Hi All,

I'm preparing my aircraft to do the brake swap modification when I noticed that my port wheel is slightly different from my starboard wheel.

The aircraft is a -180 sn 24-82. The starboard wheel (I'm pretty sure) is the original unit (Cleveland 40-58) while the port wheel assembly appears to be something else.

The port wheel is drilled for hub caps which I'm led to believe is either the Cleveland 40-84 used on the 260 or the 40-90 used on the 400 and late model twins. The only markings I can see on the port assembly are the numbers 1 3 8 and possibly 1.

My concern is that if I swap these two dissimilar wheel over (for the brake mod) I will run into issues...

Pictures attached. Any help appreciated.

Cheers,

James.

Do you have brake disks that bolt on or rivet into the wheel. I am guessing that both are the former. Assuming you have bolt on brakes, do you have any 337's approving the change in wheels from the original wheels which is Cleveland p/n 3070, to whatever is on their now? If not, that is your first problem as the aircraft is not legal without a 337 approving the change in wheels.

Hi Kristin,

Yes; a re check of the logs confirms no paperwork.

Having now noticed the problem that has been operating happily for at least the last decade I am now (un?)fortunately obliged to fix it..

Options as I see it:-
1. Go through the mod paperwork in NZ. This is likely the most expensive option costing a couple of AMU's at least only to be left with an oddball set up.
2. Find a new 40-5 (3070) if they are still available or an ex-salvage part. I guess I'm best to ask Webco or someone like that?
3. Any suggestions?

I am a little surprised however, that for example, an early srl#-250 which uses the 40-5 wheel couldn't swap it with a later srl# -250 which uses the 40-58? Or by extension, a -180 (40-5) swapping with a -260 (40-84). They're all in the parts manual....

Thanks,

James.

James,

Your problem is that the early Comanches had all the components called out in the Type Certificate Data Sheet. That means to change on, is a major alteration. Later aircraft didn't have a TCDS that was also an equipment list, and changing to another wheel would be easier. I am sorry you aren't stateside, as I have gotten a number of field approvals to change out the old style wheels and brakes.

James,

I believe your deduction is correct with regard to the wheel you have on the port side. I have a 1968 PA-30 B which uses the Cleveland 40-90 for main wheel(s) and it looks identical to the wheel pic in your original post. Thus I think you are correct you have a 40-90 on the port side. The 40-90 is pre-drilled for hub caps which of course can only be used when you have a single fork main. Here is a pic of my 40-90 - compare to yours and I think you'll agree they are the same...

- Charles

Hi Charles,

Thanks for that. I agree; they look identical

The good news is that I think Matt Kurke has one full wheel (40-5) and one (non brake disk) half wheel assembly. The trick now is to determine whether I need the full wheel or just the inner half..

Any ideas?

Thanks again,

James.

Couldn't tell you off hand. We need to compare the PA-30 and PA-24 IPC. I'll try to do that in the morning. I have both and both are posted on the ICS website under tech pubs. If the part numbers are the same I guess the wheel halves would be the same. I'd be surprised tho. Ask Matt, he's the gear guru.

- Charles