66 C337 #0199 Nose gear actuator

[mshac]

Keith, there's a nitrogen-filled accumulator located under the pilot's seat that maintains hydraulic pressure on the gear doors so they don't droop. On my plane, the main gear doors would droop first. Same as you, if you switched on the master, they would close tight, but after a week or so, they would be drooping maybe 1/2-3/4". I do have the electric hydraulic pump.

So this was a slow droop, nothing like what you're seeing, but I would look at the accumulator for sure. IIRC, it takes 500PSI (+/- 50PSI) nitrogen when servicing. Its fairly easy to rebuild if its leaking, o-ring kits are available.

Did you ever get this problem fixed before? It appears to have been going on for a couple of years now: http://www.337skymaster.com/messages...ead.php?t=4577

[Kim Geyer]

S/N 0199 did not have the accumulator. I think the nose gear door actuator is leaking internally but really any of the 4 gear door actuators leaking internally could cause this. That is the cheapest thing to check. Next would be the door valve which is part of the power pack. Of course check your fluid level. Low fluid will make one do stupid stuff

[mshac]

Originally Posted by Kim Geyer

S/N 0199 did not have the accumulator.

Pilot's complain about the empty weight always creeping up on subsequent aircraft models. I guess its the addition of little things like the gear door accumulator that eventually add up in the newer models.

There is a thread on FB about a 337 that had its nose gear doors modified to operate mechanically from the nose gear. I guess at some point, the previous owner's last nerve was stepped on, and he ripped out the hydraulics! The new owner reinstalled the hydraulics.