Anybody want to help me change a tire in Manassas?

[wombat]

Trying to pick up my new plane (N5773S) but the nose tire is totally flat.   All the shops are closed.

Anyone have a 5.00 x 5 tube and tools that is looking for something to do?  If not, I'll stay at the hotel a few nights and get it fixed on Monday.

[OR75]

too far for me to help ... but is it flat because punctured ? or just need air ? easy quick fix if it just need air 

[wombat]

Unfortunately it'll take more than just air.   I found a helpful nearby RV builder who had a 2.5 gallon tank, and the air came hissing out as soon as I put it in.

I don't see a puncture or anything, so I don't know what's actually wrong.

 

Edit:   I don't actually know if this tire has a tube or not.   It might inflate if I just got the nose lifted to let the tire set back on its bead.

Edited April 29, 2023 by wombat

[neilpilot]

19 minutes ago, wombat said:

Unfortunately it'll take more than just air.   I found a helpful nearby RV builder who had a 2.5 gallon tank, and the air came hissing out as soon as I put it in.

I don't see a puncture or anything, so I don't know what's actually wrong.

 

Edit:   I don't actually know if this tire has a tube or not.   It might inflate if I just got the nose lifted to let the tire set back on its bead.

Is there even such a thing as a tubeless tire (for a Mooney)?

[Shadrach]

@wombat I have a new Michelin Airstop for the nose gear. Never been installed but I don’t know how old it is. DM me your cell.

[jetdriven]

you can jack the nose wheel with a pipe and a bottle jack. we have a tube at GAI

 

[wombat]

Thanks for the offer, @jetdriven, @Shadrach has a tube too and he's planning on bringing it down on Monday morning.

The shop here I was using for the prebuy will be able to install it, or we'll be able to do it ourselves, but for other reasons, I think the shop will be willing to do the install at a steeply discounted price.

 

[Utah20Gflyer]

What about repairing the tube with a patch temporarily?  

[neilpilot]

46 minutes ago, Utah20Gflyer said:

What about repairing the tube with a patch temporarily?  

Have no idea if this is contrary to any FAA standard, but tire distributor Dresser says "Repair of aircraft tubes is not recommended." and the Goodyear aircraft tire manual says that in event of a tube leak, the tube is to be replaced.

[Fly Boomer]

5 hours ago, wombat said:

Trying to pick up my new plane (N5773S) but the nose tire is totally flat.   All the shops are closed.

Anyone have a 5.00 x 5 tube and tools that is looking for something to do?  If not, I'll stay at the hotel a few nights and get it fixed on Monday.

You have some great offers above.  Most people on MooneySpace think the Michelin Airstop is the right answer.

[A64Pilot]

20 hours ago, neilpilot said:

Have no idea if this is contrary to any FAA standard, but tire distributor Dresser says "Repair of aircraft tubes is not recommended." and the Goodyear aircraft tire manual says that in event of a tube leak, the tube is to be replaced.

I don’t know of anything that’s says it’s prohibited, but it is contrary to best practice, but from your description of what it sounds like, a patch isn’t likely to fix it.

[wombat]

Tire is fixed.   It was a pinch flat  between the two halves of the wheel.  

Flying with Jerry H tomorrow (I hope) in some winds that are honestly 'sporty' for my first time back in the Mooney cockpit.

 

We also got the bird nest out and rinsed the area with water.

[Fly Boomer]

7 minutes ago, wombat said:

Tire is fixed.   It was a pinch flat  between the two halves of the wheel.  

I was just looking at Spruce a few minutes ago for a nosewheel tube, and I see that the one like yours (092-308-0) has a 90-degree stem.  My memory isn't what it used to be, but I think my (leaky) tube has a straight stem.  Do you have the wheel covers and, if so, is there any interference between the stem and the wheel cover?

[wombat]

This 90 degree stem fits correctly, a straight one would not.   I'll get a picture tomorrow morning.

[Fly Boomer]

1 hour ago, wombat said:

This 90 degree stem fits correctly, a straight one would not.   I'll get a picture tomorrow morning.

Thanks.  I'm down for annual, and the nose tire loses air slowly, so I'll try to get a tube in time to add it to the list.  That nose gear earns its keep holding up a TSIO-520.

[Shadrach]

I am 90% sure my current nose wheel tube has a straight stem. The Lasar wheel covers fit fine. The challenge is that some air chucks are too large for the clearance between the stem and the axel housing.

[A64Pilot]

9 hours ago, Fly Boomer said:

Thanks.  I'm down for annual, and the nose tire loses air slowly, so I'll try to get a tube in time to add it to the list.  That nose gear earns its keep holding up a TSIO-520.

If it’s losing air, take the valve cap off and put some spit on the hole, if it bubbles of course the valve is loose, if so it’s an easy fix.

Be sure you always have the metal yellow cap that has an O-ring in it too, don’t use a cap without the O-ring, it’s a back up in case the valve starts to leak. I had one that did and landed a C-210 with a flat nose wheel, it really scares you, your sure the nose wheel has collapsed but it did no damage.

I don’t think the big motor Mooney’s carry much if any more weight on the nose wheel, if they did of course the CG would be way forward, but maybe they have a much further allowable fwd CG limit? Never flown one so I don’t know.

[Fly Boomer]

1 hour ago, A64Pilot said:

If it’s losing air, take the valve cap off and put some spit on the hole, if it bubbles of course the valve is loose, if so it’s an easy fix.

Be sure you always have the metal yellow cap that has an O-ring in it too, don’t use a cap without the O-ring, it’s a back up in case the valve starts to leak. I had one that did and landed a C-210 with a flat nose wheel, it really scares you, your sure the nose wheel has collapsed but it did no damage.

I don’t think the big motor Mooney’s carry much if any more weight on the nose wheel, if they did of course the CG would be way forward, but maybe they have a much further allowable fwd CG limit? Never flown one so I don’t know.

Good idea on checking the valve core -- I was jumping immediately to the most labor-intensive and expensive solution.  I have a bunch of the so-called 2525 valve caps, but I don't have one on the nose because I'm concerned it will abrade the wheel cover, and eventually cut through it -- maybe I should just leave the wheel cover on the valve stem side off.  Finally, the TSIO-520 definitely puts more weight on the nose gear.  Using the numbers from my POH, my CG runs very close to the forward limit depending on fuel and cabin load.  I have two Charlie weights in the way back (about 13 pounds), and probably need the third (another 6 pounds or so).

[Shadrach]

2 hours ago, A64Pilot said:

If it’s losing air, take the valve cap off and put some spit on the hole, if it bubbles of course the valve is loose, if so it’s an easy fix.

Be sure you always have the metal yellow cap that has an O-ring in it too, don’t use a cap without the O-ring, it’s a back up in case the valve starts to leak. I had one that did and landed a C-210 with a flat nose wheel, it really scares you, your sure the nose wheel has collapsed but it did no damage.

I don’t think the big motor Mooney’s carry much if any more weight on the nose wheel, if they did of course the CG would be way forward, but maybe they have a much further allowable fwd CG limit? Never flown one so I don’t know.

They have Charlie weights in the tail. However, the mid bodies with the 300hp conversion are known to be heavier in the nose as the charlie weights have a shorter arm.

[wombat]

Everything worked out well enough today and I made it back to Iowa today from Manassas.   Brutal headwinds and anything less than 10,500 MSL was incredibly rough.

Diverted to an airport that had a runway that was more lined up with the winds.  I didn't think I was ready to land this plane with a crosswind component over 25 KT.

And METAR when I finally landed: 

KOTM 012253Z AUTO 31017G36KT 10SM CLR 15/M04 A2969 RMK AO2 PK WND 31038/2218 SLP055 T01501039

 

[Fly Boomer]

8 hours ago, M20Doc said:

Any standard Cleveland 500X5 wheel that I’ve seen uses an inner tube with a 90* valve stem.

I will have eyeballs on it tomorrow, but as I sit in the comfort of my recliner, I would swear the stem is straight.  Mea culpas to follow.

[jetdriven]

On 4/30/2023 at 9:02 PM, wombat said:

Tire is fixed.   It was a pinch flat  between the two halves of the wheel.  

Flying with Jerry H tomorrow (I hope) in some winds that are honestly 'sporty' for my first time back in the Mooney cockpit.

 

We also got the bird nest out and rinsed the area with water.

Did the prebuy not identify these two issues ? 

[wombat]

These things were not present until after I bought the plane. Bad luck for me.

 

The tire was fine during the prebuy.   I even went in a flight in the plane.   But when I went to fly it on Saturday, the air came out immediately, it wouldn't even start to lift the nose.

And the bird nest and eggs were all from the last week that it sat outside; all of the grass and stuff that made up the nest was brand new.  Stupid busy bird. 

 

[Fly Boomer]

8 minutes ago, wombat said:

And the bird nest and eggs were all from the last week that it sat outside; all of the grass and stuff that made up the nest was brand new.  Stupid busy bird. 

It's amazing how fast they work.  They start early, work late, and don't take breaks.

[1980Mooney]

11 hours ago, Fly Boomer said:

It's amazing how fast they work.  They start early, work late, and don't take breaks.

Hmmm...that sounds like it was an immigrant bird....