We just got our 1954 C-180 home, and noticed a couple of things on the way home.

First of all, I love the plane!! I had zero time in 180s, and was wondering about the gear shaking in cruise. It didn't happen very often, maybe a half dozen times in 12 hours of cross country, but it felt odd. at first it seemed like an engine shake, but them I noticed the tires would wiggle for a few seconds and then stabilize.

Is this normal, or do I need to check it out? My dad said his old C-140 would do the same thing, and he thinks it's normal.

Thanks, Lance

Lance, it's normal, generally precipitated by a bit of turbulence.

MTV

Thanks for your reply, it is good to know something isn't loose.

Now, Dad and I need to learn how to fly it properly.

I have read some of the posts on the skywagons.org site regarding the winterization, and tried the duct tape on the oil cooler, but have yet to get the insulation on the induction tube(hardware store didn't have the right size). The tape worked well, amazing how something so simple works so well.

It has the original light gear, and we would like to put it on skiis next winter. Do we need different gear, or just different axles? I am half inclined to skip the skiis and buy a set of ABW's, considering the fact that the snow in North Dakota and MN is usually soft about 4 days each winter, the rest of the time it is rough and hard. I wonder the the wheels would work almost as well.

Thanks, Lance

It is a characteristic of spring-steel gear on all Cessna's particular to 120's, 140's, and 180's.......nothing to worry about chap!!

Congrats on your new 180, you will have lots of fun. My gear shakes every once in a while, in smooth or bumpy air. Didn't notice any difference when I changed from 6.00 X 6's to the 26" Goodyears. I did shake it my gear around by hand when I was replacing my axles and checked the tightness of the outboard shims,. everything was in good shape.

Dave

Lance,

If the plane doesn't already have them, steel axles would be a good step.

I agree reference the ski thing. I've put the skis on here the last two winters, but frankly never used them. Snow is waaaayyyy too rough, and at two of the "ski fly ins" I attended last winter, there was a Cirrus sitting there on the ice. I didn't bother to lower the skis.

I'd consider a set of ABW's 10 inch wheels, and use 8.50 x 10.00 inch tires. That would make for a nice tire on a 180, and won't wear bad on pavement. Also cheaper than bushwheels.
MTV

Why don't you like the 29x11-10's? I'm putting them on the Maule tomorrow when the wheels arrive. The 4 ply ones have real soft sidewalls, softer than my 8.00's or 8.50's. I've had the tires for a while and am now waiting on the wheels and STC.

Lance if you want the ultimate gear legs XPmods makes titaneum ones that are bolth lighter and stronger they are crazy expensive though. If you do deside to upgrade to them or 185 gear I might be interisted in your old ones if they are in good shape PM me if you want.

Lance, If Bill R. used to own the plane then it came down the assembly line right after mine.

Marty, that is the one-- 2493C

Thanks for the replies--I will try to figure out how to post some pictures.

edit--I got the pictures loaded!!

a64,

I've flown 185's on the 29 x 11 x 10s and the 8.50 x 10's. For my purposes, and I operated on some off airport sites with them, the 8.50's do dang near everything the 29s do. You're right, the thin 29s buffed down aren't as stiff as the multi ply version, but the 8.50s aren't that stiff either.

The airplane stands ridiculously tall on the 29's (especially compared to a Maule), and they are heavy and draggy.

The titanium gear is spendy, but call up Cessna and get a quote on Cessna stock gear legs.

Speaking of deeply moving religious experiences.

MTV

jmtgt wrote:

a64pilot wrote:Why don't you like the 29x11-10's? I'm putting them on the Maule tomorrow when the wheels arrive. The 4 ply ones have real soft sidewalls, softer than my 8.00's or 8.50's. I've had the tires for a while and am now waiting on the wheels and STC.

Hey that is pretty funny. After you left my hanger I never figured you would have gone that route!!!

Have fun with those and what that nose!!!

Besides Bushwheels, what are my options? The 8.50's worry me in soft sand, which you can get into around here. Bushwheels are not inexpensive and I would just waste them on pavement. Being an OEM for the Air Hawks means I can get them for about what I have to pay for a tube for 8.50's.
The plan is to put the 8.00's that came with my 140 on the six inch wheels for traveling tires and probably sell the 8.50's and tubes as they are almost new.
I decided that if I don't like the 29's, then I can sell them at a price that someone that needs them would love and still not be hurt.

NICE AIRPLANE! You're gonna love it. I'm just shy of 1 year now with my 180 and I'm still learning it's nuances. Just yesterday I was out doing T&G's and found myself on one base turn waaay too high....or so I thought. Dropped full flaps, power off, 70mph indicated and kept nudging in some slip here and there on the turn to final. Man, these things can really come down when you hang out the boards and fly it sideways. Rounded out, planted the mains and made the midpoint turnoff when I was SURE I'd be doing a go-around just a few minutes prior. Cool! It'll never compete with the Cub/Maule crowd, but still impressive to me.

It will still cruise an honest 145mph with the 8.50's and dead bug stucco vortex generators. It'll haul all the crap you can mash into it, land shorter than most pilots can learn to utilize, and get you there at a reasonable clip.

Cessna's best ship. It's a Chevy Suburban with wings.

Brian

lancef53 wrote:We just got our 1954 C-180 home, and noticed a couple of things on the way home.

First of all, I love the plane!! I had zero time in 180s, and was wondering about the gear shaking in cruise. It didn't happen very often, maybe a half dozen times in 12 hours of cross country, but it felt odd. at first it seemed like an engine shake, but them I noticed the tires would wiggle for a few seconds and then stabilize.

Is this normal, or do I need to check it out? My dad said his old C-140 would do the same thing, and he thinks it's normal.

Thanks, Lance

I've never seen mine shake in seven years of ownership. Just for drill, check the tightness of the shims above where the gear legs go into the fuselage.

As MTV says, them 29s are a little draggy on the 180... but... after you put them on it is hard to take them off.
Winged ATV is a good descripter.
pponked Ty gears not a bad addition, you can even run the Snyder panties with it - not the bootys tho.

Thanks for all the replies, lots of good info.

As for the tires, what is the advantage of the 10" wheels with the 8.50 tires?

How tall are 8.50 tires? It seems like some brands are larger than others, anybody know which are the largest?

Thanks, Lance

The 8.50 x 10 tires and wheels will provide a wider footprint than 8.50 x 6.00 tires do. Their nominal diameter varies with inflation, but as I recall, it's around 24 to 25 inches.

MTV