Hey guys, got a odd ball for you..

So a few months ago I posted on here about a flat tire on the pilot side nose wheel of my Edo 2790s, turned out to be a rip by the valve stem on the tube, fixed it, no biggie.

Well me being OCD me, while I was at it I noticed that the grease retainers for the Scott 3400s had been updated by Airframes Alaska/Alaska Bush Wheels from the old metal washer types to a new synthetic type, I decided to update the grease retainers and also order new spacers while I was at it.

On top are the old grease retainers and spacers, below them are the new ABW ones.






Installed on the wheel







So alls well, both sides free spun about one rev and change.

Now the odd part, while taking the copilot side wheel apart, I pull the wheel off and I see this, on both sides of the wheel: lots of little dents on the old grease retainer and it looks like the flat head part of the spacers sheared off from the shafts, WTF?



Both sides of the old copilot retainer and spacer on the left, compared to the old retainer and spacer from the pilot side on the right, notice the dents and sheared head on the retainers for BOTH sides on the copilot nose wheel!


Now alls hunky dory with the new ABW retainers and spacers, but how on earth did the copilot side get that damage? The plane only has about 3.8hrs flight time since annual, where both nose wheels were re packed with new 4050 bearings, it was owner assist, but I didn't work on the nose wheels at that time. The plane also hasn't had anywhere near a hard landing or anything, heck I really baby the thing.


Thoughts?




*side question, does replacing the retainers and spacers qualify under owner MX?

Sure looks like the result of a violent shimmy, all amphib bow tires are known for shimmies. In my experience such things are very noticeable, seems unlikely you would have missed such an event.

Perhaps the bearing retaining nut wasn't torqued properly? That would exacerbate the condition.

Answer to * is no.


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There are also metal rings that are on top of the races that come out when you put the updated ABW grease seals in.

Indeed!

Thankfully the folks at airframes Alaska told me about that when I placed my order.

PITA to get those buggers out, but yeah, no way the new seals will sit flush with those rings in the wheels.