As I have previously posted, the outer,
protective rubber coating on most of my hydraulic hoses, after 16 years and 1350
flight hours, have begun to dry, crack and flake off. The rubber
covering is at most 3/64th inches thick and clearly, to me, is on the hose to
provide protection from chafing or debris thrown up from tires during
ground operations.
I have replaced the deteriorated rubber covering on
the hoses in the main wheel wells with a product I purchased through Aircraft
Spruce, called "Rescue Tape." It is wonderful stuff and is much more
sturdy than the original rubber. I also used that tape on a couple hoses
under the seats.
I decided to replace a few hoses just to get back
in the business of building again and the attached picture is an example of one
hose I produced. I am not going to send my hoses off to Sacramento Sky
Ranch for re-make, as a couple responders so sternly suggested.
I'm a homebuilder thank you very much, and I will make my own hoses. I
bought the hose and couplings from A/C Spruce.
There is nothing to suggest to me that my airplane
is not airworthy, as Brent Ragan would suggest. If that were true it
should have been un-airworthy at the first sign of a deteriorated hose covering,
which I began noticing some months ago. I believe this to be an ongoing
maintenance requirement and should be addressed as such.
I assume there will be the usual comments on the
hydraulic hose situation, which I and other Lancair flyers will
welcome.
George Shattuck
LNC2, 1350 flt. hrs. +/-