Tires

[Jeff A]

Good day. I purchased a 1971 C337F model a year or so ago and I find the skymaster to be an excellent aircraft. Because I fly in northern Canada into some unimproved strips, I was wondering if it was possible to put larger tires on the aircraft. My mains are currently 18X5.5. Thankyou.

[WebMaster]

Because the tires retract into a wheel well, which is a snug fit, the only way to put bigger tires on would be to make the gear down and locked at all times. Then you could improve the size of the mains. The front tire could then be increased in diameter, but not width.

One of the potential problems with retracting slightly larger tires is that if they get hung up on the well, you won't be able to fully retract. This would leave you in the very precarious position of having the clamshell doors at the rear stuck open. Having the clamshells open helps contribute to the negative single engine climb rate while cycling the gear.

We had a discussion about this on the ramp at Nashville. Many of us fly into unimproved (e.g. unpaved) airports. Oh, shhh, don't tell your insurance guy. They frown on it.

One of the benefits of making the gear permanently down and locked is that you can significantly reduce the empty weight, since all those actuators, cams, switches, and wiring can be removed. If you had a later model, you could remove the power pack.

[Jim Rainer]

Does anyone know a 337 with the gear permanently fixed and all the junk involved in the up/down train removed? Somehow, I got the impressiion that the FAA frowns greatly on this and no one has ever legally done it. I've been tempted from time to time.

[kevin]

I had a gear problem once, elected to fly my airplane (this was the '65 C337) about 300 miles with the gear down. It was not pleasent. The attitude of the airplane is different, more nose high, and I can't imagine wanting to fly the airplane that way permanently.

My two cents.

Kevin

[Jerry De Santis]

If you want fixed gear buy a 336 Skymaster. Nothing wrong, they fly okay.
Jerry

[CO_Skymaster]

Just to bring up this subject again, are all the Skymaster main gear hub size 7.00x8? I was trying new wheel covers on the main gear and they don't fit. The part number I pulled off the hub is C163001-050. Does this sound right?

Karl

[CO_Skymaster]

Forgot to mention aircraft. 1966 Cessna 337A.

[CO_Skymaster]

Apparently I have the heavy duty wheels on my Skymaster, which is way the standard hubcaps didn't fit. I've currently ordered the other hubcaps. Trouble with owning a 43 year old aircraft, you don't always know what has been changed.

Karl

[DBrugg]

I saw this one on Kodiak AK.
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Granny Hairy