Page 2 of 3
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 3:28 am
by Ryan Smith
http://www.cessnadirect.com/r441212.html
Looks like $3.51 from Yingling. At the risk of sounding dumb twice in a day, do the struts have to be removed for these (uppers or lowers) to be installed, or can they be properly installed with the wings and struts in place?
I will say, the pictures of the ones on the 180 looked oppressively large, but that's probably because the picture was so tightly cropped. I looked in my stash of 170 images on my computer and there are quite a few that appear to have the stock upper seal, and it looks pretty good. I guess I've been conditioned to the appearance of the U channel that's prevalent on most airplanes. See below of a picture that I believe was taken in 1958 of a '52 B model.
Rusty, when you get your seals installed, I'd be very interested to see how the look both up close and at a distance.
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 4:42 am
by minton
I'm only speculating here but I think some don't have a good eye for detail. Yingling and Cessna now offers off the shelf "Bulk" seal and not what is pictured. Not even close!.
Also as I've said many times, C-180 seals are not dimensionally the same and will not fit nor is the part number the same.
The other issue is that it is not possible to cut and glue such to meet my needs. The type of material will not take to glue.
I'll keep on looking

Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 8:32 pm
by minton
Finally got through to "AirRepair and they say that the L-19 is good numbers and they have some. I ordered two each and will let Y'all know what shows up!

(Fingers crossed)
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 9:39 pm
by n2582d
minton wrote:... The other issue is that it is not possible to cut and glue such to meet my needs. The type of material will not take to glue. ... .
You might try
this cement.
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:40 pm
by Ryan Smith
Guy Ginby makes a ton of seals and rubber parts for the Beechcraft crowd. I would venture to say that would be good stuff to use.
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:44 pm
by minton
That stuff looks like it might work!
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 10:44 pm
by minton
Ryan Smith wrote:Guy Ginby makes a ton of seals and rubber parts for the Beechcraft crowd. I would venture to say that would be good stuff to use.
And how might I contact him??
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2014 11:09 pm
by n2582d
minton wrote:Ryan Smith wrote:Guy Ginby makes a ton of seals and rubber parts for the Beechcraft crowd. I would venture to say that would be good stuff to use.
And how might I contact him??
Use Google to find,
Guy at Gee Bee is a super nice fellow, but they don't have a website. You have to call him or email. They can be reached at 800-556-3160 or via email at
n77gb@msn.com. Guy isn't always around to answer the phone, but he is generally very responsive if you leave him a voicemail or send an email.
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 10:18 am
by Blue4
Would someone please tell me the purpose of these seals? I can only speculate.
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:26 pm
by minton
Upper; air, weather, critter seal. Lower; air, weather, critter seal. Remember that engine exhaust is also passing by the lowers.
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 3:06 am
by GAHorn
The lower gear leg close-out fairings and seals also give entrance to exhaust, especially the pilot side. Use quality EPDM or inner-tube type butyl rubber gasketing to seal that area.
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2014 7:33 pm
by minton
Update: I received the "NOS" strut seals yesterday from Air Repair. The good news is they are NOS parts and fit the strut ends. The bad news is they are of 1962 mfg so are somewhat dried out ALSO they look more like the aftermarket (Bulk) seal materials of today not like C-180/185 seals pictured in earlier posts (Darn!).
I'm going to try to soften the seals (Any suggestions?) and install them this spring. AND pursue making a new mold of newer design.
If anyone has a mold maker friend with spare time have them contact me.
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 1:06 am
by GAHorn
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2014 7:00 am
by minton
Re: Lift strut seals wanted for loan
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 1:40 pm
by Sixracer
Does the Flex seal work as a "Cure All" on the planes extreior like MM does for the engine?
Is it a "Must Have" for the hanger?
