[stackj]

It could be that I'm just a little slow, but...

My Skymaster has owned me for a little over ten years now, and I've always hated putting air in the nose strut. Seems that the air hose fitting is just a little too big around to fit comfortably on the end of the air valve at the top of the strut. It usually took me a good while and the use of far too many "choice" words to get the strut pressurized.

Suddenly, the answer fell upon me. I went to the auto parts store and bought a 3/4 inch valve stem extender (4, actually - that was the only choice). I removed the access panel from behind the nosewheel door, jacked up the aircraft, removed the valve cap and screwed on the valve extender. Five seconds later the nose strut was properly pressurized.

Other clues:
1.) Don't forget to remove the valve extender and replace the valve cap when you are finished.

2.) Purchase PLASTIC valve extenders in case you forget to comply with clue number 1.

3.) Be smarter than me... learn early.