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How bent do your gear bolts get?

Wow. Mine got changed usually once a year, sometimes twice on the cub.

The Maule is a once a year deal.

one tailwheel bolt is bent like a banana, but the co-pilot was flying...:oops::oops: (not really)
 
The club where I used to tow in a 180hp SC shears one off about once a year. It's a must-focus item on preflight.
 
Penguin said:
The club where I used to tow in a 180hp SC shears one off about once a year. It's a must-focus item on preflight.
Click to expand...
I’ve seen a ton of bent ones, but can’t remember seeing one break- usually the fittings let go first, and that’s usually in a wreck. Can you elaborate? Front, rear, cabane, shock strut/axle, which ones usually let go?
 
Penguin said:
The club where I used to tow in a 180hp SC shears one off about once a year. It's a must-focus item on preflight.
Click to expand...
Just towing? How rough is the terrain you are using for an airstrip? Either you have some very inexperienced, poorly trained pilots or there is something else wrong with the airframe. If bolts broke with that amount of regularity, there would be an AD note by now.
 
Steve Pierce said:
I change mine periodically but have only found worn, not bent. Bushwheels only, no skis.
Click to expand...
I wonder why no one has installed grease fittings on the gear? This is a constant moving location which can only easily accept a squirt from an oil can without jacking and removing bolts.

The grease fitting on the stabilizer tube has done wonders for longevity.
 
ak49flyer said:
I’ve seen a ton of bent ones, but can’t remember seeing one break- usually the fittings let go first, and that’s usually in a wreck. Can you elaborate? Front, rear, cabane, shock strut/axle, which ones usually let go?
Click to expand...

Front bolts. They have been bent every time I have changed them out. All other bolts have never been bent prior, but this time, the rear bolts also had the slightest wiggle.

It may be no coincidence that we had good ski flying conditions last winter for the longest stretch in many years.

Am going to change the front bolts out more frequently from now on. Will probably just change them out when the skis come off each year.

Thanks for all the feedback and comments.

Jeff


Sent from my iPad using SuperCub.Org mobile app
 
When I was flying skis lots more in Cubs I tried to place washers on the gear bolts to take up any space between the gear and fuselage fittings. It seemed to me that might reduce bending of the bolts. I kept them oiled as well to reduce wear. I don't recall having them go bad for whatever reason.

Gary
 
WindOnHisNose said:
Would you folks provide the bolt part number? Thanks!

Good post, Jeff!

Randy
Click to expand...

Hey Randy,

It’s an AN6 bolt (3/8”). But the length is going to vary based on a few factors. I use an AN6-32 but I have my pod strap on the back end of it and my ski tab on the front end. I have 6 washers spacing the ski tab so it doesn’t interfere with the gear fitting.

Snap a picture of your setup and either post it here or text it to me and I bet I could guess a length that would work.

Jeff


Sent from my iPhone using SuperCub.Org mobile app
 
Front are AN6-30A with safety cables, rears are AN6-26A if the factory step is not installed and -27A on one side if it is.

PXL_20211103_223221126.jpg
PXL_20211103_223302190.jpg
 

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If running skis you may need to go 1/2" longer to AN6-34A on the front gear bolts to get the ski cable tabs out past the little triangle gear fitting gusset. Stack up washers under the ski tab to take up the extra length.
 
skywagon8a said:
Just towing? How rough is the terrain you are using for an airstrip? Either you have some very inexperienced, poorly trained pilots or there is something else wrong with the airframe. If bolts broke with that amount of regularity, there would be an AD note by now.
Click to expand...

East of Colorado Springs. Uneven turf field. Incredibly lumpy terrain and very long takeoff rolls up at 9000+ DA dragging 2-33's into the air. Cub was on 850's. A typical weekend could be several dozen cycles. Lots of stress on those poor bolts.
 
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Penguin said:

East of Colorado Springs. Uneven turf field. Incredibly lumpy terrain and very long takeoff rolls up at 9000+ DA dragging 2-33's into the air. Cub was on 850's. A typical weekend could be several dozen cycles. Lots of stress on those poor bolts.
Click to expand...
Sounds like that Cub would be a good candidate for a set of bushwheel tires.
 
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