Wheel Identification Help

[James Turner]

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.

[Kristin Winter]

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.

[James Turner]

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.

[Kristin Winter]

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.

[Charles Schefer]

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

[James Turner]

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.

[Charles Schefer]

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