BUILDING UP THE 10X10 BUSHWHEELS

Last month I mounted up a couple sets of 10x10 Bushwheels. On one used a pair of well worn 8.4x10 tires from a Beaver I had laying around in the back of the hanger. These where mounted on my new, new to me, '59 182.

Just wanted to share a little insight regarding corrosion and how to keep it from wrecking your new wheels. I have thrown away three pairs of brand new wheels,the 6 inch Cleavland kind, after the aircraft owner, non A$P, self mounted them only to have their dog piss on one too many times or one landing a little too close to the salt water on the beach. Without the proper protection these wheels were destroyed in a matter of weeks.

-Make sure you get your registration information to Bushwheel ASAP so the IA doing the 337 has the serialized STC in hand so when he is all done you are able to fly right away! I had them fax me a copy so one of my clients could get going.

-The 10X10 wheel sets come with steel AN960 washers and they need to be replaced with the aluminum washers. That way the washer corrodes and not your wheel. I spoke to the Bushweel guy…Hmmmm…Shawn(?) and he agreed with this.

-One should use a thin layer of your favorite CPC, corrosion protective compound, between the brake disk and the wheel half: Par-Al-Ketone, yellow cromate stuff,etc. I like to butter both sides.

-Apply a thin layer of lubraplate to the shank of the bolts. I do not like to use anything that might harden for the obvious reasons. I hate having to beat the bolts out of these holes.

-I then spray a thin layer of LPS 3 to the insides of the wheel halves.

-After all the hardware is properly torqued and the tire bead has been set I will the apply a nice neat layer of Par-Al-Ketone to both the bolt head washer area and the nut and washer as well. I like to make sure there is a nice little bead around the inside edge of the brake disk all the way around as this is where the really evil dissimilar corrosion can happen.

I know all this stuff is going to goober up your pretty wheels but ask yourself which way you want it. One of the other A$Ps out here has his favorite saying, pay me now or pay me later.

I am sure some of you have some other good ideas about mounting these wheels, lets hear them.


Rocket


ps. you did install new axle bolts…with the correct washers installed the correct direction, didn't you? The last two I removed had some wrong as well as one missing bushing in the torque plate.

Rocket,

GREAT advice. Only problem is, I'm not sure anyone outside your neck of the woods, Kodiak, or SE Alaska knows what Par Al Ketone IS

Back when I was running an amphib Beaver in Kodiak, I used the stuff in bulk and the mechanics in ANC hated seeing that gooey beast show up for any maintenance.

You are absolutely right that its a lot easier to prevent corrosion than replace expensive parts, or have them fail at an Inopportune time.

MTV