dkkim73 Posted April 9 Report Posted April 9 Hi All, Looking to replace main gear tires (probably the result of being a bit too compliant with early turn-offs). Along the way thinking about replacing tubes or at least buying a new one to have handy on trips or if one of the current tubes is not right when changing the tires. Question: Is the following picture from a "straight stem" tube? This is a Goodyear Flight Mate tube in a Michelin Air tire. I've heard the Air Stop tubes are good, but they weren't available when I needed them last year. Also any opinion on the Michelin vs. Goodyear tube is welcome... Thanks, David
exM20K Posted April 9 Report Posted April 9 I just replaced mine with this https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pnpages/06-00021.php no 90* angle valve needed -dan
dkkim73 Posted April 9 Author Report Posted April 9 6 hours ago, exM20K said: I just replaced mine with this https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pnpages/06-00021.php no 90* angle valve needed -dan Thanks, Dan. I'm a bit confused on sizing these tubes. I see that tube, and this one: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pnpages/06-01373.php The IPC doesn't provide too much guidance AFAICT. How does one know which to use? Is there a list of specific part #s? I believe this is the exact tire I have now on the MLGs: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/lgpages/michelinairtires_06-08080.php
exM20K Posted April 9 Report Posted April 9 I was mostly responding to the stem question. There are angled stem tubes, but that is unnecessary for our gear. I just matched the tube size with the tire size, and it fit fine. I’m no expert in decoding aircraft tire sizes, but I’m sure someone at spruce could help. My pairing is the opposite of yours: Michelin tube in a Goodyear Flight Custom III. -dan 1
dkkim73 Posted April 10 Author Report Posted April 10 Hi Dan, No worries. I kept pulling on threads and got several indications that the tube to which you linked was correct. Apparently the other one is "smaller" though scratching my head about how to assess that. Anyhow, new tires and tubes on the way. Latest disparate maintenance advice from experienced sources: Some say to always change the tube with the tire because "they stretch". Some other credible folks say not to. I suppose a stretched tube is more linkly to pinch and kink and rupture, but really who knows. I shot the breeze with a very smart local aviation entrepreneur, FBO developer, flight ops guy, pilot, super high-energy positive type. He said "I hate maintenance"... (?) In follow-up, it was essentially because all sorts of credentialed people with good reputations and who are honest all keep giving him conflicting advice. "How am I supposed to figure it out?!?". Even as a gear-head, I am starting to understand what he means... David
A64Pilot Posted April 11 Report Posted April 11 22 hours ago, dkkim73 said: Some say to always change the tube with the tire because "they stretch". Some other credible folks say not to. I suppose a stretched tube is more linkly to pinch and kink and rupture, but really who knows. @dkkim73 That is pretty much word for word what I have read the recommendation is from every manufacturers books I’ve read. But of course they have everything to gain if you never reuse a tube. I have seen several that have been reused but have never myself seen a failure attributed to it. I have seem tubes that were worn and had creases that wore telling me they needed to go in the trash, so I suspect those were reused and the manufacturers have a point. Your milage may vary.
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