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Removing main wheel


AuntPeggy

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I have a main tire on my CTLS that won't hold air.  So, of course, we need to remove the wheel to replace the inner tube.  There is a nut in the wheel that we've never seen before and don't know how to remove it or if there is a tool for removing it.  I've attached a photo.  The arrow points to one of the 4 indents that appear to be made for some special tool.  Can you help me find one?  Or tell me some other way to remove the wheel?

post-1227-0-48894000-1422132322_thumb.jpg

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AuntPeggy, new CT's come with some basic tools. One of these is what appears to be a socket that has 4 nibs on the bottom rim. These 4 nibs nest into those 4 slots you see on the wheel retaining nut. No matter if your CT is new or used, check to see if there's a small packet of tools in the floor storage bins or look around for this and if this socket is there. If you can't find this, you can buy an inexpensive socket that is of the correct diameter to fit over the slot portion of the nut. Grind away material to end up with the 4 nibs. Or, just get a piece of metal tubing of the correct diamter and make a removal tool with this. Or, instead of grinding away material, if you or someone you know can weld, weld 4 nibs onto a socket or piece of tubing. Not sure but maybe your local NAPA parts store might have spanner sockets that might fit this too.

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attachicon.gifsocket.jpgHere is what the tool looks like. The other option is not taking the wheel off the airplane, but taking those 6 bolts loose that go around the ring and just taking the outside rim off. I have changed tires on the Italian wheels like that many times.

Tom,

 

Which wheels are compatible with that tool?

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Backyard mechanic tools are US,

 

First take a punch and set it in a groove and use a hammer to tap it counterclockwise to break it loose. Then take a fairly good size pair of needlenose pliers and put each tip in a slot and just unscrew it. Do the same in reverse to put it back on. Piece of cake and I wasn't even born in Arkansas.   <_<

 

The other easy way is to take a piece of pipe and cut some of the leading edge away so all you have left is the tabs that go into the slots on the nut. It's not like you won't use this tool again.

 

 

The last way is to just put some Matco's on.  :)

 

I think you will find just trying to remove 1/2 the wheel and install a tire is more than you bargained for and you can't balance it that way very well.

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Hi Fred,

 

This is an easy way to break it loose and will not damage the nut. Many CT owners have done it this way for years. You don't need to wail on it just rap it a time or two. No different than rapping on the oil magnetic plug screw to break it loose from the factory the first time.

Works like a charm.

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There may be a special tool.

 

But it looks a lot like a tool for adjusting motorcycle shocks should work in a pinch:

 

shock_wrench_1.jpg

 

If you can get it in there, of course.

Thanks for the speedy reply.  Looks like that wouldn't fit into the well.  Good idea, though.

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AuntPeggy, new CT's come with some basic tools. One of these is what appears to be a socket that has 4 nibs on the bottom rim. These 4 nibs nest into those 4 slots you see on the wheel retaining nut. No matter if your CT is new or used, check to see if there's a small packet of tools in the floor storage bins or look around for this and if this socket is there. If you can't find this, you can buy an inexpensive socket that is of the correct diameter to fit over the slot portion of the nut. Grind away material to end up with the 4 nibs. Or, just get a piece of metal tubing of the correct diamter and make a removal tool with this. Or, instead of grinding away material, if you or someone you know can weld, weld 4 nibs onto a socket or piece of tubing. Not sure but maybe your local NAPA parts store might have spanner sockets that might fit this too.

We didn't get a tool kit with the plane.  What else is in it?  Hubby is thinking he can make the socket, but wonder whether to make it of hard steel, which will be hard to make nibs in or of mild steel, which might be too soft?

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attachicon.gifsocket.jpgHere is what the tool looks like. The other option is not taking the wheel off the airplane, but taking those 6 bolts loose that go around the ring and just taking the outside rim off. I have changed tires on the Italian wheels like that many times.

Thanks for the photo.  That tool looks like what we imagined.  Is it brass?

 

Looks like the idea of removing the 6 bolts will be the quickest at the moment.  Think that's what we will do.

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The Marc Inegro wheels like was shown in the picture.

 

Also I noticed that she has the small tires. When you order the tube make sure you get the heavy one, it will hold up better.

Will do.  It appears that we had underinflated the tire and landed with a side load, causing the valve stem to fail.  What is the best pressure?  I remember hearing that the factory recommended pressure is too low.

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Backyard mechanic tools are US,

 

First take a punch and set it in a groove and use a hammer to tap it counterclockwise to break it loose. Then take a fairly good size pair of needlenose pliers and put each tip in a slot and just unscrew it. Do the same in reverse to put it back on. Piece of cake and I wasn't even born in Arkansas.   <_<

 

The other easy way is to take a piece of pipe and cut some of the leading edge away so all you have left is the tabs that go into the slots on the nut. It's not like you won't use this tool again.

 

 

The last way is to just put some Matco's on.  :)

 

I think you will find just trying to remove 1/2 the wheel and install a tire is more than you bargained for and you can't balance it that way very well.

The nibs are already a little chewed up.  It looks like that is the method that previous owner/mechanics have done it in the past.  

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Since the wheel is split and held together with 6 allen screws and having tried both ways, I find it much easier to take the 6 allen screws of and take of half the rim. Make sure you let the air out first if the tire is inflated!

No problem about the air.  That tire isn't holding air more than 10 minutes.  Doing the screws sounds like the most expedient idea at the moment.  We'll tackle the wheel problem after we get some tubes ordered.

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Roger, if a light tap can loosen the nut, then it was not torqued correctly (after all, this one nut holds the wheel onto the airplane).  Also, I have never seen a fastener that was loosened with a hammer and punch that was not damaged (by raising a burr, at least).

 

I guess I just don't understand why FD isn't the first stop for this tool.

 

Aunt Peggy - the tool will be nearly impossible to make from hard steel.  I would start with mild steel or a chrome-moly steel that has not been hardened.  Brass will be too soft.  

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If you use a drift punch no damage will occur if it is seated down in the notch. I used to do this in the early days. I don't believe FD has a tool for sale. The Marc people were a PITA to work with and never communicated even when emails were sent. Making one out of a 3/8" or 1/2" socket also works well. Just use a Dremel tool with a cut off blade and make the tabs. It took me about 30 min. to make the tool. If you are going to keep these brakes you need to MFG a tool because I haven't seen one around.

Better yet switch to Matco.

I put Matco's back on my plane in the summer of 2007 and got FD to switch to Matco's. 

 

 

Here is their web page that shows the tool. Good luck on getting one from Italy. These guys are terrible. That piece of tubing tool is $177 and a US made socket with some tabs cut in is about $4-$6

 

http://www.marc-ingegno.it/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53&category_id=8&page=shop.browse&limit=20&limitstart=20〈=en

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OK quite a few things that I see in the thread that I don't agree with.

 

Roger, I wouldn't use a punch and needle nose pliers to remove the nut, because in my opinion that would be contrary to CFR 43.13, and something a mechanic could lose their certificate over.

Balancing the Marc wheels on the CT is easier than balancing the Matco wheels. Since the Marc wheels have roller bearings if you remove the brake disk you can balance right on the axle. This is also a good time to clean and lube the 4 brake pins. Don't forget the dab of blue Loctite on the pin threads when you put it back together

 

CT, your airplane doesn't have that nut, it uses a different method of holding the wheel in place.

 

Aunt Peggy, the tire can be inflated to 35 PSI, from the 29 listed in the manual. The thing to watch is pressure loss over time, due to slight seepage or temperature change. The tool is steel with some kind of gold colored finish.

 

Roger, all of the CTLS aircraft that I delivered with the Marc Inegro brakes had the tool with the airplane. It was provided with all the other little odds and ends. I just bought a tool for the Tecnam aircraft that I am working on, because they don't supply it with the airplane. Cost was about $100 delivered. The tool for the Tecnam is larger than the one for the Flight Design.

 

Fast Eddie, the nut is the choice of Marc Inegro, and not just a nut that Flight Design chose to use. It is supplied by Marc along with the tool to remove the nut.

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