Good afternoon everyone!

Can anyone tell me how difficult it would be to swap tires on a Pacer/Maule on a regular basis? Is it realistic?

Plane will be hangared at a Class D airport but will frequent the back country and fly in's. Any input?

Swapping whole assembly: wheel (with bearing, disc) and tires = 10 minutes per side (plus a cotter key)

Swapping tires only = 30-40 minutes per side (not recommended, regularly) (plus talc, cotter key)

Can you provide more context to your situation?

Thanks 8GCBC, it would be whole assemblies.

It will have either 26" Airstreaks if I buy the Pacer or 31" ABW on the Maule. I would probably run 8.50's on the Pacer for regular use or a 26" on/off pavement tire on the Maule.

TxAgfisher wrote:Thanks 8GCBC, it would be whole assemblies.

It will have either 26" Airstreaks if I buy the Pacer or 31" ABW on the Maule. I would probably run 8.50's on the Pacer for regular use or a 26" on/off pavement tire on the Maule.

Good plan. You should save money on wearing the big tires out. Better airspeed, range and endurance with smaller tires too, when needed.

What is the easiest way to do it though? I've heard of guys clamping blocks to the gear among other things.

TxAgfisher wrote:What is the easiest way to do it though? I've heard of guys clamping blocks to the gear among other things.

Lifting the aircraft? Are you asking how? Sorry, did not understand question.

TxAgfisher wrote:It will have either 26" Airstreaks if I buy the Pacer...

Whoops…

Airstreaks are an LSA tire. I'd urge you to go back and see what 26" tires are actually on it. 26" Goodyears, 26" Bushwheels, or 26" Airstreaks with a 'one off' approval ... If they are Goodyears, I'd just stick with them and run them full time. They won't be as cushy as a Bushwheel, but they'll be better than the 8.50's both on and off pavement.

If you end up with bush wheels and put them on separate wheels, it's not a big deal to do seasonally or so, but not something you'll want to do every other week. I have multiple wheel / tire combos for 3 airplanes, and the ability to change them out reasonably quickly, and still dread it enough that when I'm on one flavor of tire I usually just run those until something really compelling comes along. I always thought I'd just switch back and fourth, but when it's time to go, the last thing you want to do is start wrenching on an airplane.

Take care, Rob

Good call Rob, it will be an appropriate 26" tire.

But yes, that was my question - how do you support the airplane to change tires if you do not have an airplane lift?

Engine hoist and a girth-hitched strap is the best way I've found.

I don't know if a Pacer or Maule has a axle configuration that is at all similar to a Bearhawk or a Luscombe but on those there is enough room on the inboard side of the axle to just use a floor Jack which is what I've always done.

As far as swapping tires; I've been planing on having a set of 8.00s on a set of wheels and a set of 31" on another set of tires. I'm realizing based on my past experience that I'm not likely to swap tires very often...I just want to go fly. I'll probly just choose something pavement friendly like a 29" Airhawk. I can think of a couple guys that are like Rob, they have a set of other tires mounted up and ready for an easy swap but I haven't seen them on their other tires in forever.

Any experience with the Airhawk? Looks like an oversized 8.50.

If you are jacking up the plane with a jack to remove the smaller tires to install the larger, you can't get the larger tires on it because the jack will be in the way. The engine lift is probably the safest way to accomplish the task but if one isn't available it is possible to use a high lift jack (widow maker) and a strap around the gear to raise it.

what's you find?

May not be in your plans but, love those gantries...

(Use counter weights on tiedowns to keep wings horizontal)

I have a set of 8.50s mounted up on wheels with brake disks and ready to go. Easiest possible scenario for changing, but I seldom switch em. It doesn't take long once you have what you need on hand, but just making time to do it isn't always handy. Probably 30 min start to finish without rushing. I have a floor jack that works with my gear legs.

However, this week was one of those times that I took the time to do so. I was going on a trip that stretches the range of the airplane and was going to have 10-15kts on the nose the whole way. I was travelling with my wife and kids and really didn't want to have to make a fuel stop. So to maintain a safe fuel reserve without stopping, I figured the few extra mph I'd gain by losing the 31s could prove the difference. I made the trip in one leg with 6.5 gal of fuel remaining onboard. 10mph slower and I would've probably been stopping for gas. So, occasionally, if time before and after the trip permits, swapping the tires can be a good deal.

Strategically: I always did like most above - Keep complete separate sets. You'l likely go NUTS the other way. (thanks google for the sp.) Even my spare tail wheel was a complete unit down to the axle - washers - nuts and pins. Pop the spare in and tighten it up. Time can be a critical commodity deep down in a canyon.

How ya accomplish it in yer hanger is up to your resources and or resourcefulness.

Just be safe

TxAgfisher wrote:Good call Rob, it will be an appropriate 26" tire.

But yes, that was my question - how do you support the airplane to change tires if you do not have an airplane lift?

I welded up something like this out of some scrap steel for my high lift jack. It is super slick.

http://www.fadodge.com/wing-jack/

Univair makes a special bracket to attach to sprung gear legs (like a 180) so you can jack them up with a bottle jack. It's an Atlee Dodge part. I've never seen one in action, and wonder how good they are.

[url]http://www.univair.com/atlee-dodge/cessna-parts/ad180-jp-cessna-jack-pad//url]

That particular jack pad looks to be non-adjustable, which means it will fit some Cessna gear legs in just the right place, but others not so much. Depending on your jack and/or tires, there's usually a sweet spot on the gear leg where the jack 1) isn't too low and 2) isn't too close to the tire.

Looks like Pacer gear has a nice spot for a floor jack inboard of the axle, like Whee said.

This is how I normally change tires. In this case I'm changing from 29's to 31's. It works for everything from 8:50's (smallest I've tried) up to 35's.

That's pretty slick, does the bar just sit under the axle?

Anyone have an experience with Airhawks? Are they just a big 8.50 in design?