BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Sep 2020, 16:00

Username Protected wrote:

Is yours a used or new pump?

The strut end connection has to be on very tight or the low volume of high pressure air will leak out. When you slide the "trigger" back it is normal for a lot of air that was used on the compression stroke to vent. There is a large difference in piston size between the low pressure end and the high pressure outlet, thus the exit air is much less than what is used to stroke the mechanism and the steam engine sound thus produced.

Hi Don,

Brand new out of the box.

I tried two different strut valve attachments. The one that came with it, and another that was a screw on with a value on it. There doesn't seem to be leaking from either, but no high pressure air either. I can basically hold my thumb on the output air. It's no where near 1000psi, or even 500 for that matter.

I tried at least 12-15 strokes multiple times strokes and zero movement from the strut.

Best,
Rich

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Sep 2020, 19:27

Try the direct screw on again, making sure it is aligned, the washer is in place and the nut is fully seated, then twist the knurled nut down harder than you did. Sort of like tightening a seat belt before aerobatics. When its tight its not quite enough. If that doesn't work, send it back.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 13 Sep 2020, 22:12

Username Protected wrote:

Try the direct screw on again, making sure it is aligned, the washer is in place and the nut is fully seated, then twist the knurled nut down harder than you did. Sort of like tightening a seat belt before aerobatics. When its tight its not quite enough. If that doesn't work, send it back.

Hi Don,

A fellow BTer PMed me and I followed his advice, which is much as the same as yours.

It took a LOT of cycles to get it going with a 100 psi air source. About 60 from flat to the recommended 3".

But it worked! Fixed!

Thanks for the assist!

best,
Rich

Username Protected · **Posted:** 02 Oct 2020, 05:14

Rich-

This is pry just information for later search browsers, but you might find some merit that I have had a problem on a nose strut leaking down and used the strut pump you are familiar with more than I would have liked recently. It had a worn decal that said it would work from 35psi?, and it very may well, but in reality the user would pry give up and post for help before it took effect.

What I found was, on a Craftsman air compressor set to 120psi, at full charge it worked perfectly well, and very quickly. Whenever the air dropped to 80 psi it seemed ineffective. The air bursts are perfectly normal, but exasperate the doubt it's not working.

I do not discount the manufactures claim it could charge a strut even with 35psi; kinda the nice mechanical point of such a design, but it would take patience. So much one would believe it doesn't work.

My results give me some confidence a air compressor needs to be at 100psi + to make these pumps work well. The good news is, many portable air compressors in our hangars can do that.

Hope that helps someone.

PS - I want one for $150 :cross:

FS: strut pump