Filling Main Gear Oleo Strut - Piper PA-32R-301 SARATOGA SP Maintenance Manual

N. FILLING NOSE GEAR OLEO STRUT. (cont.)
(b) Method II:
1 Remove filler plug from top of strut housing.
2 Raise strut piston until fully compressed.
3 Pour fluid from a clean container through filler opening until it reaches bottom of filler
plug hole.
4 Install filler plug finger tight. Extend and compress the strut two or three times to remove
any air that may be trapped in housing.
5 Remove filler plug. Raise strut to full compression and fill with fluid if needed.
6 Apply an appropriate thread lubricant threads of filler plug and install filler plug in the top
of strut housing. Torque plug to 45 foot-pounds.
(5) With airplane raised, compress and extend the gear strut several times Ensure strut actuates
freely. The weight of the gear fork and wheel should extend strut.
(6) Clean off overflow of fluid, and inflate strut as described in Inflating Oleo Struts.
(7) Check that fluid is not leaking from around strut piston at bottom of housing.

0. FILLING MAIN GEAR OLEO STRUT.

Fill partly full or completely emptied main gear oleo strut with MIL-H-5606 fluid as follows:
(1) Raise the airplane on jacks until the main wheel is off the ground.
(2) Place a pan under the gear to catch spillage.
(3) If not previously accomplished, remove a cap on top wing to gain access to top of strut housing.
Release air from strut housing chamber by removing cap from air valve and depressing valve core.
(4) Fill the main gear housing by one or two methods which are as follows:
(a) Method I:
1 Remove valve core from filler plug at top of strut housing. Do not remove plug.
2 Attach one end of a clear plastic hose to valve stem of filler plug and submerge the other
end in a container of hydraulic fluid.
3 Fully compress and extend strut to draw fluid into the strut. By watching fluid pass
through plastic hose, determine when the strut is full and no air is present.
4 When air bubbles cease to flow through hose, compress strut fully and remove hose from
valve stem.
5 With strut fully compressed, remove filler plug to determine that fluid level is visible up to
bottom of filler plug hole.
6 Install core in filler plug. Apply an appropriate thread lubricant to threads of filler plug
and install plug in the top of strut housing. Torque plug to 45 foot-pounds.
PIPER AIRCRAFT
PA-32R-301/301T
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
1F13
12-10-00
Page 12-10
Reissued: July 1, 1993