Oleo gear idiosyncrasies

6

69GCBC

New member
I just test flew my friend's 1965 7ECA after restoration over a number of years. The plane flies great but the oleo gear seems strange to me (my '69 7GCBC has spring gear). During the roll-out after landing one oleo compresses part way and then a few seconds the other side does, then the first one compresses the rest of the way and finally the other does. I feel like I'm in a low-rider :) I assume they are supposed to compress smoothly and simultaneously correct? How much trouble is it to rebuild them?

-Todd
 
69GCB,
Try this site: http://www.hangar9aeroworks.com/AeroncaTechInfo/AeroncaTechInfo.html

Hope this helps.
Keith
 
Hi Todd, Keith posted a great site for oleo information although they don't get into the long stroke oleo's that much.
I'm thinking they are low or out of hydraulic fluid, to check you need to lift the aircraft and remove the lower bolt on the oleo then hinge it up and remove the filler/drain plug and check (problay just drain the oleo and start with fresh hyd. fluild) I'm not sure how much is required for the Citabria oleos but the Champ long stroke oleos require 8.5 oz.
Actually they are fairly easy to OV and work on once you have the plane lifted.
 
so if you have a 1965 7ECA Champion Citabria, which gear do you have? long or short stroke oleos and are they the "No bounce"? what are the diffences?
 
A 1965 will have the long stroke/no bounce but the Citabria oleos have what are called high energy taxi springs (called belleville spring /washers) vs the Champ long stroke/no bounce oles which have a (spring type for lack of a better term) taxi spring.
Champs with a Max wt of up to 1300 lbs can use the original oleos if the wt is more then the long stroke oles are called for, I 'm not sure when the high energy springs are required, but think its when they became Citabria's.
 
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