New Alaska Gear Co. shocks

[sea2jet]

Sooooo someone is willing post they saw the ACME shock altered for the test??????????????/

No, but some have speculated that the computed data on the graph mirror what you would expect to see for shocks missing the required nitrogen. Acme Aero has taken the high road and hasn’t commented. They are letting their product and it’s excellent reputation speak for itself.

 

[Randyk]

No, but some have speculated that the computed data on the graph mirror what you would expect to see for shocks missing the required nitrogen. Acme Aero has taken the high road and hasn’t commented. They are letting their product and it’s excellent reputation speak for itself.

Again ---what about the test weight discrepancy?

 

[Formandfunction]

No, but some have speculated that the computed data on the graph mirror what you would expect to see for shocks missing the required nitrogen. Acme Aero has taken the high road and hasn’t commented. They are letting their product and it’s excellent reputation speak for itself.

Only thing inside one of those is a wiper seal,nitrogen seal,few orings,some form of wear ring and washers with holes to bypass oil.
Letting out nitrogen hardly changes valving as it's primary purpose is supporting weight.
Draining oil could force air past the valving stack(washers) instead of oil and create a mushy floppy mess.
Honestly all nitrogen struts are pretty much identical. Once you figure out proper valving there's not much they can improve on.
Somebody send me a blown one and I'll lay it out on a board labeling exactly how it functions.

 

[Steve Pierce]

Only thing inside one of those is a wiper seal,nitrogen seal,few orings,some form of wear ring and washers with holes to bypass oil.
Letting out nitrogen hardly changes valving as it's primary purpose is supporting weight.
Draining oil could force air past the valving stack(washers) instead of oil and create a mushy floppy mess.
Honestly all nitrogen struts are pretty much identical. Once you figure out proper valving there's not much they can improve on.
Somebody send me a blown one and I'll lay it out on a board labeling exactly how it functions.

Contradictive to what Matt McSwain (owner of Acme) told me.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Only thing inside one of those is a wiper seal,nitrogen seal,few orings,some form of wear ring and washers with holes to bypass oil.
Letting out nitrogen hardly changes valving as it's primary purpose is supporting weight.
Draining oil could force air past the valving stack(washers) instead of oil and create a mushy floppy mess.
Honestly all nitrogen struts are pretty much identical. Once you figure out proper valving there's not much they can improve on.
Somebody send me a blown one and I'll lay it out on a board labeling exactly how it functions.

How come you can let the nitrogen out while the weight is on the wheels and the shocks don’t collapse? Seems like the nitrogen isn’t supporting the weight?

 

[Formandfunction]

How come you can let the nitrogen out while the weight is on the wheels and the shocks don’t collapse? Seems like the nitrogen isn’t supporting the weight?

You're saying these are internally sprung shocks not nitrogen struts?
Like this?

 

[Formandfunction]

Contradictive to what Matt McSwain (owner of Acme) told me.

I probably have the wrench for that if you want to take one apart.

 

[Steve Pierce]

No need, it works great. Better than any other suspension I have flown on a Super Cub.

 

[KevinJ]

I saw today that Alaska Gear co has updated their TiSHX page with specs. Shows each shock weighing 10 lbs. If they work as advertised, not a big deal. For the weight weenies, 4 lbs heavier than Gen 4s and nearly 5 lbs heavier than the STCd Gen 3 Acmes.

For context, Pstol flaps are 12 lbs heavier than stock flaps. I’ll eat those pounds any day for the performance gains.

 

[The Kid]

I believe the Alaska Gear shocks are 4 lbs heavier than the Acmes? If that is the case; are the Alaska shocks worth the extra 4 lbs?(I'm the kind of guy that never eats breakfast before I fly cause that's an extra 4 lbs or so). To me that's the question. Plus I think the Alaska's are like, but I'm not sure, $1500 more buckaroos?

 

[Formandfunction]

No need, it works great. Better than any other suspension I have flown on a Super Cub.

Sounds like they got the valving right.
I disassemble and clean all new shocks after a quick break in. You would be surprised the initial metal they make which turns into a metallic soup eventually. Definitely not required on a plane but does help with wear and long term seal life.

 

[Dog]

Depending on how much you fly I would do a oil change after the first season or100 hours.
Most shocks end up with pretty dirty oil after that.
Now I do not have any experience with either one of these shocks -- just dirt bike and snowmobile shocks that employ the same technologies.
With the amount of money they cost a bit preventative maintenance might be a good Idea.

 

[john schwamm]

Depending on how much you fly I would do a oil change after the first season or100 hours.
Most shocks end up with pretty dirty oil after that.
Now I do not have any experience with either one of these shocks -- just dirt bike and snowmobile shocks that employ the same technologies.
With the amount of money they cost a bit preventative maintenance might be a good Idea.

Supposedly the AK shocks have a sleeve that prevents the spring from contacting the sides of the shock body, so oil does not mix as it does not create particles to mix in the oil? Seemed like a good idea.
Just what I saw in the video on the construction. Hoping those with the new shocks will give actual reports on how they work in real life, especially compared to AOSS.

 

[twoeightfive]

Just put a set of TiSHX on my cub today

 

[The Kid]

Keep us posted! I too have the AOSS. with about 400 hrs on them, and am considering TiSHX or ACME as a better replacement.

 

[Axel]

Have flown the Ti shocks now 70hrs in AK on my super cub. All off airport - high weight low weight, high and low altitude, windy, short -long, strong breaking and no breaking - all I can say is they are great - they are making the wheels stuck to the ground - any ground really. I can only compare to bungees.
Landings for me have become a "non-event".

 

[twoeightfive]

I just flew mine today for the first time, I originally had bungees for maybe 250 hours. Then just came off of AOSS I flew for about 500 hours. I have not personally flown acmes I’ve only ridden in the back seat of a friends cub with acmes. I will say the AOSS are a HUGE improvement from bungees. But I think the jump from AOSS to TiShx is about the same jump in performance. My AOSS have served me very well and taken me into some very rough places but the technology has definitely changed.

Landed the same spot today that I rode with him for a landing. I will say coming from AOSS it is night and day difference. The TiSHX blow the AOSS out of the water. Normally the spot is quite rough even on the AOSS but today with the TiShx it felt as if I was landing on smooth hard packed gravel. The fuselage was level the whole time and normally my tires bounce due to the rocks size and today my tires had ground contact the whole time. I’m very impressed. I tried a couple landings with high descent rates and next to no flare and couldn’t get it to bounce. I plan on doing some more testing though

 

[twoeightfive]

 

[cubdriver2]

I'm loving this thread, sounds like AOSS are so out dated that the rest of us can now afford them. Sounds like they are only worth about $400 anymore

Glenn

 

[BC12D-4-85]

^^^^Not much left for slack in that right lower safety cable. Is the shock extended?

Gary

 

[KevinJ]

I bet the cable is bowed aft giving the illusion it’s short. Left hand is doing the same just at a different angle

 

[55-PA18A]

I notice in "twoeightfive's" photo that the plate attaching the safety cables to the cabane V is triangular. The plate on my AD safety cables is rectangular. Is there enough room at the top end of the shocks for the rectangular plate, or do you need to buy new safety cables? Is the plate for the AD cables now triangular, as shown in the photo?

Jim

 

[sea2jet]

From Alaska Airframe’s website when ordering their shocks.
Safety Cables: Optional specialized safety cables with titanium lugs.

Not compatible with any other safety cables.

 

[john schwamm]

Anyone know if Airframes has longer cabane length for shocks for widebody cub?

 

[DENNY]

I notice in "twoeightfive's" photo that the plate attaching the safety cables to the cabane V is triangular. The plate on my AD safety cables is rectangular. Is there enough room at the top end of the shocks for the rectangular plate, or do you need to buy new safety cables? Is the plate for the AD cables now triangular, as shown in the photo?

Jim

I believe the normal Atley Dodge safety cables bracket would hit the shocks if the corners aren't trimmed down.
DENNY

 

[twoeightfive]

^^^^Not much left for slack in that right lower safety cable. Is the shock extended?

Gary

Cable is just sitting with the slack aft of the shock, these cables are longer than the atlee due to increased travel

 

[twoeightfive]

I notice in "twoeightfive's" photo that the plate attaching the safety cables to the cabane V is triangular. The plate on my AD safety cables is rectangular. Is there enough room at the top end of the shocks for the rectangular plate, or do you need to buy new safety cables? Is the plate for the AD cables now triangular, as shown in the photo?

Jim

You have to use the airframes safety cables they’re longer

 

[twoeightfive]

 

[The Kid]

Now if we can git someone to compare the ACME with the new TiSHX we'd be as informed as one can get.

 

[cubdriver2]

Now if we can git someone to compare the ACME with the new TiSHX we'd be as informed as one can get.

Till next winter when the new lastest and greatest shocks come out

Glenn