Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

How to keep the Cessna 170 flying and airworthy.

Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher

Post Reply
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 20968
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

Post by GAHorn »

While working in the hangar I noticed that hydrualic fluid was dripping from my Cleveland Wheel Brakes onto the hangar floor.

The temperature last night had dropped to 12-degrees F., which apparently hardened the O-ring seals on the caliper "pucks" and perhaps caused a bit of shrinkage also.... resulting in a loss of hyd. fluid.

Just thought I'd add a cautionary note to things to "look out" for during cold wx preflights.

(The O-ring is replaceable, of course. The standard Cleveland STC calls for the 30-63A brake assembly, which uses an MS28775-224 O-ring (1/8"x1-3/4"x2")

Spruce sells them for 58-cents each. The Parker-Hannifin/Cleveland PN 101-05200 (equivalent in every way) is $14.00 each.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
User avatar
mit
Posts: 1049
Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 1:54 am

Re: Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

Post by mit »

Hell George, :D when it gets cold up here we don't even have the brakes installed! :lol:
Tim
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 20968
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

Post by GAHorn »

mit wrote:Hell George, :D when it gets cold up here we don't even have the brakes installed! :lol:
Just exactly...WHEN...does it get "cold" up there? :lol:
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
User avatar
mit
Posts: 1049
Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 1:54 am

Re: Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

Post by mit »

This weekend its suppose to get to 30 below.... but who knows 8O
Tim
hilltop170
Posts: 3481
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Re: Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

Post by hilltop170 »

The only time I have ever had the wheel cylinder o-rings leak is when the brake pads and/or brake disk are at their min thickness and the piston is more extended than when the pads/disks are new
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
User avatar
GAHorn
Posts: 20968
Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm

Re: Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

Post by GAHorn »

hilltop170 wrote:The only time I have ever had the wheel cylinder o-rings leak is when the brake pads and/or brake disk are at their min thickness and the piston is more extended than when the pads/disks are new
Not the case in this instance.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons. ;)
hilltop170
Posts: 3481
Joined: Sat May 06, 2006 6:05 pm

Re: Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

Post by hilltop170 »

That’s very interesting as both my C-170 with single puck Clevelands and my C-180 with double puck Clevelands sat outside for years winter and summer in Alaska without ever seeing a problem with fluid leaking out of the wheel cylinders.

Makes me wonder if the o-ring material has been changed to a less cold-resistant elastomer, or maybe some other change in the system?
Richard Pulley
2014-2016 TIC170A Past President
1951 170A, N1715D, s/n 20158, O-300D
Owned from 1973 to 1984.
Bought again in 2006 after 22 years.
It's not for sale!
User avatar
DaveF
Posts: 1516
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2007 1:44 am

Re: Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

Post by DaveF »

The O-rings in my Cleveland single-puck cylinders last about five years, then start to seep. I assume the cylinders would benefit from polishing.
User avatar
bsdunek
Posts: 425
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2004 6:42 pm

Re: Cold Weather Adversely affects Brakes

Post by bsdunek »

I've never had mine leak due to cold, but then, it may depend on the age and type of o-ring. I still have the Goodyears and they have always worked fine. Good thing to watch for though, there's always a first time.
Bruce
1950 170A N5559C
Post Reply