I currently have Cleveland 040-06000 wheels with Cleveland 030-06000 brakes, they used Gar-aero wheel adapters to install 29 inch Air Hawks. The last mechanic I saw told me that I wouldn't be able to put ABWs on unless I bought the full ABI kit. He didn't explain why, so I was thinking maybe he didn't realize I had an adapter on them. I'm thinking he may be wrong and I'm just looking for some confirmation.

Are these Gar-aero adapters easily removed? If so, after they're removed will my current wheels/brakes work and fit 31 inch bushwheels?

Thanks

They should fit on those wheels once you remove the adapters. Most people, however, would recommend you sell the wheel/adapter combo and buy new or used 6" wheels so you don't have to struggle with getting the adapters unglued.

There are also two different types of Cleveland brake rotors and they are not very well tracked/documented. One size was originally for 600x6 and one for 850x6. You'll need the ones for 850's, or will need a spacer sold by ABI if you want to use the ones originally made for 600's. The only difference is spacing from the wheel. ABI only sells the 850 ones these days, basically the 600 ones are obsolete in my mind but plenty of them out there.

All this considered, and a full wheel/brake setup from ABI being $1950, many people might splurge for the full set up and sell your current setup in the name of simplicity and new parts.

asa wrote:They should fit on those wheels once you remove the adapters. Most people, however, would recommend you sell the wheel/adapter combo and buy new or used 6" wheels so you don't have to struggle with getting the adapters unglued.

There are also two different types of Cleveland brake rotors and they are not very well tracked/documented. One size was originally for 600x6 and one for 850x6. You'll need the ones for 850's, or will need a spacer sold by ABI if you want to use the ones originally made for 600's. The only difference is spacing from the wheel. ABI only sells the 850 ones these days, basically the 600 ones are obsolete in my mind but plenty of them out there.

All this considered, and a full wheel/brake setup from ABI being $1950, many people might splurge for the full set up and sell your current setup in the name of simplicity and new parts.

The brake rotors for the 8.50s that are spaced further away are also thicker and for double puck brakes. I've never seen a thin disc that us spaced further away, or a thick disc that is close in for a 6.00.

I would agree that it's probably best to sell your current wheels. The spacers can be very hard to removed, and surely someone would pay decent for a setup like that.

Perfect, thank y’all for the information, much appreciated!

I had that exact question a while back and was told by the original installer of the Gar Aeros that the adapters were very glued on and that removal without damage was unlikely. I sold them intact.

I have cleaned up a set of wheels that had the adaptors removed. Just took some time also primed and painted the wheels. 8-10 hours all together. Lots of trivia and stuff to think about when it comes to wheels and brakes. The 1 1/4 inch six bolt magnesium wheel and brake sit up is 2 1/2 lbs lighter than the 1 1/2 inch aluminum wheel and brake set up. Also if you ever decide to go to hydraulic wheel skis most of the older ones are designed to work with 1 1/4 brakes. The nipple on the back of the 1 1/2 caliper causes clearance issue. The BUSHWHEEL 1 1/4 caliper also has a nipple on the back that can cause the same issue. Don't be in a hurry to switch to bushwheels, what you have will handle all the strips a low time taildragger pilot should be going to. Look at your wheel and see if they are six or 3 bolt. Go to Reeves and talk to Gabe,
DENNY

After talking with Denny, decided not to make the switch now. As long as my current tires hold out until next season, I'll make the switch then. On the bright side of things, I got the plane annualed, so she's ready to go for the Summer!

Great! knocking out the annual early is key to having a great summer!! Just a few more snows and we will be in for some great spring flying. Call me some time we can do a flight over to Valdez in April so you can see the route on a good day. DENNY

DENNY wrote:Call me some time we can do a flight over to Valdez in April so you can see the route on a good day. DENNY

For sure, will do! That’d be great.

I seem to recall reading that the BW STC's say something about requiring "heavy duty brakes"?
Pretty vague term-- I guess heavy duty is like beauty, it's in the eye of the beholder.

Yes it is very vague which can be good and can also be a major pain in the butt for a plane owner. This is one of them things you need to discuss with you IA before you ever start spending money on stuff. Knee jerk reaction is usually "you need double puck brakes" but is that true for a J3 that had tube expander brakes and you age going to 26 inch Bushwheels?? Single puck disk seem to work fine. Does the addition of a Brake booster kit make it Heavy Duty? A example is I was trying to get the Grove 10 inch rims with 31 inch Dresser tire field approved for my 180 because the STC approval that was due out in July never appeared. IA was good with doing the field approval because Desser tire with tube was getting approved on the 10 in bushwheel rim. No brainer right? Nope got kicked back because of too much breaking power with the grove wheel (larger brake disk)l. Nothing in Car 3 states a limit to breaking power and math showed it was similar to stock brakes with small wheel. Your local FSDO can have some strange interpretations of the rules so sometimes it is not just the IA. Just a story with Sunday morning coffey. The OP will be fine with the brake he has especially in AK, advice to get new rims is basically to save a lot of labor costs which can add up quickly. DENNY

This is weird because I thought those grove 10" wheels were already approved with a STC for the 8.50 and 29" desser tires with those larger brakes. It would stand to reason that a 31" tire would _further_ reduce the braking. Is it possible you got kicked back because that STC is pending for the 31"? Why would they do a field approval when an STC is supposed to be on the way.

The reason they gave was too much braking power!! The 31 in Desser tire was being Field approved on the Bushwheel 10 in rim around the time we where trying to get this done. I kept in touch with both Desser and Seaplanes North (both working on a STC) and kept hearing the should be soon/paperwork is in/ one more test needed. The original testing for the Seaplanes North STC was done with the 31 in tire. I don't blame the people trying to get the STC clearly this is a FAA issue thinking big tires are bad. It is just a battle myself and my IA really don't need to fight right now. The Cessna is hopefully going on floats this summer and having 3,600 dollars worth of unusable parts sitting in the hanger for 4 years keeps me from every buying ANYTHING that the STC will be out in JULY (Cato/Acme/ect ) again so in some ways money well spent.
DENNY

Ah gotcha - the ABW 10" wheel w/ Dessers is the part I missed.

Enough bitching by me Here is some good information on care and feeding of your bushwheels.http://www.airframesalaska.com/v/vspfil ... 20Tips.pdf
Usually cracking and checking of Bushwheels is caused by neglect. Keeping the pressure up/avoiding prolonged UV exposer and paying attention to parking surface will go a long way. I have had no issues with cracking/checking of my bushwheels mainly because I have a hanger but you can get the same results with a little care. DENNY