The International Cessna^® 170 Association

any magic for easy filling tires with wheel pants in place?? thanks. 3488D

get rid of the wheel pants.

My wheel pants have been sitting in the corner of my hangar for the last six months. I haven't come up with a good way to work around them.

I had two planes in the past that had little doors in the wheel pants which allowed you to access the valve stem. My current plane has 8:00 tires and no wheel pants. I think you may can get the little doors at either Wag Aero or Spruce.

Harold H

I have the orginal-type metal wheel pants. Here's how I do it:
Roll the airplane to the point that the stem is at the 6 o'clock position, and using a tire pencil make a small ^ on the sidewall so as to more easily identify the stem in the future. When checking/filling with air all one must do is roll the tire to that point and remove only the AN-5 bolt that holds the outer pant-panel to the axle-end. The pant may then be pulled gently away from the end of the axle, leaving enough room to check pressure or add air. When finished, re-install the AN-5 bolt and you're through. I keep a tire gauge and small 9/16 box wrench in my baggage. (Along with a light, $5 foot pump, $2 tube-patch kit, and a 20-cent, plastic, valve-stem extension to check/add air to my tailwheel, all found at WalMart.)

I also have the original metal wheel pants on my 54' 170, and am able to check pressure and fill the tires by rolling the plane to a point where the fill tubes are at the 7 to 8 o'clock position. I can do the operation without removing any bolts at all, though the space is somewhat limited. Of more concern to me with the wheel pants is that I cannot do a good tire inspection during the preflight. That worn flat spot can stay hidden for an long time before going BLOOOEEEE! So I am thinking of taking the pants off, especially since winter ops are near.

Thanks for the info. i think the pants are so cute so will struggle with them. larry

wa4jr wrote:I also have the original metal wheel pants on my 54' 170, and am able to check pressure and fill the tires by rolling the plane to a point where the fill tubes are at the 7 to 8 o'clock position. I can do the operation without removing any bolts at all, though the space is somewhat limited. Of more concern to me with the wheel pants is that I cannot do a good tire inspection during the preflight. That worn flat spot can stay hidden for an long time before going BLOOOEEEE! So I am thinking of taking the pants off, especially since winter ops are near.

At 170-speeds I don't have my wheel fairings on for speed. I have them on to keep mud, water, gravel, rocks, etc. off the undersides of my wings and tail. I remove them completely every so often (at least bi-annually or 50 hours) to inspect tires, wheels, and brake linings. If a tire won't make it 50 hours on the grass strip I live on, then it's time to throw them away.

Those with the wheel pants sitting in the corner, how about selling them to me....