Servicing Oleo Struts 1D3; Filling Nose Gear Oleo Strut 1D3 - Piper Dakota Maintenance Manual

SERVICING OLEO STRUTS
Air-oil struts are incorporated in each landing gear oleo to absorb shock resulting from landing.
Approximately 3.25 +/- 0.25 inches of piston tube on nose gear and 4.5 +/- 0.50 inches of piston tube on
main gear must be exposed to ensure proper oleo action.
Do not release air by removing strut valve core or filler plug.
Depress valve core pin until strut chamber pressure has
diminished.
Dirt and foreign particles form around filler plugs of landing
gear struts, therefore, before attempting to remove these plugs,
tops of struts should be cleaned with compressed air and a dry
solvent.
Take piston tube measurements with airplane setting on a level surface under normal static load (empty
weight of airplane plus full fuel and oil). If strut has less tube exposed than prescribed, determine whether it
needs air or oil.
1. Raise airplane on jacks.
2. With strut extended, remove cap from air valve at top of housing. Depress valve core to allow air to
escape from strut piston until fully compressed.
3. Allow foam from air-oil mixture to settle and determine if oil is visible up to bottom of filler plug hole.
a. If oil is visible at bottom of hole, check valve and add air as described in Inflating Oleo Struts.
b. If fluid is below bottom of filler plug hole, check oleo for leaks, etc.
c. Add oil as described in Filling Nose Gear Oleo Strut for nose gear or Filling Main Gear Oleo Strut
for main gear.
For repair procedures of landing gear and oleo struts, refer to
chapter 32.
FILLING NOSE GEAR OLEO STRUT
Fill nose gear oleo strut with hydraulic fluid (MIL-H-5606) as follows:
1. Jack airplane until nose wheel is completely clear of ground. (Refer to chapter 7.)
2. Place a pan under gear to catch spillage.
3. Remove engine cowl if not previously accomplished. Remove cap from air valve and depress
valve core to relieve air from strut housing chamber.
PIPER AIRCRAFT
PA-28-236
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
—CAUTION—
Do not exceed these tube exposures.
—WARNING—
—CAUTION—
—NOTE—
1D3
12 - 22 - 00
Page - 12 - 07
Reissued: August 1, 1986