Oil in Belly

[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.