BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Feb 2022, 12:57

Username Protected wrote:

The brakes are modified from a 1939 Dodge master cylinder. However instead of a cast iron housing Wagner made these out of machined steel and pressed sheet for the reservoir. The insides use the same components and while I was able to find some NOS Wagner rebuild kits the seals don't like MIL-H-5606 mineral fluid. So it was either convert to some sort of off the shelf Parker set up or fire up the lathe and make an owner produced part that will incorporate commercially available Nitrile/Buna-N seals.

I'm confused. What fluid did the original brake system use? Is there a problem sourcing that?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Feb 2022, 13:53

If you really want to paint the inside, the only way to get all that detritus off is dry ice or soda blasting!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Feb 2022, 14:04

Username Protected wrote:

If you really want to paint the inside, the only way to get all that detritus off is dry ice or soda blasting!

The advantage of dry ice is that it cleans itself up. :lol:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 08 Feb 2022, 17:57

What a great project. Did MES in a Widgeon, suspect my logbook will close with just those hours in one.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Feb 2022, 23:30

Username Protected wrote:

The brakes are modified from a 1939 Dodge master cylinder. However instead of a cast iron housing Wagner made these out of machined steel and pressed sheet for the reservoir. The insides use the same components and while I was able to find some NOS Wagner rebuild kits the seals don't like MIL-H-5606 mineral fluid. So it was either convert to some sort of off the shelf Parker set up or fire up the lathe and make an owner produced part that will incorporate commercially available Nitrile/Buna-N seals.

I'm confused. What fluid did the original brake system use? Is there a problem sourcing that?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 16 Feb 2022, 23:33

Username Protected wrote:

If you really want to paint the inside, the only way to get all that detritus off is dry ice or soda blasting!

So Mike, since you have first hand experience and OJT does this mean you can come do mine for me in half the time it took to do yours?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 17 Feb 2022, 08:36

Username Protected wrote:

John,
The manual makes reference to 5606 being used but also I suspect the Wagner parts used may have been either special to Grumman for aircraft use or maybe cars were using mineral fluid in 1939 and the NOS kits I found maybe are newer and from an era of DOT 3 synthetic fluid. Not sure why but all my tests with the Wagner NOS parts failed in 5606. I considered a flush of the system to use DOT 5 but I know it's particularly hydroscopic and probably not the best option for a plane that lands in water.

I thought DOT 5 (silicone based) was not hygroscopic and that 3, 4, and 5.1 (glycol based) were hygroscopic. I wouldn't let any of the glycol based stuff near an airplane.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 17 Feb 2022, 10:23

Username Protected wrote:

John,
The manual makes reference to 5606 being used but also I suspect the Wagner parts used may have been either special to Grumman for aircraft use or maybe cars were using mineral fluid in 1939 and the NOS kits I found maybe are newer and from an era of DOT 3 synthetic fluid. Not sure why but all my tests with the Wagner NOS parts failed in 5606. I considered a flush of the system to use DOT 5 but I know it's particularly hydroscopic and probably not the best option for a plane that lands in water.

I thought DOT 5 (silicone based) was not hygroscopic and that 3, 4, and 5.1 (glycol based) were hygroscopic. I wouldn't let any of the glycol based stuff near an airplane.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 17 Feb 2022, 20:10

Username Protected wrote:

If you really want to paint the inside, the only way to get all that detritus off is dry ice or soda blasting!

So Mike, since you have first hand experience and OJT does this mean you can come do mine for me in half the time it took to do yours?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 14 Jun 2022, 09:23

HAPPY BIRTHDAY N91040! 80YRS OLD TODAY. Flag day is a cool birthday for an aircraft with so much history. Starting with the USCG in San Diego hunting subs and providing air/sea support to helping tame Alaska's wild frontier moving people and goods you have had an interesting life and I'm glad you're still around. I hope you and I can have a whole new set of adventures together.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 24 Jun 2022, 22:57

Will it be at Oshkosh this year?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Jun 2022, 17:52

I want to, should have the windows finished up next week and if I can get through a few confidence flights without anything breaking, maybe.....

Username Protected · **Posted:** 25 Jun 2022, 17:58

On a positive note the cabin is cleaning up nicely. All the insulation glue is coming right off thanks to Peerco 321. It's truly a magical product.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Jun 2022, 18:19

Yay! It's out of the shop with new windows, alternators that both work and parallel and fairly clean interior sheet metal. Flew it for a few hours did some water work, most fun and challenging flying I've ever experienced. Left engine doesn't want to idle properly and dies occasionally which isn't very fun on the water. Will put the gauges on it and verify pressures, hopefully that's all it is. Getting closer!

Username Protected · **Posted:** 30 Jun 2022, 22:04

Windows look great!

Widgeon Journey