Gear re-chrome?

bbarrett

bbarrett

New member
Anyone have recommendations for hard chrome shop that will work on Bellanca landing gear? My nose gear lower strut has some damage at the bottom of the tube and mechanic's suggesting I should do something about it. Dan Cullman had recommended Lane Plating in Texas, but I've failed at getting in touch with them and am suspicious they're no longer in business.

Thanks!
 
Try Chromecraft, (maybe Chrome Craft) in Sacramento Calif. They told me they were certified to do Viking gear, but not Cruisair gear. This was 10 or 12 years ago, so I dont know if they are still around. There are several methods of chroming, and only one method is safe for aircraft stuff, so stay away from hot rod shops etc. _____Grant.
 
I had the struts on my 14-19 plated by Industrial Plating Co. Inc.,Aerospace Div. They used to advertise in Trade-A-Plane, but I haven't noticed it recently. They are or were a cert. repair station. Their number is 256-237-8647. They're in Anniston, AL. Tom Robinson
 
You might try Aerospace Coatings they advertise in TAP. 1-866-506-0249. They do Bellanca. I have had no experience with them but do know of a Piper that they did. Nice job. Lynn the crate :shock:
 
Brian, please let us know what you find out. I've been looking for a good plating source for exactly the same reason. In a recent post I was trying to find out the correct diameter for the struts, then do some measuring to see where mine are at. The factory won't turn lose of any prints (or even make copies), but usually when you have a part hard chromed you need to define the desired plating thickness or the finished dimension. Someone must have the prints out there... hopefully! --Rob
 
When I talked to Chrome Craft they had the specs for Viking gear. I suspect that 14-19-3 would be the same diameter as early Viking and maybe later Viking. Let us know if you find a good shop. ____Grant.
 
I spoke with Chrome Craft last week. Their process involves first stripping all of the old chrome, then building up a new layer of chrome over clean steel, then grinding the new chrome back to the correct dimension. The grinding process would likely require a piece of metal to be temporarily welded to the bottom of the strut in order to hold the part in the grinding machine. No doubt this produces a very high quality result and they seem very knowledgeable. However it sounds expensive. I will be sending them some pictures of the gear in order to receive a quote - will provide more feedback then. Any other ideas?
 
About 10 years ago I had my gear leg bottom strut pistons re-chromed at a local good-old-boy's shop whose business was re-chroming hydraulic pistons on earth moving equipment and the like. They had bath vats long enough for some of the biggest and longest hydraulic pistons for the big track hoes.

The guy running the shop seemed to me to be very knowledgeable about building up and taking off chrome from tubular steel. He first put the gear leg chromed portions into a bath that electrically/chemically removed the chrome, and then into in another vat and solution that applied the chrome; I remember that it came off and was built up based on the time it spent in the vats. I am not certain, but I seem to remember that they did do some sort of grinding or polishing of the re-chromed portion - not sure.

Came out pretty nice and still looks good. Can't say that if I fill the gear leg struts with oil, that it doesn't eventually leak out - but I think that may be because I haven't found the perfect to fit strut seals.

I initially found a local shop that chromed items for lots of things including stuff on airplanes, they had lots of diploma looking certificates on the wall with fancy borders; they wanted all sorts of paperwork documents from me for the plane so they could fill out lots more paperwork, and the price they quoted was way more than the earth moving equipment shop. I do not remember the cost, but I recall it was realistic for my then 60'ish year old airplane.
 
Good feedback Jeff... do you happen to remember the name of the shop that did the chrome work for you? I am continuing my search... Rob
 
When I talked to Chrome Craft (years ago) the process sounded the same, but they required the axels to be removed. If I remember correctly, that was for mounting in the surface grinder for the grinding to the exact size. I am pretty sure they didnt mention anything about welding. As far as price of chroming goes, it is expensive!!!. I had another shop do 2 shafts from my hydraulic retract cylinders and it cost me $500. ______Grant.
 
Rob58 said:
Good feedback Jeff... do you happen to remember the name of the shop that did the chrome work for you?
Click to expand...

Able Machine-Hydraulics Inc
309 McConnell Rd, Taylors, SC 29687
(864) 244-0893

They do not have a web site, but here is a citysearch page >
http://www.citysearch.com/profile/9216213/taylors_sc/able_machine_hydraulics_inc.html

The shop is in northern SC, between Greenville and Greer, SC.

I have forgotten the price - I think it may have been about $175 for each leg, there-abouts.

I imagine if you looked around in your area you might find a shop close to you.
 
Jeff, thanks very much for the info. Even though this shop is a long way from my home base, the distance is secondary to finding the someone that will do the job right at a fair price. I am going to call these guys on Monday. I'll let everyone know the outcome... Rob
 
I have used Industrial plating in Anniston, AL for my airplane and for customers. They seem to know what they're doing and have never let me down. They re-chromed the main gear legs and the tail wheel strut for me at different times and three other sets for customers of mine. Strangely enough the tailwheel strut, done in 2001, was the one that gave them the most trouble getting in spec but they never wavered from their quoted price to get it done. AND you get an FAA form 8130-3, aka "birth certificate", for the release.

They did change their name a few years back but I did a search in Anniston and re-located them as:

IPC Aerospace
P.O. Drawer 2365,
1300 Clydesdale Ave
Anniston, AL 36202
 
Finally made contact with Able Machine in SC (as mentioned by Jeff). Spoke with Rick Owens, very helpful guy. His company does nothing but hard chrome plating. He remembers doing some aircraft work in the past, but not something he does every day and certainly nothing he has any specs for. His idea is to strip the old chrome (using a reverse polarity process) then re-plate. After plating he uses a belt grinder to get the right finish – tries to stay away from grinding if possible. I’m going to send him some pictures of our gear struts and then see what he has to say. Will update this post as I have info to report… Rob
 
there is a technique used to build up the metal on crank journals
plasma metal spraying...

I don't know if the heat involved would make it impractical for building up the
diameter of a gear leg... in fact I know almost nothing about it.

:roll:
 
I ended up sending my nose gear tube to Aerospace Coatings. Sadly, I can't really report anything useful either way because the damage went through the chrome into the underlying steel. So now I'm trying to find a new part (but that's a topic for a different thread).
 
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