Interested in 108-3 information with regard to how strong the legs are. Considering a purchase and am somewhat concerned with how the stumps will hold up to rough country landings...anyone?

No experience with bushwheels here, but if you saw some of my landings, you wouldn't worry one bit about the strength of the landing gear!

How stout are they built? 31's make up for plenty...just curious as to how well they are constructed...

The Stinson airframe in general is built VERY stout. I'm not sure what non-subjective measure I could otherwise use, but the landing gear consists of heavy heat-treated tapered steel gear legs which pivot on the lower fuselage longerons, and then compress a pair of big spring-oil hydraulic shock oleos. Thes oleos are mounted to a large tubing cluster in the center lower portion of the fuse. All of this appears to be pretty sturdy. There is some maintenance required of the oleos, pivot shaft (greasing), and pivot bolts, but if covered, you should be fine.

I have pictures somewhere I could dig up for you if you'd like- I think having a look at one would make you feel pretty comfortable. I can't imagine you'd do any damage with a big set of tires, even under the most adverse conditions.

I'm sure others will weigh in...

-Bill

Matt we need that picture you have.

There's nothing to worry about there! That airframe and gear is way strong!
JH

Here's a good page with some photos of the airframe and gear:
http://www.hangar9aeroworks.com/NC6197M/108project.html

When I had my annual done a in March we looked into the gear because it was sagging to one side. After tearing apart the gear we found that one of the springs was sheared in half. No other parts were damaged and we replaced both springs (Univair sells them for 125.00 each if I remember correctly). I'm almost certain that it was this way when I purchased the plane and it's nice to know that the spring itself is the weak link. The frame and gear attachment is very stout.

Some of my landings have also proved that they are built stout.

Matt, with nothing there to compare size to it looks like a coil spring off a F550

Stinson gear is very strong, it is mounted to the strongest grouping of tubes in the fuse. Not like a Cessna that can tear out a gear box. The mounts and pivot points are very strong and the shock struts will absorb lots of energy. The axles are 11/2 heavy wall, I don't think you will break this part of the plane unless you break most of the rest of it.

Thanks Gents...

One just popped up on barnstormers, there are two pictures with 26" bushwheels if you want to see what it looks like.

porterjet wrote:One just popped up on barnstormers, there are two pictures with 26" bushwheels if you want to see what it looks like.

That ad says it comes with 31's..and they kind of look bigger than 26s in the pics.
http://www.barnstormers.com/classified_ ... 108-3.html

Looks like a pretty sweet deal to me. I never had one, but I sure like the idea.

gb

ah, you're right, don't know where I got 26 from.

Nice plane!!! Maybe I'll see it in my hangar soon.

mountainmatt wrote:Nice plane!!! Maybe I'll see it in my hangar soon.