lift struts 1946 140

[monceaviation]

i have a few (4) lift struts that came with my 140 project and cant really read the p/n on them. what is the difference and how can you tell right strut from left strut. Also why is the bushing for the upper front and bolt for the upper rear so expensive. I'm replacing all the hardware but 1280 Dollars for a bushing and and 90 dollars a bolt from univair is quite a large cost. any go arounds?

[6597]

Witness holes near the wing attach points will be on the bottom of the struts.

My early 140 struts have a number stamped on the weldments on the upper portion near where the struts attach to the fuselage.

I'll let someone else chime in on the bolts and bushings....

[6643]

Each strut should have a serial number stamped on the fitting where they attach to the gear box. The stamping should face up. If you try to install the left strut on the right side (or vice-versa) the rear strut will be about 1 foot too low. (Oops, Dave beat me to it...)

The rear bolt is a special bolt, an AN8 bolt with "clevis bolt threads". You can make one from an AN8-16A bolt by shortening the threaded portion so it does not interfere with the rear spar. be sure to rear the bare end so it doesn't rust. Order one AN8-16A, AN364-820A, AN960-8 and AN960-8L for each side. Use one washer under the bolt head so that the grip portion just stops at the edge of the fitting and the other under the nut.

Make the bushing, too.

They're expensive because to make and sell them you need a ton of paper work you have to amortize over a hand full of parts. Then, no one buys them anyhow...

[monceaviation]

Thanks guys for the great information. I found the part numbers on the struts under years of coats of paint. but they don't have the same part numbers as the IPC one is R5696 or might be R5096 and the other is L2452. Also the 2 extra sturts I have one is bent up a little, is it still worth anything i've heard people can use parts of it to fix other ones. and the other strut has a different end on it like a cap with a hole and a tie down and its in great shape. why is it different?

[6597]

Starting at SN 12821 and up the forward wing attach had a fitting kind of like this. If you check the Service letters the forward strut has a fixed length, guess they got rid of the tie-rod end on later struts...

[6643]

They aren't part numbers. They're serial numbers. And, I bet you can guess what the "R" and "L" stand for...

[monceaviation]

Took a minute but I got the L and the R thing figured out....lol

[6898]

After reading this post it is SOOOO clear and has been for me since 2006 why this web site is the only place to get the correct info. Not the typical cell phone info where you get crazy at home remedies and answers! There I vented today back to work.