Hello guys. Is there any kind of reinforcement or modification needed on the 4 bolts connection in between the main gear axle and the steel spring leg of the Cessna 206, 185, etc when you upgrade the mains to 8.50 x 10, GY 26's or bigger?

Thanks for the help.

DWM

dwm wrote:Hello guys. Is there any kind of reinforcement or modification needed on the 4 bolts connection in between the main gear axle and the steel spring leg of the Cessna 206, 185, etc when you upgrade the mains to 8.50 x 10, GY 26's or bigger?

Thanks for the help.

DWM

I've never seen one. And I've installed lots if big tires.

Hi A1Skinner,
you told me that you have a Cessna HD nose fork (the same I have in my 206, but I do not have the airplane yet to check it). Is it the wheel of the HD fork the same as the one needed for the Airglass fork? (the Cleveland 40-76A with a 1 1/2" axle). Or if I decide to upgrade to the Aiglass fork I have to get a new wheel as well?

dwm wrote:Hi A1Skinner,
you told me that you have a Cessna HD nose fork (the same I have in my 206, but I do not have the airplane yet to check it). Is it the wheel of the HD fork the same as the one needed for the Airglass fork? (the Cleveland 40-76A with a 1 1/2" axle). Or if I decide to upgrade to the Aiglass fork I have to get a new wheel as well?

Yes, it is a 6" wheel.

A1Skinner wrote:

dwm wrote:Hi A1Skinner,
you told me that you have a Cessna HD nose fork (the same I have in my 206, but I do not have the airplane yet to check it). Is it the wheel of the HD fork the same as the one needed for the Airglass fork? (the Cleveland 40-76A with a 1 1/2" axle). Or if I decide to upgrade to the Aiglass fork I have to get a new wheel as well?

Yes, it is a 6" wheel.

Great, so I do not need to get another wheel.

I got a set of Goodyear 26's for the mains (to replace the 8.00's), and I will first try with a 7.00 on the Cessna HD fork (to replace the 6.00). Do you think that combo is OK or is not "well balance"? (are the 26's on the mains too big for a 7.00 on the nose?).

1. Make sure you have steel axles and not aluminum axles.

2. You should also have NAS internal wrenching bolts rather then AN bolts. NAS145 and NAS146 bolts.

I just learned that there are 3 different axle types on the early 180 - maybe others in the 100/200 series family. There are hollow aluminum, solid aluminum and hollow steel. My '55 had 1 solid aluminum one and the other had been replaced with steel at some point but no idea how long ago. If you have the hollow aluminum, replace it immediately. If you run big tires, or run skis, replace either with at least the heavy duty steel axles. I'm replacing both of mine right now - just to be certain they match.

Airforms in Alaska makes the good steel replacements (sold direct or through Spruce or McFarlane):

http://www.airforms.biz/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=780

Or opt for Titanium at 3X the cost:
http://www.airforms.biz/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=851

I agree that the best Cessna axles are the Steel ones, or maybe titanium. Primary advantage of the titanium axles is weight savings, I'm guessing.

Soy's points are well taken: Large tires and especially Skis place a LOT more loads on Cessna axles. Figure out what you have, and if they're not steel, consider replacing them.

If the plane has been used hard, especially if it has a lot of ski "experience", you may want to pull the axles and have them tested for cracks.

And, yes, use the PROPER gear bolts!!

MTV

A word of caution if you are replacing those axles or the torque plate adapter on the cleveland brakes. There is a tiny, tiny bushing in the top two axle through bolts. These two bolts that are smaller diameter than bottom two. Be very careful not to lose those bushings. They are called out on the Cleveland drawings but they are tiny and I didn't even know they were there. Be even more careful if they are missing. Replacements from ABI are $6 each whereas they are $40 each from aircraft spruce and $28 ea from Univair.

https://www.airframesalaska.com/ABI-145-01000-p/abi-145-01000.htm

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pnpages/145-01000.php

https://www.univair.com/tires-wheels-brakes/cleveland/hardware/bushings-bearings/145-01000-cleveland-bushing/

+1

Soy +1