Thorp Air Command - T18.net

So.....I have a brake caliper that has a little corrosion in it - puck is fine - honed the caliper a few times and new O-ring....but has finally become a source of irritation - OSH prep sys check yesterday eve revealed leaky puck. Sacrebleu!!....figured I might have to overnight a caliper from Spruce. Noticed FBO was open and so I scooted over there to talk to Huy Bui - the local mech and friend. It was 7:30ish. I lament my corroded caliper and he says all he has are 6X6 for the flight school cessnas. He then looks at me and says "Hey, what size O-ring yoo got on puck?"....I stare.....He frowns and says "Muckwad!!!...you got automotive O-ring heywhat?"......I raise an eybrow....He says...."Yoo dum mudderfudder!!!!....I toll yoo hundred time never yooz autocrap in brake or engine".....yoo go remove caliper right now - yoo got 10 minute I kick yorass!!!" (Huy is 5 foot 2 and a buck 20). 8 minutes and 30 seconds later, Huy looked at my caliper and said..."caliper fine, you brain corroded"....he put a new AVIATION O-ring on it and a $1.36 and a half hour later I had working brakes.

I won't do that again. Some things need to stay aviation.

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Fraser MacPhee
N926WM
Serial #279-1
Angel Fire, NM (KAXX)

Spend a dollar to save a penny ! I was always told , "Right Tool for the Job !" Think how much labor you would have saved with the correct O-ring Hop Sing ! BOOM !

RB One from column A , rice with egg roll !

So,… What, exactly is the difference between the two?

Fraser, you’re not in the boat alone. I’m having trouble with both mags. Doing the swap tomorrow.
And gear up Friday morning as soon as it’s light enough to see the end of the runway.


Lou

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http://www.dixiefriedfabrication.com/

5606 hydraulic fluid would be my guess ? MILSPEC O-Rings

RB BOOM FLUID, BOOM !

I have BS Harbor Freight O rings on my bird. Been there for years. No problems
Cubes

Maybe you have Hop Sing caliper from BS Harbor Freight ? Probably US Military get same BS O Rings for US fighter jets ? No ?

Melandlong

There is a difference between the glycol-based brake fluid traditionally used in cars & the mineral-based fluid used in aircraft. I'm not talking about the newer synthetic fluids... a whole 'nother conversation. That being said, there are many different materials used for o-rings. The common Buna-N (nitrile) is usually used on aircraft, & supposedly isn't good for use with automotive fluids. Autos usually use EPDM rubber o-rings, which should be compatible with either type of fluid, but maybe there's a different amount of swelling when used with mineral-based fluid? I don't know.

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John Evens
Arvada, Colorado
T-18 N71JE (sold)
Kitfox 7 SS N27JE