Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Thomas Richardson on April 23, 2011 at 1:14pm

Kevin.

I just finished installing tubes in mine. Everything was fine until it wasnt. Right main went flat, twice ,so I ordered the tubes from Matco. and put it in the right main only. Two weeks and again the right main is flat along with the nosewheel. ( insert anger here). turns out the right main was pinched, and the O ring in the nosewheel was broken in half. For me, tube was the way to go even though I have talked alot of people who have not had any problems with the tubeless installation. Mine had been on the wheels for a year before the problems and only after 20 hours on the airframe did the problems come up. No real hard landings either. :).

Tom

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Permalink Reply by Randy Owen on April 23, 2011 at 1:29pm

Kevin,

On mine I (contrary to the directions) bolted the wheel halves together first. Then I put some liquid soap on the o-ring just to help it be a little slippery, and stretched it over the rim carefully. Once past the rim it snapped into place in the crevasse of the wheel right where it belonged. My tires have been mounted for about a year and a half (and now with about 50 hours flying time on them) and still no leakage or problems. They hold air at least as well as my car tires do. A little liquid soap diluted with water on the tire bead before installation makes the tire go on easier, too. 

Good luck, and keep building; it's worth it!

Randy

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Bowman on April 23, 2011 at 2:40pm

Randy, So you mounted the tire on the wheel just like you would a car tire, didn't think of doing it that way, I was just worried the o ring will dry rot over time. thanks, Kevin

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Permalink Reply by Jimmy Young on April 23, 2011 at 6:15pm

2 out of 3 of mine leaked the first time I put 'um on, called Matco for advice...suggested I use Vaseline on the O-rings, did, worked fine with no leaks for 5 months now. Regarding installing the O-ring, I put the O-ring on after bolting the halves together.

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Permalink Reply by Robert McNaught on April 23, 2011 at 6:45pm

Kevin

      I heated up the O ring in hot water and with a little Vaseline I slipped it over the hub. Its been a almost a year in the garage with no evident leaks.

             Rob M 

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Bowman on April 23, 2011 at 9:02pm

It looks like all of you guys did it the same way. When I read the directions I thought there was no way it would work the way Matco said to do it. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan Porter on April 24, 2011 at 7:47am

We used tyre mounting soap and held the ring off on the slope whilst we put it together - took 2 and a half people! Rings in place over one year with no issues - even with bush landings (see http://medicineonthemove.org/trailer.html and look at the 701 sequences).  Looks like there is more than one way to ring a hub!

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Bowman on April 24, 2011 at 7:51pm

I got the tires mounted today. I mounted the tire on the two halves first, tighten down three bolts, set the wheel on a short 2x4 (stem side) then slip the o ring over the back side, while pushing down on the tire. Kevin

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Permalink Reply by Richard Guy on March 21, 2024 at 11:34am

You sir are a genius.  I fought with these for a bit until I saw your post and it worked like a charm.  Thank you.  

Richard

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Permalink Reply by Jimmy Young on March 22, 2024 at 4:29am

Years ago, I was the first to reply to this post. In that post, I stated I used Vaseline on the O-ring and that it was still holding as time went on. Not long after that post, I continued to have consistent air leaks and put tubes in all of my tires. 13 years later, I’m still flying the plane and all is good. Have never had a flat, have replaced the main tires once due to wearing them out, and have over 1000 flight hours and 2700 + landings. With tubes, there is no guessing game as to whether they will hold air or not. Just my 2 cents on the topic.

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