I was reading the horror stories about McCauley wheels yesterday in the blizzard. Almost didn't sleep last night worrying about what i should do about my 1980 180K with these bad wheels. Was able to get out to the hangar today and see they look more like the 2 piece Cleveland's I have on the other 180, not the three piece killer wheels. Looks like the guy I bought it from put new nuts on anyway and looks like they should be safe enough to me. It has 8.50 McCreary's on and one must be out of balance cause it will shake sometimes on rollout. I have a set of 8.50 Goodyears that I bought 11 years ago but never used and have been in my basement. The tubes say June 07 for mfg so is it crazy to use them? Can the more recent McCreary tubes be used or just buy new tubes. Also thinking about new Alaska wheels and brakes and Bushwheels. Thanks for any thoughts,especially, on the wheels.

Well, I can't comment intelligently on your wheels. All I can say about that is that Airframes Alaska wheels and brakes are about as good as you can buy. Nice folks, and very helpful. Free shipping.....from Alaska!!

As to old tires, I don't think I'd worry if the tires had been stored inside, out of UV. Tubes....not so much. They'd probably be just fine, but tubes are relatively inexpensive....sorta. Not worth the risk to me.

Old tire story: The amphibious Beaver I flew had spent a number of years in southern Louisiana before I brought it north to Alaska. Stopped in Anchorage to get a "checkout" which was good, cause I'd been doing a lot of things wrong. Previous caretaker was supposed to check me out....we did a couple laps in the pattern.

Anyway, Check Airman and I took off from Lake Hood, went out and did an hour or so of airwork. Landed Anchorage International, Runway 32....the big one. On rollout, right main tire went flat. Oops. Called tower and explained. They asked if I could get it off their runway. Nope, sorry. Check Airman asked if they could send A/P Security out, they rogered. A/P Cop showed up, and Check Airman asked if he could give us a ride to Lake Hood. He did. I asked Check Airman "What about that Beaver in the middle of the runway?" His response: "Son, you need to understand that we're pilots. We just break airplanes, we don't fix them. That airplane's broke, so our work is done, jump in and we'll go post flight over a beer."

He'd had the Tower call our Maintenance Chief at home (it was 5:30 PM). So, Maint. had to come out that evening with a fork lift and retrieve the plane.

Next day, I arrived rather sheepishly, but nobody said a thing about us "pilots" bugging out the night before.

Anyway, Maint. Chief went upstairs to supply room and came down with two channel tread nose wheel tires and two diamond tread 8/50 x 10 tires for the mains. These tires had tags on them. I picked up one of the tags, and it had Japanese writing on one side and US writing on the other. The US writing was some kind of military size info. I asked the Chief where those tires came from. He said they were WW II surplus....thought the channel treads were P-40 tailwheel tires and the 8.50 x 10s were P-40 main tires.

I was dumbfounded...."so, why the Japanese writing?" Because they'd been in the Philippines at the start of the war for US planes.....then the Japanese took the PI. A few years later, we took the PI back.....and got the tires back.

Those tires wore like iron on that Beaver. After they wore out, they put more modern tires on it, and they wore about half as long.

You can't make this stuff up.

MTV

I wouldn’t have a problem with the old tires but I would get new tubes. Cheap insurance.

Kurt

180Marty wrote:I was reading the horror stories about McCauley wheels yesterday in the blizzard. Almost didn't sleep last night worrying about what i should do about my 1980 180K with these bad wheels. Was able to get out to the hangar today and see they look more like the 2 piece Cleveland's I have on the other 180, not the three piece killer wheels. Looks like the guy I bought it from put new nuts on anyway and looks like they should be safe enough to me. It has 8.50 McCreary's on and one must be out of balance cause it will shake sometimes on rollout. I have a set of 8.50 Goodyears that I bought 11 years ago but never used and have been in my basement. The tubes say June 07 for mfg so is it crazy to use them? Can the more recent McCreary tubes be used or just buy new tubes. Also thinking about new Alaska wheels and brakes and Bushwheels. Thanks for any thoughts,especially, on the wheels.

Those wheels are worth researching further. They are the two pieces McCauleys. They are through bolted like the Cleveland’s, not the old three piece McCauley design with the threaded centre section. I’m 88% sure they’re safe to continue in service if they pass visual inspection. Wait for more opinions before you scrap them. I wouldn’t be in a hurry.

I wouldn't be to worried about those wheels Marty. When yot change tires just check them for corrosion and cracks and be sure to torque them to the proper spec when assembling. As for tubes, I would use new ones. Cheap insurance.

I had a bad experience with the 3 piece wheels and will say they are a time bomb waiting to blow.
About a year ago I was taxing onto my parking spot on the grass field that I keep my 185. Kinda jocking around so as to align the tail wheel up with the tiedown when there was a loud bang like a gun going off. Looked at the left wheel and thought I had a flat. When I got out I saw that the rim had exploded and one piece about 1/2 the wheel was some 25 Feet away. If that had happened on landing there would have been a good deal of damage.

The only way to really inspect the wheels is to disassemble them which was done a few years before for tire changes.No cracks were discovered then.

I replaced them with Airframes Alaska wheels and have been very pleased.

Here is a copy to the post I made when it happened.

https://www.supercub.org/forum/showthre ... ley-Brakes

Tom

a3holerman wrote:I had a bad experience with the 3 piece wheels and will say they are a time bomb waiting to blow.
About a year ago I was taxing onto my parking spot on the grass field that I keep my 185. Kinda jocking around so as to align the tail wheel up with the tiedown when there was a loud bang like a gun going off. Looked at the left wheel and thought I had a flat. When I got out I saw that the rim had exploded and one piece about 1/2 the wheel was some 25 Feet away. If that had happened on landing there would have been a good deal of damage.

The only way to really inspect the wheels is to disassemble them which was done a few years before for tire changes.No cracks were discovered then.

I replaced them with Airframes Alaska wheels and have been very pleased.

Here is a copy to the post I made when it happened.

https://www.supercub.org/forum/showthre ... ley-Brakes

Tom

I agree with you 100%, the 3 piece wheels should he removed if thats what is on your plane. The ones Marty has pictured are only 2 piece ones though, not 3 piece. So he should be safe.

mtv wrote: I asked Check Airman "What about that Beaver in the middle of the runway?" His response: "Son, you need to understand that we're pilots. We just break airplanes, we don't fix them. That airplane's broke, so our work is done, jump in and we'll go post flight over a beer."

You can't make this stuff up.

MTV

That is downright funny

daedaluscan wrote:

mtv wrote: I asked Check Airman "What about that Beaver in the middle of the runway?" His response: "Son, you need to understand that we're pilots. We just break airplanes, we don't fix them. That airplane's broke, so our work is done, jump in and we'll go post flight over a beer."

You can't make this stuff up.

MTV

That is downright funny

The “Rest of the story” happened when we taxied out (on four brand new tires) to that same runway, headed to Kodiak to complete the rest of my checkout. Holding short of runway 32 at ANC, I called Tower for takeoff clearance. The response from ATC: “November seven six five, You aren’t gonna take my runway away from me again when you return, are you?” I replied with “Negative, Tower, we’re headed to Kodiak.” “Good news! November Seven six five is cleared for takeoff runway three two, with a left turnout to the south. Please don’t take offense, but don’t return soon.”

I always liked ANC ATC, many of them had a sense of humor. Though I think this gent was serious. Almost two years later, I was inbound for maintenance, Clearance kicked me over to Tower, and when I called, Tower asked how my tires were.....then cleared me to land, on 22 right.....

MTV