The International Cessna 170 Association

Hi all,

Doing a fairly extensive annual on 39A this year and have the gear off to do corrosion control I had my IA inspect the original axles and he reports that there are no issues. That said, what are the general opinions regarding replacing the original axles with aftermarket steel ones? It's a great time to do it, albeit expensive. 90% of my landing are on hard surface runways and I'm running 6.00x6 tires.....nothing big (although I'd like to put 8's on it when these wear out.

Thanks for your thoughts!!

Chris

If you have hollow aluminium axles, get rid of them . They break . I run solid aluminium axles and keep a close eye on them. I couldn't get the steel axles at the time and haven't heard anything bad about them .

Replace hollow aluminum axles with either the solid aluminum "ski" axles, or approved hollow steel axles. The hollow aluminum axles crack at internal machine marks and are not easily detectable before failure.

How does one identify the hollow aluminum axles vs the solid?

Do you visually see a "hollow"? Are there visible part numbers stamped?

log book entry barely mentions install of Cleveland kit swapping orig Goodyear cross wind , no mention of axles.

MoonlightVFR wrote:How does one identify the hollow aluminum axles vs the solid?

Do you visually see a "hollow"? Are there visible part numbers stamped?

log book entry barely mentions install of Cleveland kit swapping orig Goodyear cross wind , no mention of axles.

If you have wheel pants, you need to remove the pants and axle nut.
The center of the axle will be hollow all the way to the base but not through.
Solid axles are drilled hollow for a 1/2 inch. If they are filthy they might look hollow. Stick a pick in to see if it goes all the way in.

How many reported cases have there been of broken hollow axles due to corrosion?
I've heard this is the case for some time but have never seen a photo of a failed axle.

bagarre wrote:

MoonlightVFR wrote:How does one identify the hollow aluminum axles vs the solid?

Do you visually see a "hollow"? Are there visible part numbers stamped?

log book entry barely mentions install of Cleveland kit swapping orig Goodyear cross wind , no mention of axles.

If you have wheel pants, you need to remove the pants and axle nut.
The center of the axle will be hollow all the way to the base but not through.
Solid axles are drilled hollow for a 1/2 inch. If they are filthy they might look hollow. Stick a pick in to see if it goes all the way in.

How many reported cases have there been of broken hollow axles due to corrosion?
I've heard this is the case for some time but have never seen a photo of a failed axle.

Solid axles look like this.

Hollow STEEL axles are just fine...it's the hollow aluminum axles which should be removed/destroyed.

And get new gear legs to go with them.

Would LOOOOOVVEEEEE some new gear legs .....not this year! As of today, I get to buy 2 new brake housings....small cracks at the bleeders....and corrosion.

I see the add for hollow steel axles in the Flypaper....is anyone (company or individual) selling the solid aluminum axles?

Thanks, Chris

A friend here at the Brighton Airport recently got a field approval for Grove axles for his Cessna 140. It can be done...

I meant NEW gear legs........

get NEW Axles here

https://www.airforms.biz/index.php?rout ... uct_id=780