A fair sized smidgin of bad luck

[Guest]

How ever you choose to jack your plane, be sure this doesn't happen.

 

[cliffy]

Yetti- Now that is a grand idea!  

BTW, not many know knots (the rope kind!) R U an able body seaman? :-)  At one time I knew knots when I held a USCG Master's License. 

[Yetti]

curious what the jack points were used on that picture?  Does not look like safety saw horses were used. 

 

I grew up racing sunfish and lasers and other one design boats.   I learned the sheets bend for climbing.  It is probably the best for slippery webbing.  Of course there is the water knot.

 

 

[Guest]

If I had to guess, I'd say the tail on the fallen Mooney was not supported by a heavy weight on some form of rigid metal stand, like concrete in a large wash tub.  In 30 plus years I've never experienced it or seen it in person.

Clarence

[steingar]

Well, my bad luck has taken a big turn for the worse.  Field mechanic promised to fix my flat and didn't follow through. My Oshkosh trip is now in danger.

I think I'm going to call around to the local fields to see if anyone will come in and help me with this. I could probably do this myself, but jack stands are expensive, and I truly don't know what to get. 

I think kludging something together is a bad idea at best.  We're I an experienced mechanic like some of you it might be OK.  But I'm not. Indeed changing a tire on something that goes 160 mph and retracts also seems like a bad idea for a neophyte. I'd rather have someone do this, or at least supervise me while I do it.

i am leaving my home field. I am done.

[carusoam]

I like your thought process Steingar, sort of...

1) Airplanes cost too much to let sit.  

2) Each weekend that goes by would be more expensive.

That is the driving force for both the pilot and the mechanic to find a way to work together...

Let's say you need this job done.  What is the minimum involvement that your mechanic needs to have?

Mechanic:

- Jack the plane enough to remove a wheel.  (Can't this be done with one Jack?)

- Remove the wheel.

- put the plane down on a block.  So he can have his Jack back for his other projects...

- learn the art of jacking up your plane while he does his part.  Build rapport.  Bagles and coffee used as an ancient type of lubrication may be helpful...

 

Pilot:

- deliver the plane to the space that the mechanic wants.

- take loose wheel to another mechanic that can get the job done.  (Know where you are going and what parts you will need)

- different mechanic may need a different bagel and cup of coffee...

- bring assembled wheel, tube and tire with air in it back to mechanic #1.

- the plane is ready, get it jacked up to put the wheel on.

 

Mechanic:

- completes installation of the wheel assembly.

 

Pilot:

- lowers the plane off the Jack.  Puts tools back in their spot.   Flies away...

 

If you build enough rapport, the mechanic will work with you.  See if you can get him to help you to get what you need.

 

It helps if you are naturally really outgoing.  If not, bring more bagels 

How does that sound?

Best regards,

-a-

[steingar]

I swear, if I could just get an A&P to show up with the jack, I will happily do all the work while he directs sitting in a comfy chair drinking beer I will happily provide.  I will pay said mechanic his full shop rate and then some.  I don't mind doing the work, I just don't consider myself sufficiently experienced to do it without supervision.  I did an oil change on this guy and we swapped out the battery. But we didn't have to jack up the airplane to do these things.

[jetdriven]

What airport is the plane right now?

also, Beechtalk is famous for this stuff, they bailed out asses out on a trip. Post where you are and what you need they'll reply with someone they know. 

[steingar]

I am for now at KTZR.  I will either find another airport to base my Mooney or sell it and abandon aviation altogether.

[Guest]

I can't believe that you're still grounded.  Surely a few of us can talk you through the process.  I've shipped a tire and tools to a customer in Puerto Rico faster than this.

I'm 244 NM from you but there is a border in the way.  

Clarence

[bonal]

Sounds like there is more to this than a flat tire, god if I told you what I've been through with getting mine back in shape or just read what Raptorman has been through that flat won't seem so bad. If all needs done is to get the nose wheel up seems like 2 floor jacks and some steel pipe through the tow bar tube on the nose gear would do the trick. Any experienced mech's please chime in if this is bad advice. Once off should not be too hard to get it to a shop that can replace the tube and tire if needed. Don't give up man.

[MB65E]

Hang in there Stein!! Keep your ear to the ground. Each location takes years to figure out who the A listers are and who you want to work on your airplane. 

When I left CHI, PHX, then LA, I had to start all over with all my go to contacts for airplanes. Welder, Paint, good guys to listen to, etc. It takes time. Stick with it. Here is an awesome place to start! Might check out the Wright Patterson  area for some AF techs. 

All the best!

-Matt

[steingar]

My plan is to call the nearest mechanics shops and see if I can recruit someone. If this doesn't get done this week I will be unable to do Oshkosh. That would suck big time.

[1524J]

Wow.....it shouldn't be so difficult to to fix a flat. If you need a jack point let me know and I'll send you one or both Monday. I've got an extra set. I'll even disassemble one of my jacks if needed (easier shipping). Let me know. 

[N601RX]

There are very likely mechanics in your area who have a day job but would be happy to come by after work for a quick CASH job. It's easier to get these guys to come by is you have basic tool so they just have to bring themselves. Cleveland publishes detailed manuals on how to take the wheel apart and replace the tire and tube.  

 

[gsxrpilot]

This saga is blowing my mind. I've had two flat tires, both at airports away from home. One was at Houston Hobby (not a lot of GA activity) and on a Sunday. It took 3 hours to get the tube changed out in the tire.  The second time was at a GA friendly airport and happened right on the runway.  It took about 45 minutes to get the whole job done and back in the air. 

If an A&P can't be found, get a cheap jack at Harbor Freight and do it yourself. It's not rocket science. It's a tire change on a vehicle the weight of a VW Beetle.

[jetdriven]

Take the upper gear door loose and put a pipe through the horizontal tube that goes just above the tire and Jack it.  

[steingar]

14 hours ago, gsxrpilot said:

This saga is blowing my mind. I've had two flat tires, both at airports away from home. One was at Houston Hobby (not a lot of GA activity) and on a Sunday. It took 3 hours to get the tube changed out in the tire.  The second time was at a GA friendly airport and happened right on the runway.  It took about 45 minutes to get the whole job done and back in the air. 

If an A&P can't be found, get a cheap jack at Harbor Freight and do it yourself. It's not rocket science. It's a tire change on a vehicle the weight of a VW Beetle.

Might wind up doing just this, but I doubt a jack will arrive in time for me to do Oshkosh. My money is on the mechanic who wants some extra cash.  I could try and borrow a jack from the field mechanic, but he's the guy who didn't deliver on his promise to fix my flat last week. I agree it isn't rocket science, but without the proper tools and some degree of know how it might as well be. But if I make it to Oshkosh I seriously owe you guys some beers.  

[cnoe]

Just now, steingar said:

 I could try and borrow a jack from the field mechanic, but he's the guy who didn't deliver on his promise to fix my flat last week..  

Have you followed up with a call to the field mechanic? He may have a good reason why he didn't get to it last week (like another plane with more urgent needs).

Call him up, be jovial, and tell him nicely that you'd like to get this knocked out right away as you're leaving for Oshkosh this week. It takes less than an hour.

If that doesn't work, ask the guy with an open hangar door and a junk-filled hangar to help you. Offer to buy beer. ANYBODY with a Van's RV could do this for/with you in a snap.

See you at Oshkosh!

[steingar]

5 hours ago, cnoe said:

Have you followed up with a call to the field mechanic? He may have a good reason why he didn't get to it last week (like another plane with more urgent needs).

Call him up, be jovial, and tell him nicely that you'd like to get this knocked out right away as you're leaving for Oshkosh this week. It takes less than an hour.

If that doesn't work, ask the guy with an open hangar door and a junk-filled hangar to help you. Offer to buy beer. ANYBODY with a Van's RV could do this for/with you in a snap.

See you at Oshkosh!

The mechanic doesn't answer his phone or return messages.  Beside, what can he tell me? If he says he'll do it this week, what do I do? If he fails again I miss Oshkosh.  My airport is slowly dying, and there aren't so many open hangar doors. I'll be making calls, and if that gets me nowhere then I'll be trying it myself. But at that point I give up on Oshkosh, since I doubt any tools will be here in time.

I've been grounded for three weeks with a flat tire. I doubt I'm long for this airport, where I've been based since the beginning of this century. The one thing that really keeps me going is the camaraderie of folks like the ones on this site.

[mooniac15u]

Just now, steingar said:

The mechanic doesn't answer his phone or return messages.  Beside, what can he tell me? If he says he'll do it this week, what do I do? If he fails again I miss Oshkosh.  My airport is slowly dying, and there aren't so many open hangar doors. I'll be making calls, and if that gets me nowhere then I'll be trying it myself. But at that point I give up on Oshkosh, since I doubt any tools will be here in time.

I've been grounded for three weeks with a flat tire. I doubt I'm long for this airport, where I've been based since the beginning of this century. The one thing that really keeps me going is the camaraderie of folks like the ones on this site.

Did you leave him a key to your hangar?  After we talked yesterday it occurred to me that maybe he couldn't access the plane. 

[1524J]

Questions:

1. Do you have a scissor jack?

2. Do you have a basic tool set?   SAE socket set, wire cutters, large crescent wrench, ect. ?

3. Wood blocks, 2x4's, 4x4's ?

4. An iPad or phone that can skype?

All you need to do is get the wheel off. You can take it to someone for tube replacement if your not comfortable doing that yourself.

 

[steingar]

2 hours ago, 1524J said:

Questions:

1. Do you have a scissor jack?

2. Do you have a basic tool set?   SAE socket set, wire cutters, large crescent wrench, ect. ?

3. Wood blocks, 2x4's, 4x4's ?

4. An iPad or phone that can skype?

All you need to do is get the wheel off. You can take it to someone for tube replacement if your not comfortable doing that yourself.

 

I am extremely uncomfortable jacking up an airplane with the wrong tools. Yes, I can get my hands on an automotive jack, but in my idiot hands the aircraft is just as likely to fall over on me and hurt itself, me, or both. This is just a flat.  It shouldn't be that hard to get a mechanic to fix it.  A friend got a flat in the middle of West Virginia and his mechanic was out the next day to fix it.

[steingar]

3 hours ago, mooniac15u said:

Did you leave him a key to your hangar?  After we talked yesterday it occurred to me that maybe he couldn't access the plane. 

Airport has always had a key to my hangar, and this has never before been an issue. I plan to depart this field (at which I've been resident since the beginning of this century) due to the utter lack of mechanical services.  If I have to order a jack and fix this myself I will.  But if so I'll miss Oshkosh for the first time in 16 years.

[Hank]

If you need it, call my former A&P in South Point, OH--Attitude Aviation. Zanesville is only ~40 Mooney minutes away, he could buzz up, change your tire and be gone pretty easily. 

I hope to make Osh one year, but this time the beach won out. There's a nice 3500' grass strip just 10 minutes from the rental house!