeHate
LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html
LML Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair
Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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