Filling Oleo Struts - Piper ARROW III Service Manual

2-38. FILLING OLEO STRUTS. To fill the nose or main gear oleo strut with fluid (MIL-H-5606A), whether it
be the addition of a small or large amount, procede as follows:
a. Raise the airplane on jacks. (Refer to Paragraph 2-12.)
b. Place a pan under the gear to catch spillage.
c. At the filler plug, relieve air pressure from the strut housing chamber by removing the cap fron the air
valve and depressing the valve core.
d. There are two methods by which the strut chamber may be filled and these are as follows:
Method 1:
1. Remove the valve core from the filler plug at the top of the nose gear strut housing or at the top
inboard side of the main gear housing. Allow the filler plug to remain installed.
2. Attach one end of a clean plastic hose to the valve stem of the filler plug and submerge the other
end in a container of hydraulic fluid.
An air-tight connection is necessary between the plastic tube and the valve
stem. Without such a connections, a small amount of air will be sucked into
the oleo strut during each sequence, resulting in an inordinate amount of
air bubbles and a prolonged filling operation.
3. Fully compress and extend the strut thus drawing fluid from the fluid container and expelling air
from the strut chamber. By watching the fluid pass through the plastic hose, it can be determined
when the strut is full and no air is present in the chamber.
4. When air bubbles cease to flow through the hose, compress the strut fully and remove the hose
from the valve stem.
5. With the strut compressed, remove the filler plug to determine that the fluid level is visible up to
the bottom of the filler plug hole.
6. Reinstall the core in the filler plug and apply thread lubricant (Parker No. 6PB) to the threads of
the filler plug and install the plug in the top of the strut housing. Torque the plug to 45 foot
pounds.
Method 2:
1. Remove the filler plug from the top of the nose gear strut housing or at the top inboard side of the
main gear housing.
2. Raise the strut piston tube until it is fully compressed.
3. Pour fluid from a clean container through the filler opening until it reaches the bottom of the filler
plug hole. (Air pressure type oil container may be helpful.)
4. Install the filler plug finger tight and extend and compress the strut two or three times to remove
air from the housing.
5. Remove the filler plug, raise the strut to full compression and fill with fluid if needed.
6. Apply thread lubricant (Parker No. 6PB) to the threads of the filler plug. Reinstall the filler plug
and torque to 45 foot pounds.
e. With the airplane raised, compress and extend the gear strut several times to ascertain that the strut
actuates freely. The weight of the gear fork and wheel should extend the strut.
f. Clean off overflow of fluid and inflate the strut as described in Paragraph 2-39.
g. Check that fluid is not leaking around the strut piston at the bottom of the housing.
Revised: 8/31/77
*CHEROKEE ARROW III SERVICE MANUAL
NOTE
1B17
HANDLING AND SERVICING