PIPER AIRCRAFT, INC.
PA-28-161, WARRIOR III
MAINTENANCE MANUAL
PAGE 1
Nov 30/06
3E1
32-20-00
NOSE GEAR
1. Nose Gear Oleo
A. Disassembly (Refer to Figure 2.)
The nose gear oleo strut assembly may be removed and disassembled from the strut housing with
the gear either removed from, or installed on, the airplane.
(1) Remove the lower engine cowling by:
(a) Releasing the cowl fasteners, two on each side and remove the top cowl.
(b) Disconnect the electrical lead to the landing light at the quick disconnect at the inside of
the bottom cowl. Remove induction air hose between filter and air box.
(c) Remove the bottom cowl attaching screws from around its aft end and remove cowl.
(2) Place airplane on jacks. (Refer to Jacking, Section 7-10-00.)
(3) Place a drip pan under the nose gear to catch spillage.
(4) To remove air from the strut, depress the air valve core pin found at the top of the strut
assembly. After the pressure in the strut chamber has diminished, remove the valve core pin,
and attach a small hose to the air valve, and drain the fluid by slowly compressing the piston
tube. If it is desirable to extract more fluid from the strut chamber, remove the filler plug, insert
the siphon hose and drain fluid from the upper area of the housing.
(5) To remove the strut assembly from the strut housing (4), cut the safety wire at the top of the
housing that secures the steering horn attached bolt to the tube retainer nut. Then remove the
steering horn attaching bolt and the flat head pin, thus relieving the steering horn from the top
of the strut housing.
(6) Loosen the strut assembly retainer nut (1) that secures the strut assembly in the strut housing.
At the same time, slide the strut assembly out through the bottom of the strut housing. Remove
the nut (1) and washer (2) from the top of the strut housing after the assembly is removed.
NOTE: The strut assembly may fit tight inside of the housing. It may be necessary to tap the
top of the fork with a plastic mallet.
(7) If desired, remove the top and bottom bearing (3 and 5) from the strut housing. The bearings
are compressed slightly into place, and light tapping may be needed to free them.
(8) To remove the piston tube (19) and fork assembly (24) from the cylinder (10), proceed as
follows:
(a) Separate the upper and lower torque links by removing the connecting nut, washer and
bolt.
(b) Compress the piston tube and fork assembly slightly and remove the retainer ring (17)
from the annular slot in the bottom of the cylinder tube. Then remove piston tube and fork
assembly by sliding out from the bottom of the cylinder tube (10).
(9) To remove the bearing assembly from the piston tube, release the snap ring (18) from the top
of the piston tube and slide bearing assembly off the end.
If desired, carefully remove the wiper strip (16), back-up washer and quad ring or O-ring (15)
from the inside of the bearing sleeve, and also the O-ring gasket (14) from the outside of the
bearing sleeve.