Nitrogen setup for struts - what do I need? Can a setup be bought inexpensively?

FORANE

FORANE

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FORANE
Wondering what is needed to refill your own struts.
What equipment?
Bottle. regulator, hose... what do I need?
How much does it cost?
Where can it be obtained?

I understand it is high pressure, what do I need to know to do it safely?
 
FORANE said:
Wondering what is needed to refill your own struts.
What equipment?
Bottle. regulator, hose... what do I need?
How much does it cost?
Where can it be obtained?

I understand it is high pressure, what do I need to know to do it safely?
Click to expand...

There is a thread including part numbers an sources on beechtalk.
 
I have a tank, gauges, regulator, hose, and goose neck on a cart, ready to go. $1000.00 you pay shipping. or come get it. the tank is full.
 
Any decent welding supply store will have these items. Couldn't tell you what they cost. A grand seems a little steep to me, but then again, here in oilfield country, you can find empty bottles for nearly nothing, or free.
 
It's all normal welding stuff. Only thing that's a little less ordinary is that you'll need a high pressure regulator. They aren't that hard to find though, and any welding shop will have or can get them.
 
I have a bottle set up for sale
 

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for added convenience, many of us use a blended gas that is 70% Nitrogen
 
dtuuri said:
You need a strut pump.

dtuuri
Click to expand...

The strut pump is only necessary if you're going to use (relatively low pressure) shop air. Since he's going to use nitrogen, he's already got a bottle with more than enough pressure in it.

At pushing $300 even buying a small nitrogen tank and regular outright will hardly be more expensive. I use nitrogen bottles (not for pumping up the struts) to push wine through my wine dispensers. I don't think I paid more than $80 for the whole tank (full). The refills (actually swaps) are around $40.
 
JHW said:
for added convenience, many of us use a blended gas that is 70% Nitrogen
Click to expand...
It would be even more convenient if I had a blended gas source capable of delivering the pressure rating of my oleo struts.
 
Out of curiosity, why do you want to buy your own strut-filling gear? In my experience, adding gas to the struts is such a rare event that I could never justify buying my own setup.

Tim
 
timrb said:
Out of curiosity, why do you want to buy your own strut-filling gear? In my experience, adding gas to the struts is such a rare event that I could never justify buying my own setup.

Tim
Click to expand...
Fair question and now that I have seen some prices the nitrogen setup will likely go into the same category as a propeller balancing setup. Namely, I doubt I will own either.

I got a cherry picker this week and jacked the nose off the ground to replace a gas spring like here:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#9416k15/=vp4sul
That gas spring assists the nose gear down in event of hydraulic failure. While doing so it appeared my nose strut may be low. I do not know it to be so. Do not have a gauge capable of taking a reading.
 
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