Gear Doughnuts

[N201MKTurbo]

19 minutes ago, Alan Fox said:

True , the ten dollars worth of seals on the oleos , that fail every 20 years or so are far inferior to the 1200 dollar donuts every 12 tears....

Fair enough, but doughnuts have never leaked all over my tire. I haven't  had to top them off with nitrogen. For the most part, you don't have to do anything. 

[Alan Fox]

Just now, N201MKTurbo said:

Fair enough, but doughnuts have never leaked all over my tire. I haven't  had to top them off with nitrogen. For the most part, you don't have to do anything. 

Listen , contrary to popular belief , I do love Mooneys ... But in my opinion , the Gear , and the tanks are the weak links.....

[Mooneymite]

22 minutes ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

FWIW, I agree with Alan about Mooney tanks. They should have been made removable like Vans and Cherokees. The mechanics of the Mooneys' gear, though, is a marvelous example of Al's true engineering genius. 

Ah....!  This sounds like a perfect segue to a tank re-seal versus bladder thread derailment.  

[ArtVandelay]

Donuts are fine on the short, lighter bodies, they seem to last for 20+ years, on the heavy long bodies, not so much. I'm pretty sure if Al designed the Acclaim and Ovation today, they wouldn't have donuts.

[RobertGary1]

I doubt when Al Mooney designed these planes that the donuts were more expensive than struts. 

"How expensive can a bunch of rubber be":) 

however ive never had problems with the Mooney  On strut planes id have problems with them sticking and you'd land on a slant  

-Robert

[RLCarter]

1 hour ago, RobertGary1 said:

I doubt when Al Mooney designed these planes that the donuts were more expensive than struts. 

I read somewhere that the original pucks were a motor mount from a Mack truck....would make since to use something off the self if possible

[Browncbr1]

7 hours ago, RLCarter said:

I read somewhere that the original pucks were a motor mount from a Mack truck....would make since to use something off the self if possible

Perhaps someone has a few pucks to take down to the local mac truck dealer to see if they have identical parts with part numbers and all...

[RLCarter]

30 minutes ago, Browncbr1 said:

Perhaps someone has a few pucks to take down to the local mac truck dealer to see if they have identical parts with part numbers and all...

Mooney changed like in 67' or so, the old style used 4 pucks in the nose and 5 in the mains (thinner puck) its been several years ago that I read that and the Lords were the only game in town

[Cruiser]

36 minutes ago, Browncbr1 said:

Perhaps someone has a few pucks to take down to the local mac truck dealer to see if they have identical parts with part numbers and all...

Probably a long shot, only the FAA would require the same pucks to be used after 50 years ........ Mac truck has improved their design several times I am sure.

[Jim Peace]

17 year old shocks being replaced on a C at Daytona aircraft service. 

Do these look bad for all that time?

[bradp]

Both the M22 and M301 had Oleo's - both were significantly heavier aircraft.

Now here's the thread drift - I wonder what happened to the M301 prototype (the airframe, not the TBM DNA).

[Hank]

46 minutes ago, Jim Peace said:

17 year old shocks being replaced on a C at Daytona aircraft service. 

Do these look bad for all that time?

You'll like them. Taxiing will be nicer, and wait until you land! 

[Jim Peace]

I just can’t wait to see how they perform at CDW while taxiing to runway 4. I would always take a different runway no matter what the wind. I wish they would resurface that taxiway. 

[rbridges]

I just had them replaced this weekend, and I could tell an immediate difference when taxiing. I've had my plane 6 years and never really had anything to compare. 

[Candy man]

8 hours ago, bluehighwayflyer said:

I have read that the M30 prototype was destroyed, Brad. Such a shame but I believe it to be true. 

Jim

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooney_301

[RobertGary1]

On 5/19/2017 at 4:43 PM, LANCECASPER said:

Wow it's nice to know that at least one person makes a perfect landing every time.

hahah. Yep everytime.

 

-Robert

[RobertGary1]

On 5/22/2017 at 6:35 PM, N6758N said:

Let me guess, you have original 60's or 70's era pucks on your airplane?

I replaced mine in the early 2000's. They still measure good.

 

-Robert

[HRM]

So many, many factors...my IA had given me a warning shot two years ago. I had him replace them this year (9/17).

If they need replaced the real indicator is the ground handling and landings AFTERWARDS. In my case, quite noticeable.

...and yes, Aviall is the cheapest source for them.

[AlexLev]

On 1/2/2018 at 4:46 PM, HRM said:

So many, many factors...my IA had given me a warning shot two years ago. I had him replace them this year (9/17).

If they need replaced the real indicator is the ground handling and landings AFTERWARDS. In my case, quite noticeable.

...and yes, Aviall is the cheapest source for them.

@HRMHow much are they on Aviall? Is there a way to order from them if you're not a business?

Cheapest I've found so far is http://www.chiefaircraft.com/ld-j11968-14.html at $109/each and I think free shipping if you buy over $500 worth.

Edited June 27, 2018 by AlexLev

[steingar]

My mechanic said the front needed new this year, in they went.  He says next year the mains will need new and the mains will get them.  To be honest one can have worse squawks.

[HRM]

51 minutes ago, AlexLev said:

@HRMHow much are they on Aviall? Is there a way to order from them if you're not a business?

Cheapest I've found so far is http://www.chiefaircraft.com/ld-j11968-14.html at $109/each and I think free shipping if you buy over $500 worth.

I believe you have to have a business account with them, but that may be easy to obtain.

IIRC, they were $80 apiece. Be aware that Lord anything varies up and down like a commodity, which when you think about it, they are.