Propeller Care; Landing Gear Service; Brake Service - Piper PA-24-250 COMANCHE Pilot Operating Handbook

AlrcraR Publications
Piper Comanchc
250
(Early Model)
Section
-
8
Maintenance
Replace the filter when
it
becomes excessively dirty or shows any damage. The usable life of
the dry type filter should be limited to one year or 500 hours of operation, whichever comes
first.
6.)
Propeller Care:
Before each flight, the propeller should be checked for nicks and corrosion. Small nicks
produce stress concentrations and should be dressed-out as soon as possible to prevent serious
cracks or the loss of a propeller tip.
7.) Landing Gear Service:
Raise the airplane on jacks using procedures outlined in "Ground Handling" of this Section
Wheels are removed by taking off the hub nut and withdrawing the axle bolt, the axle retainer
clips and the axle. Main gear wheels also require the removal of four bolts from the brake
assembly.
Mark the tire and wheel for re-installation. Tires are dismounted from the wheels by deflating
the tube, then removing the wheel through-bolts, allowing the wheel halves to be separated.
Landing-gear strut exposure is measured with the airplane parked on a level surface with all
fuel tanks full. Should the strut exposure be below that required, it should be determined if oil
or air is needed. To do this, first raise the airplane on jacks.
To add oil, release the air in the strut allowing the oleo to compress hlly. Remove the air-
valve core and fill the unit through this opening by attaching a clear plastic hose to the valve
stem and submerging the other end in a container of hydraulic fluid. Fully compress and
extend the strut several times, thus drawing fluid from the container and expelling air from the
strut chamber. When air bubbles cease to flow through the hose, compress the oleo to within
114 inch of full compression allowing excess oil to escape.
Air (or preferably dry nitrogen) is then added to the oleo struts with the aid of a strut pump.
Re-insert the valve core, and with the airplane on the ground; inflate the strut to the proper
position.
Wheel bearings should be replaced if they show signs of pitting or wear. If the bearings are
serviceable, clean them thoroughly in solvent and re-pack with wheel-bearing grease.
8.)
Brake Service:
The hydraulic brake system is filled with petroleum base MIL-H-5606 (red) hydraulic fluid.
The fluid level should be checked after every 50 hours of airplane operation and replenished if
necessary. The brake fluid reservoir is located on the firewall in the engine compartment.
No adjustment of brake clearances is necessary. If brake blocks become worn excessively, an
A&P mechanic can easily replace them with new segments.
Copyright: 1993
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