The Shake & shimmy Cessna Dance

Dealing with front wheel shimmy on Cessna 150, Cessna 172 and similar light aircraft without the availability of professional shop tools. For owner supervised maintenance. A close look at what the shimmy can do to your nose gear and tire.

[@michaelhiggins7365]

I am an A&P Mechanic and I presently do engine changes on Airbus A-319, 20 and 21 as well as Boeing 757's here at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport for American Airlines. Other than working under Instrument panels for Otto's Instruments way back in 1987, I have no other experience working on General Aviation Aircraft. I wanted to say that I found your video on the subject of Shimmy Dampers and their care and feeding to be exceptional. Your methods are clear and easy to understand, as well, most people do own a vise and ratchets. You showed the world how an aircraft Owner can easily correct a very common issue found on Cessna's, saving them hundreds of dollars in labor, money that could otherwise, be well spent on upgrading to the new ADS-B requirement. Now . . . one thing further, do you have the slightest idea just how beautiful your airplane is? I would be nothing short of extremely proud to own such a fine aircraft, and the obvious care you take in maintaining your plane, speaks volumes. Superb video production and Oh . . . what an asset to the flying community. WELL DONE !

[@C150hp150]

Far more praise than I deserve as it was mostly other folks ideas. I just kind of put it together. As for my plane, (The Boulder Rocket) and I are most happy to accept your kind words. We've been flying together since 1976 and it has forgiven me for many indiscretions along the way. In the past I have flown bigger and faster GA planes but since the Boulder Rocket came into my life, I never wanted more. With the big engine it is an excellent and flexible performer. Sensitive controles with a very forging flight envelope. Still it all happens slow enough to take care of "Old Bold Pilots". Thanks for your wonderful feedback.

[@MarkShinnick]

Where we are studied and careful, amateur shadetree has been immensely satisfying and low cost for me, thanks for this.

[@C150hp150]

Thanks Mark and I know what you mean. I have a close friend who is my AI and he help me stay out of real trouble. Like many of us GA pilots my budget gets pretty tight these days. I'm really not very knowledgeable on GA aircraft but I have been doing the grunt work on my 150 for the last 46 annual inspections with good supervision.😀

[@wp4246]

Good video. As a A&P we use dry ice to cool the bushing and a heat over to warm the casting the bushing come right out most of the time. Also a C clamp and or a press makes assembly faster. Nice job overall. But this task is outside the work scope as a aircraft owner and requires a A&P rating to do.

[@eugeneweaver3199]

I grew up on a farm, this is how we kept all our equipment working. Great to see I can use the same tricks on airplanes!

[@ahmadsamadzai8255]

This happened on my 1st solo. Scared the crap out of me and I thought I had done something wrong. Thanks for the explanation.

[@C150hp150]

Thanks Ahmad, I appreciate the feedback. I should add I ran everything I did by my A&P/AI and all repairs and replacements were signed of by them in my log books.

[@craigbsmith6805]

Great to see you still flying Mike!

[@C150hp150]

Wow Craig, nice to discover your channel. Love your Drone work. I could use a good instructor with my Phantom 4 as at this point I do much better with the 150 but I'm learning. Hope your still enjoying that fixed wing pilot rating, at least one in a while.

[@ducaticessna9386]

Good video Mike! Great to see your work and solutions to remove and install of the bushes.

[@C150hp150]

Sorry I missed this one, thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it.

[@joecritch143]

Hi, that was a well done and informative video. So which part caused your shimmy problem? Was it the torque link bushings, the tire or the the damper?

[@C150hp150]

Not sure, but it's gone now. Maybe just one thing or maybe a combination of several.

[@aero3085]

Great vid!

[@C150hp150]

Thanks! No more ahead. After 47 years together It's time to pass on the Joy of 78G new owner. We had a great run and she's got a lot left but my time has come. 🙃

[@ammerudgrenda]

Excellent!. Thank you 😀

[@pauljs75]

I guess the ol' machine shop trick involving jamming cheap bread in between the bushings with a hydraulic press isn't known? Just a tight enough shaft for an almost snug slip fit that fits through both sides though the bushings. Should be enough gap between the bushings when mashing a few slices of bread into there there's no way for it to go out other than popping the bushings out.

[@C150hp150]

I guess I can't come up with a reason why that wouldn't work but i just used what I had. Very basic hand tools.

[@pauljs75]

@@C150hp150 Same principle in practice here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmGynXprep2pgs0

[@markoda8455]

Thanks for video. My 182 did the dance this weekend and ended up tearing up my nosewheel fairing😩 This really helps explain what needs to be done.

[@MonkPetite]

Nice explanation well doen sir. Having many dances on these planes i came to a conclusion too. The hole reason they start to shimmy is the angle nose strut. That’s where it starts. If that is compressed to much the point of shimmy is nearer than fully extend. Also that strut has to slide in and out easily. Keep it clean. Obviously use the right type of tyre and pressure. Some models are to square on the profile that’s no good for these planes. If that’s is not helpful do what the shadetree mechanic is doing . Get that play out of the ✂️. Good job and thanks.

[@C150hp150]

Thanks Monk. Mine being a O-320, I have a 55 lbs more on the nose than with the O-200. Part of that weight is from a prop which is one foot longer. I tend to keep my strut high, just enough to maintain ground steering, mainly to protect my prop with limited ground clearance. Over time I came to realize that also reduced the chance of a shimmy. Sounds like you're on to something.

[@jack1990181]

Thanks man..great informative video

[@keelaboosa]

Quick correction - 7/16-20 is a fine thread, not coarse thread.

[@C150hp150]

Thanks, like I said, I'm not much of a wrench.

[@ronjohnson9507]

A taildragger conversion would eliminate shimmy

[@C150hp150]

Yes it would but tail wheel issues are also common. Have you ever flown a C150 with a tail wheel? I have, Texas Tail-Draggier conversion. It looked beautiful, not pumped up in the air like a C140 . That long, low and sleek look is what made it was very difficult to do a full stall flair and wanted to float. Just what you don't want in a cross wind. I love tail wheel aircraft but a C150 may not be the best candidate in my opinion only.

[@darishensley5081]

Do you have a drill & tap suggestion for removing the smaller elbow bushings?

[@C150hp150]

I'm not much of a mechanic and have never had to deal with elbow bushings. If they are in two pieces I would think they could be drilled and taped along the same lines. Being smaller, drill & tap size would be critical. Sorry I can't help more.

[@dannyfivefifty]

NICE JOB SAVED QUITE A FEW BUCKS.GAS MONEY??

[@C150hp150]

You are correct, that's the idea ! I fly for food. Okay, okay, for fun.

[@edmoore3910]

bad bushings...out of balance tire...

[@johnwalters878]

And you do all of this and more, and it still shimmies just as bad.

[@C150hp150]

No, she been rolling smooth for a long time now.