412 strut in storage
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albert
- Posts: 834
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:08 pm
412 strut in storage
hy,,RAY,, i have a small question,, for the front strut,, i have 5 original front strut ,,bogie,,2 gas fill and 3 oil fill, for my 412 -73 ,, if i want to keep that for couple years ,, do you thing that is a good idea to put the strut upside down,, on a shelf ,,for to keep the top seal humid i d,t know if this edea can change something ,,,albert
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raygreenwood
- Posts: 11906
- Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am
Very good question...and one I have actually given thought to.
Long ago I read an article about the problems the military has had with storing artillary pieces. The problems are several.
(a) In the recoil mechanism, the rubber seals (if there are any) will take a set and lose resiliance if not excercied....or rotated. Just like parking a car and getting flat spots on the tires. A good thing to do....is to store the struts vertically so that the weight of the piston and shaft is off of the seals. For gas, store them collapses with the rod wired tight so they cannot extend. Oil can go either way. Put some petroleum jelly on the shaft seals. Wrap them in rust proof paper.
(b) back to the artillary. They found that storing recoil mechanisms in teh loaded position (recoil under tension even at rest).....would eventually weaken teh springs. Likewise...storing them with springs open and unloaded....also has an effect that was negative. The metal of tension springs changes over time. They found the best practice...was to excercise them on a scheduled basis. Not only is excerising artillary necessary for practice for the men....it is imperitive that the guns themselves are fired on a regular basis.
Same with other hydraulics like these struts. Take them out a couple times a year clamp the bottom between your feet and cycle them until they get stiff. The excercise is good for us too! I know it sounds silly....but its better than losing rare parts. Ray
Long ago I read an article about the problems the military has had with storing artillary pieces. The problems are several.
(a) In the recoil mechanism, the rubber seals (if there are any) will take a set and lose resiliance if not excercied....or rotated. Just like parking a car and getting flat spots on the tires. A good thing to do....is to store the struts vertically so that the weight of the piston and shaft is off of the seals. For gas, store them collapses with the rod wired tight so they cannot extend. Oil can go either way. Put some petroleum jelly on the shaft seals. Wrap them in rust proof paper.
(b) back to the artillary. They found that storing recoil mechanisms in teh loaded position (recoil under tension even at rest).....would eventually weaken teh springs. Likewise...storing them with springs open and unloaded....also has an effect that was negative. The metal of tension springs changes over time. They found the best practice...was to excercise them on a scheduled basis. Not only is excerising artillary necessary for practice for the men....it is imperitive that the guns themselves are fired on a regular basis.
Same with other hydraulics like these struts. Take them out a couple times a year clamp the bottom between your feet and cycle them until they get stiff. The excercise is good for us too! I know it sounds silly....but its better than losing rare parts. Ray
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albert
- Posts: 834
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 2:08 pm
412 strut in storage
thanks,,RAY,, very good idea for the ,,vaseline,, and very good trick for moovement of this part couple time a year,,and go to look what i have find for the new ball,joint and new center link,,thanks,,albert