Piper PA-28-161, Maintenance Manual

Page: 168 / 1104

PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC.
PA-28-161, WARRIOR III
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
PAGE 6
Nov 30/06
1I2
12-10-00
(4) There are two methods by which the strut chamber may be filled as follows:
(a) Method 1:
1 Remove valve core from filler plug at the top of strut housing. Do not remove plug.
2 Attach one end of a clear plastic hose to the valve stem of the filler plug and
submerge the other end in a container of hydraulic fluid. Ascertain that the end of the
hose on the valve stem is tight and the fluid container is approximately equal in
height to the top of the strut housing.
3 Fully compress and extend strut to draw fluid from the fluid container and expel air
from strut chamber. By watching the fluid pass through the plastic hose, determine
when the strut is full and no air is present in the chamber.
4 When air bubbles cease to flow through hose, compress strut fully and remove hose
from the valve stem.
5 With strut compressed, remove filler plug to determine that the fluid level is visible up
to the bottom of filler plug hole.
6 Install core in filler plug. Apply an appropriate thread lubricant to threads of filler plug
and install plug in top of strut housing. Torque plug to 350 - 450 inch-pounds.
(b) Method II:
1 Remove filler plug from top of strut housing.
2 Raise strut piston until fully compressed.
3 Pour fluid from a clean container through filler opening until it reaches bottom of filler
plug hole.
4 Install filler plug finger tight. Extend and compress the strut two or three times to
remove any air that may be trapped in housing.
5 Remove filler plug. Raise strut to full compression and fill with fluid if needed.
6 Apply an appropriate thread lubricant threads of filler plug and install filler plug in the
top of strut housing. Torque plug to 350 - 450 inch-pounds.
(5) With airplane raised, compress and extend the gear strut several times. Ensure strut actuates
freely. The weight of the gear fork and wheel should extend the strut.
(6) Clean off overflow of fluid, and inflate strut as described in Inflating Oleo Struts, below.
(7) Check that fluid is not leaking from around strut piston at bottom of housing.
C. Filling Main Gear Oleo Strut
Fill partly full or completely emptied main gear oleo strut with MIL-H-5606 fluid as follows:
(1) Raise airplane on jacks until landing gear torque link assembly has almost reached its full
travel.
(2) Place a pan under the gear to catch spillage.
(3) If not previously accomplished, remove a cap on top wing to gain access to top of strut
housing. Release air from strut housing chamber by removing cap from air valve and
depressing valve core.
(4) Remove any one of three torque link bolts, and raise airplane until a minimum ten inches (do
not exceed twelve inches tube exposure) of strut tube is exposed with wheel remaining on
ground. Fluid will flow from middle chamber to bottom chamber of strut housing, ensuring
bottom chamber is filled with fluid.
NOTE: Piston tube is free to slide from strut housing when torque links are disconnected.