Piper J3
Well Known Member
I fly from a private grass strip in northern Ohio. Needless to say, not much flying in the winter months. So, the spring ritual is to look over the machine really good while I wait for the ground to firm up. Even though I'm based on a grass strip, almost all my flying is from hard surface runways.
Brakes are as important as flight controls for airplanes with free-castering nosewheel. Loss of a brake pretty much means deviating from the runway and having a bad day. Original brakes were replaced at 80TT. Now my second set of linings is due for replacement at 415TT. I think the second set of linings lasted longer because the disc was conditioned by the first set of linings, at least that?s my theory. The brakes pulsate and it has bothered me from day one. The discs are soft steel and get scored-up something awful. I have decided to order new Matco discs and will have Master Chrome in Cleveland, OH hard chrome plate them before use. Master Chrome does hard chrome plating for Cleveland Wheel so I should a good result. The hard chrome surface should stay smooth and eliminate pulsation.
The original tires supplied by Vans lasted 200 hours. The outside edges got scalloped and worn to the thread. I installed Desser 500-5 6 PLY RTO Retread, Elite Premium 2 Groove. At 415TT I?m very happy with these tires. The tread shape has substantially more rubber on the outside edges providing excellent wear. I?m going to rotate tires L-R because right side tire is showing slightly more edge wear. My plan is to run the tires until end of flying season and then I will disassemble the wheels and flip the tires so fresh edge is to the outside. It looks like I should be able to get 600 hours on these tires by remounting them on the wheels when the outside edge is sufficiently worn.
Brakes are as important as flight controls for airplanes with free-castering nosewheel. Loss of a brake pretty much means deviating from the runway and having a bad day. Original brakes were replaced at 80TT. Now my second set of linings is due for replacement at 415TT. I think the second set of linings lasted longer because the disc was conditioned by the first set of linings, at least that?s my theory. The brakes pulsate and it has bothered me from day one. The discs are soft steel and get scored-up something awful. I have decided to order new Matco discs and will have Master Chrome in Cleveland, OH hard chrome plate them before use. Master Chrome does hard chrome plating for Cleveland Wheel so I should a good result. The hard chrome surface should stay smooth and eliminate pulsation.
The original tires supplied by Vans lasted 200 hours. The outside edges got scalloped and worn to the thread. I installed Desser 500-5 6 PLY RTO Retread, Elite Premium 2 Groove. At 415TT I?m very happy with these tires. The tread shape has substantially more rubber on the outside edges providing excellent wear. I?m going to rotate tires L-R because right side tire is showing slightly more edge wear. My plan is to run the tires until end of flying season and then I will disassemble the wheels and flip the tires so fresh edge is to the outside. It looks like I should be able to get 600 hours on these tires by remounting them on the wheels when the outside edge is sufficiently worn.