Today I jacked up my '73 Aztec to troubleshoot the nose gear "down/locked" light. Since the hydraulic pump is engine-operated, I pumped the gear up and down manually. It took about 250 pumps - operator's manual calls for 50. About 2/3 of the strokes felt spongy, like there was air in the system; occasionally I could get a solid upstroke AND downstroke. (It's a double-acting pump, I think.) The gear retracts/extends fine in flight. Why would it (seemingly) work perfectly inflight but act this way with the manual method? I read somewhere there are two standpipes in the reservoir; maybe the fluid level is at or below the upper one?
While retracting or extending the FLAPS, I am always able to get the flap selector handle to pop back into position as pressure builds up; for the gear, I ran up against solid resistance at the end and the gear selector did NOT pop back to neutral; I didn't push it, thinking I might bend the pump handle.
Anybody seen anything like this before?
Second question: Where can you find approved grease for the wheels and various grease fittings? My nosewheel spins like a top and clearly needs to be packed. A good general greasing is in order, too. I'm looking at this "Aeroshell Grease 64" on the Aircraft Spruce Website. Seems like it does everything. Thanks in advance.
While retracting or extending the FLAPS, I am always able to get the flap selector handle to pop back into position as pressure builds up; for the gear, I ran up against solid resistance at the end and the gear selector did NOT pop back to neutral; I didn't push it, thinking I might bend the pump handle.
Anybody seen anything like this before?
Second question: Where can you find approved grease for the wheels and various grease fittings? My nosewheel spins like a top and clearly needs to be packed. A good general greasing is in order, too. I'm looking at this "Aeroshell Grease 64" on the Aircraft Spruce Website. Seems like it does everything. Thanks in advance.
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