c. If not previously accomplished, remove the cap on top of the wing to gain access to the top of the strut
housing and relieve air from the strut housing chamber by removing the cap from the air valve and depressing the
valve core.
d. Remove any one of the three torque link bolts, and again raise the airplane until a minimum of ten inches
(do not exceed twelve inches of tube exposure) of strut tube is exposed with the wheel remaining on the ground.
With this amount of tube exposed, it will allow fluid to flow from the middle chamber to the bottom chamber of
the strut housing ensuring that the bottom chamber is filled with fluid.
—CAUTION—
With the torque links disconnected, the piston tube is free to slide from the strut housing.
e. Fill the main gear housing by one of two methods which are as follows:
Method 1:
1. Remove the valve core from the filler plug at the top of the strut housing. Allow the plug to remain
installed.
2. Attach one end of a clear plastic hose to the valve stem of the finer plug and submerge the over end in a
container of hydraulic fluid.
3. Fully compress and extend (10 ± 2 inches of strut tube exposed) the strut thus drawing fluid from the
strut chambers. By watching the fluid pass through the plastic hose, it can be determined when the strut is full
and no air is present in the chambers. The strut must be extended to full ten inches to allow fluid to enter the
bottom chamber of strut housing.
4. When air bubbles cease to flow through the hose, compress the strut fully and remove the hose from the
valve stem.
5. With the strut fully compressed, remove the filler plug to determine that the fluid level is visible up to
the bottom of the filler plug hole.
6. Reinstall the core in the filler plug and the plug in the top of the strut housing Torque the plug from 350
to 400 inch-pounds.
Method 2:
1. Remove the filler plug from the top of the strut housing.
2. Raise the strut to full compression.
3. Pour fluid from a clean container through the filler opening until it is visible at the top of the strut
chamber. If the housing has been completely emptied or nearly so, allow sufficient time for the fluid to drain
through the orifice from the upper chamber into the middle chamber.
4. Lower the gear until the wheel touches the ground (10 ±2 inches of strut exposure), and then fully
compress and extend the strut three or four times to remove any air that may be trapped and to allow fluid to enter
the bottom chamber of the housing.
5. Raise the strut to full compression and if needed, fill with fluid to the bottom of the filler plug.
6. Reinstall the filler plug; torque from 350 to 400 inch-pounds
f. Replace the torque link bolt. Tighten bolt only tight enough to allow no side play in the connection.
g. With the airplane raised, compress and extend the gear strut several times to ascertain that the strut
actuates freely. The weight of the gear fork and wheel should extend the strut.
h. Clean off overflow of fluid and inflate the strut as described in Paragraph 2-37.
i. Check that fluid is not leaking around the strut piston at the bottom of the housing.
PIPER AIRCRAFT
PA-28-161 CADET
AIRPLANE MAINTENANCE MANUAL
Issued: FEBRUARY 28, 1989
HANDLING AND SERV I C I N G
1B17