Oil in Belly

[OhioSkymaster]

So, did servicing the gear actuator/transmission seals fix the leak? I'm having the same issue of hydraulic fluid leaking from the belly. It's red, so no question of fluid type. After the last flight it leaked a puddle of fluid about 5 inches in diameter in just a few minutes after parking and shutting down, but after removing the interior and deck plates could not find any source of the leak. We're thinking of running the front engine and placing the gear lever in the Down position to pressurize the system and watch for leaks, before jacking and running the system with a mule.

[wslade2]

I had puddle this weekend on asphalt. Opened gear doors and more dripped out. Worried it was the worst. Checked hydraulic tank and no drop in fluid. took up floor panels, hydraulic fluid everywhere. felt brake line and right where the flexible line joins the swivel on the gear it was wet. But that drip had worked it's way into the belly around main landing gear drive and everything seemed wet with fluid. That fluid has a way of crawling through seams and around everywhere. Confirmation came with checking brake fluid reservoir and finding it was empty. Be careful to identify your source so you don't do something excessive.

But, on next annual I plan on overhauling main gear drive just like I did nose gear actuator this year to be on the safe side. It's been untouched for 50 years....long enough.

[GAdams]

Servicing the actuator did work. You are on the right track by running the engine and putting the gear handle down and time the gear handle return to the normal position. Use the service manual for that procedure. If something is about to fail it will fail big time after 4-5 cycles. Getting that actuator in and out will be a lot of labor and getting the system primed will take way longer than it should. Also all the other seals in other actuators in the system that has not been touched will now start to seep because of the added pressure. Order some extra seals and be ready to chase door actuators and things like that. Word of caution. Jack the aircraft to remove the actuator. It must be off the gear or the gear will fold. My project took ten weeks from start to finish. But the gear works great now.

[JAG]

Gents,
Had a similar event with oil on the floor, last month. It had been a few days after flying, there was a small puddle (2" diameter) on my hangar floor. (NOTE: I have resealed all my actuators, hand pump and replaced all flexible hydraulic hoses last year.)Oil had come out of drain holes in front of, and aft of, the handpump. I pulled up center floor board to note that the whole area was wet, and could not quite trace it to anything. started going upstream, and noticed it may be coming from pilot side forward. Looking at brakes, brake lines, etc, and did not see anything. Looked at power pack and did not notice anything major, but one line and a little fluid on it (not good). Looked in little drip tray under power pack, and there was a bit of fluid. Ran some mineral spirits down that tray drain tube, and voila - that confirmed the source. That drain tube does not drain overboard, but rather into your belly underneath the pilot's rudder pedals.
I ended up removing and overhauling my power pack - there was a hairline crack on the manifold at the "gear down" fitting.
Jeff

[OhioSkymaster]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions! We will investigate further and I’ll report back to the group.

[OhioSkymaster]

Well, it’s the main gear actuator. Any suggestions on sources for overhaul or replacement?

[wslade2]

Cox Airparts.