Servicing Landing Gear; Oleo Struts Servicing; Adding Fluid To Struts; Filling Oleo Struts - Piper Navajo Chieftain PA-31-350 Service Manual

NAVAJO CHIEFTAIN SERVICE MANUAL
2-29. SERVICING LANDING GEAR. The operation of the landing gear oleo's is standard for the air-oil
type. The piston tube has a total travel of 8.50 inches, and 3.25 inches of tube exposed under normal static
load. (Normal static load is the empty weight of the airplane plus full fuel and oil.) All major attachments
and actuating bearings are equipped with grease fittings for lubrication. Refer to Lubrication Chart.
2-30. OLEO STRUTS.
2-31. SERVICING OLEO STRUTS. Air-oil shock struts are incorporated in each landing gear oleo
assembly to absorb the shock resulting from the impact of the wheels on the runway during landing. To
obtain proper oleo action, the nose and main gear oleo struts must have approximately 3.25 inches of
piston tube exposed, with the airplane setting on a level surface, under normal static loads. (Refer to Figure
2-10.)
NOTE
Normal static load is the empty weight of the airplane plus full
fuel and oil.
If a strut has less than the required inches exposed, determine whether it needs air or oil by rocking the
airplane. If the airplane settles to its normal position within one cycle after the rocking force is removed, the
oleo strut requires inflating (air). (Refer to paragraph 2-34.) If the airplane continues to oscillate after the
rocking force is removed, the oleo strut requires filling (oil). (Refer to paragraph 2-33.) For repairs to the gear
oleos, refer to Section VII of this manual.
WARNING
Do not release air by removing the strut valve core or filler plug.
Depress the valve core pin until strut pressure has diminished.
NOTE
Struts may be serviced and adjusted per placard on strut.
2-32. ADDING FLUID TO STRUTS. To add fluid to an oleo strut which is partly full, proceed as follows:
a. Place the airplane on jacks. (Refer to paragraph 2-12.)
b.
Place a pan under the gear to catch spillage.
c.
Release the air in the oleo strut by pressing in on the air valve core pin.
d.
Remove the air valve (filler plug). Allow valve core to remain in valve.
e.
Extend the strut to two inches from the fully compressed position.
f.
At the two-inch extended position, fill the strut through the filler opening with fluid as specified.
g.
Slowly compress the strut to the fully compressed position allowing fluid to overflow.
h.
With oleo strut in the compressed position, reinstall air valve and safety.
i. Inflate the oleo struts with air to the required extension per instructions in paragraph 2-34.
2-33. FILLING OLEO STRUTS. To fill an oleo strut which has been completely emptied because of repair.
leakage, etc., proceed as follows:
a. Place the airplane on jacks. (Refer to paragraph 2-12.)
b.
Place a pan under the gear to catch spillage.
c.
Remove valve core from air valve.
d.
Attach a clear plastic tube to the valve stem and place the other end of the tube in a container of
hydraulic fluid as specified.
Reissued: 9/23/80
HANDLING AND SERVICING
1B21