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  #1  
Unread 05-01-03, 10:50 AM
Jeff A Jeff A is offline
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Tires

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.
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  #2  
Unread 05-01-03, 12:07 PM
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WebMaster WebMaster is offline
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weld it

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.

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  #3  
Unread 05-02-03, 12:14 PM
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Fixing the legs

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.
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  #4  
Unread 05-02-03, 12:23 PM
kevin kevin is offline
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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
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  #5  
Unread 05-03-03, 10:40 PM
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Jerry De Santis Jerry De Santis is offline
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fix gear

If you want fixed gear buy a 336 Skymaster. Nothing wrong, they fly okay.
Jerry
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  #6  
Unread 08-12-09, 10:18 PM
CO_Skymaster CO_Skymaster is offline
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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
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  #7  
Unread 08-12-09, 10:19 PM
CO_Skymaster CO_Skymaster is offline
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Forgot to mention aircraft. 1966 Cessna 337A.
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  #8  
Unread 08-13-09, 11:45 PM
CO_Skymaster CO_Skymaster is offline
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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
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  #9  
Unread 08-21-09, 10:34 AM
DBrugg DBrugg is offline
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I saw this one on Kodiak AK.
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  #10  
Unread 08-21-09, 01:01 PM
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Ernie Martin Ernie Martin is offline
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I can't be certain, but this might be a 336 (I can't see rear-engine air scoop and cowl flaps). If that's the case, it's a lot easier mod because the gear is fixed, so no worries about fitting the bigger tires inside the fuselage.

Ernie
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  #11  
Unread 08-21-09, 01:06 PM
DBrugg DBrugg is offline
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You are correct!
I just thought is was interesting.
I hadn't seen one before.
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Last edited by DBrugg : 03-22-11 at 12:52 AM.
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  #12  
Unread 08-21-09, 11:06 PM
CO_Skymaster CO_Skymaster is offline
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That's kind of like the Big Foot truck, but for airplane. I wonder if it rolls over Cessna 150's on the taxi way.
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  #13  
Unread 08-22-09, 02:43 PM
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hharney hharney is offline
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Dan
Could you send me the full size file of that photo? Disregard if this is full size but if not I would love to have it for my library.
hharney@sbcglobal.net
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Herb R Harney
1968 337C

Flying the same Skymaster for 47 years
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  #14  
Unread 08-23-09, 11:40 AM
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K337A K337A is offline
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The picture is a 336. The top of the frt. cowling is straight compared to a 337. The incidence angle of the wing and fuselage is different. When flying around always feels like the plane is trimmed nose up.
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  #15  
Unread 08-24-09, 02:38 AM
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Skymaster337B Skymaster337B is offline
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I just ordered new tires. My parts manual said the tires are: 6.00x6 8 ply (or as it may be seen as 600x6-8). This is for a 1967, 337B model.
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