Tire inflation access on wheel pants - Page 5

Scott Hersha · #41 09-13-2022, 09:20 PM

Maybe I’m lucky (because I know I’m not good), but it’s never taken me more than 15 minutes to check/inflate my tires through the 1” opening in the aft wheel pant, covered by a snap cover. No need to remove the forward wheel pant. I use a piece of rubber flexible hose to capture and remove/reinstall the valve cover cap, and my extension shader valve easily bridges the gap. I carry spare parts of these items in my fly away kit.

Erimo · #42 09-14-2022, 03:59 PM

I made a hole in each wheel fairing, which I plug with a metal clip. A white mark on the tire allows the valve to be positioned opposite the hole in the fairing.

All I need is a rigid valve extension and a piece of semi-flexible tubing.
The tube is used to unscrew the valve cap.

I need two minutes by tire.

Bill Boyd · #43 09-14-2022, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gasman

I have a spot marked on the floor for each tire. I just roll it into place and the stems line right up with the 1" access holes.....

I bet that works - exactly once.

And then randomly after the first time.

Like another poster above, if you don't have marks on the tires, you will get very good at reaching in and feeling for the stem between pushes. It is sometimes possible on a very level floor with no flat-spot set in the tires to move the plane by pushing on the pant or grabbing the leading edge while under there, until you feel the stem touch your finger.

Roadjunkie1 · #44 09-14-2022, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Hersha

Maybe I’m lucky (because I know I’m not good), but it’s never taken me more than 15 minutes to check/inflate my tires through the 1” opening in the aft wheel pant, covered by a snap cover. No need to remove the forward wheel pant. I use a piece of rubber flexible hose to capture and remove/reinstall the valve cover cap, and my extension shader valve easily bridges the gap. I carry spare parts of these items in my fly away kit.

Exactly! Maybe even 10 minutes to do both. I have the tire/wheel marked so I know where the valve is and it is nothing to roll the airplane so it is lined up. Easy. Fast. Uncomplicated...

robert@jonesrv10.net · #45 09-14-2022, 05:12 PM

I hate the small access holes so I put automotive Bluetooth pressure sending units on all 3 tubes. Now I only take the front half of the pant off to inflate the tires when necessary, which isn’t often since I buy the no leak tubes.

HFS · #46 12-29-2022, 09:08 AM

Not here to debate the + & - of adding air to main gear tires w/o removing the WP. Only that I do it, and am offering the following (until I run out - 8) inflator valve extensions @ my cost + shipping (~ $5.00). I am also including the P/N's and vendors where I obtained my parts - total unit cost <$10.00.

1. Tire Chuck, Brass/Steel. Vendor: Zoro P/N G2143127 or Grainger P/N 1KUH2
Both under $5.00

2. 6" x 1/8 NPT Brass Pipe Nipple. Amazon P/N LTWFITTING Brass Pipe 6" Long
Nipple Fitting 1/8 Male NPT (Pack of 5). Unit cost: $3.85

3. 1/4 Male x 1/8 Female Bushing Adapter. McMaster-Carr P/N 4638K351.
Unit cost: $.98

I turned off the "flats" on the body of the Tre Chuck to give a little better "streamline" for putting it into the hole (whatever size you have) in the WP.

I am giving away my time for the lathe work & assembly. If anybody wants one for the materials cost + shipping - call it $15.00, just PM me and we can work out the details. I only made 8, but the vendor list & P/N's should be enough to get started.

I put mine on a flex hose, pistol grip style inflator & like it for the ease and convenience. I do have another inflator that has a lever style "trigger" with the sliding pressure scale, which has the extension rigidly attached to the body of the inflator - I don't like it as well as the "flex" unit, but that's just me. To each his own.

YMMV - But this does work!

HFS