[Eric Parks]

Eric Parks on December 1, 2022 at 5:33 pm #21709

We have had good luck with Granvilles Strut Seal (check on Aircraft Spruce). It has done a good job of getting seals to stop leaking for us. Of course it doesn’t do miracles but if the seal is just not quite working the Granvilles may get it working.

[Alyssa Miller]

Alyssa Miller on December 1, 2022 at 9:11 am #21708

That’s exactly what they tried first. They basically did all the items they could without pulling the full strut (including replacing the valve) just to try to fix it quick since they knew my check ride was coming. Unfortunately, from what they told me there is one seal they can’t do that way and of course it seems that’s the seal that’s leaking. Hoping they get it in the shop before the end of this week cuz I’d really like to take my first passenger flying this weekend 🙂

[STEVE]

STEVE on November 30, 2022 at 8:12 am #21703

Hi Alyssa;
My go to place for Piper strut packing kits is McFarlane Aviation. http://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com.
It’s worth it to completely repack the strut; I’ve seen it where just a couple of o rings are replaced and that is more like a band aid than a complete repair.
Keep in touch.
Steve

[Alyssa Miller]

Alyssa Miller on November 29, 2022 at 3:51 pm #21702

Oh awesome, thanks for the reply. Sorry with holidays and my check ride (that I just passed yesterday btw) I haven’t been back here in a little bit. A few answers to your questions. I am based at KETB (West Bend, WI) and I do have a hangar, a T-Hangar that I rent from the FBO.

I bought the plane at the end of August from a local seller. The plane spent most of it’s life in Arizona, initially as a flight school plane (first 1,600 hours) and then privately owned. The guy I bought it from took it to Florida where he had it for about 8 months before he moved up here to WI. I bought it from him with about 4,500TT and the engine about 550h SFOH. It’s pretty well cared for, traditional steam gauges and a lackluster panel except for the Stratus ESG with installed 3i receiver. It comes up for annual this December so I’ll be getting all the little squawk list issues dealt with as well and once I know what budget I have left, I plan to start upgrading the panel. An audio panel and GPS/Nav/Com are tops on my list.

I posted a public album on here with some pics (https://www.piperflyer.org/community/photos/album.html?albumid=428). Right now she’s going back into the shop because of a leak in the right main gear strut. Doesn’t hold air for more than a day or so. The shop had to fill it the yesterday morning before my check ride to make sure I’d get through.

Anyway, appreciate the responses and looking forward to learning from all the great folks here.

[Jen D]

Jen D on November 11, 2022 at 3:27 pm #21670

Welcome, Alyssa! Let us know if we can help with anything.
Jennifer Dellenbusch

[Eric Parks]

Eric Parks on November 10, 2022 at 8:42 pm #21669

Alyssa,

The Cherokee 180 is a great “starter” plane or just a great plane. My father, who was a Navy pilot and airline pilot bought the Cherokee 180 as his first plane. I enjoyed that one and I got to fly Warriors and Archers later as a CFI and charter pilot. So the Cherokee has a permanent place in my heart. Keep flying as you are doing!

Eric

[STEVE]

STEVE on November 10, 2022 at 1:59 pm #21668

Hi Alyssa;
Welcome to Piper Flyer and the Piper Flyer forum.
You’re the perfect age to start flying. It’s a magical experience that you will grow to love.
This is where you’ll post questions about everything flying your Piper PA 28 180. My name is Steve; I’ll be the guy on here that will work to answer your questions. I fly a 1960 Comanche with the same engine you have in your PA 28, so I have a good knowledge of most of the issues that may happen forward of the firewall.
As you explore the Piper Flyer home page, I suggest you click on the “Magazine” tab. There you’ll find a large selection of past issues that you can download as pdfs, after clicking on the cover page of any one issue in the year.
You’ll also find a “Article Archives” tab–there you’ll find a wide range of articles on maintenance and servicing your and other Piper airplanes.
Tell me a little more about your airplane. Where are you based? Can you hangar your airplane? Please post pictures of your airplane and the instrument panel.
When you post a question here, it will help me a great deal if you remind me of your airplane and post either the aircraft serial number or the N number.
Best,
Good luck in your test.
S

[Alyssa Miller]

Alyssa Miller on November 10, 2022 at 9:04 am #21667

Quick introduction since I just joined. 45 year-old student pilot, finally making a life long dream a reality. Started training in April in my local airport’s C172s but bought my own plane, a 1968 Cherokee 180D (PA-28-180), shortly after I started solo’ing in August. I’ve got about 83 hours of total time as of writing this, many of those are solo. Easy to build up lots of time when you have your own plane, love flying, and are endorsed for solo 🙂 Waiting to hear back from the DPE regarding scheduling my check ride so hopefully (Wisconsin weather permitting) will have that done before the end of the year.

Anyway, found PFA while searching for information on the fuel drain valve for my plane (got a leaky one on the right tank). Seems like a great place with some super helpful folks and plenty of good info. So yeah…um…hello everyone.