Gear Leg Info:

FOR INFORMATIONAL USE ONLY

CESSNA MAIN LANDING GEAR IDENTIFICATION

The gear you have can be identified dimensionally. If removed it is easy, if installed then the best way is by reviewing this information.

The Early 170 gear: P/N 0541114 – Applicable through S/N 25611

1. The gear legs are interchangeable RH & LH
2. A hole is drilled through the center of the gear leg for the brake line clip, or dual dimples are used to secure either type
of brake line clip.
3. Both gear leading and trailing edges are symmetrical from the upper bend and tapering to the axle attach boss.
4. Thickness is 5/8” but varies from .640 to .685
5. The inside dimension from the center of the upper bend to the narrow end is approx. 31”
6. The gear comes straight out and down to the axle attach on a straight line, also referred to as wheels aft.
7. The weight is 29-30 LBS. per leg.

The Late 170B Gear: P/N 0541118-2 & 0541118-3 – Applicable to S/N 25612 and on.

1. –2 is RH and –3 is LH.
2. A dimple is used to support the brake clip.
3. The gear has a straight leading edge facing forward.
4. The thickness is 11/16” but varies from .665 to .685
5. The inside dimension from the center of the upper bend to the narrow end is approx. 34 1/2”
6. The narrowest point of the gear measured just above the axle boss is 1 1/2”
7. The gear comes straight out and down to the axle attach on a straight line, also referred to as wheels aft.
8. The weight is 29-30 LBS. per leg.

Early Cessna 180 Gear (also used on C-170’s) [b] P/N 0741001-1, 0741001-2, 0741001-3 & 0741001-4

1. 1 & –3 are LH, & –2 & –4 are RH.
2. A dimple is used to support the brake clip.
3. The gear has a straight leading edge facing forward.
4. The thickness is 11/16” but varies from .665 to .685
5. The inside dimension from the center of the upper bend to the narrow end is approx. 36”.
6. The narrowest point of the gear measured just above the axle boss is 1 7/8”
7. On the –1 & –2 the gear comes straight out and down to the axle attach on a straight line, also referred to as wheels aft.
8. On the –3 & –4 the gear comes out angled forward and down to the axle approx. 2-3” as compared to the –1 & –2
gear legs, also referred to as wheels forward.
9. The weight is 32-33 LBS. per leg.

Late Cessna 180/185 Steer Gear:
P/N 0741001-5, 0741001-6, 0741001-7, 0741001-8, or FAA-PMA STC PP0741001-7 & PP0741001-8. This steel gear was manufactured by XP Modifications, Inc. for Pponk Aviation

1. –5 & –7 are LH, the –6 & –8 are RH.
2. The gear has a straight leading edge facing forward.
3. The thickness is 3/4” (.750) but varies from .745 to .760
4. The inside dimension from the center of the upper bend to the narrow end is approx. 36”.
5. The narrowest point of the gear measured just above the axle boss is 1 7/8”
6. On the –5, -6, -7 & –8, the gear comes out angled forward and down to the axle approx. 2-3” as compared to the –1 and – 2 gear legs, also referred to as wheels forward.
7. The weight is 36-37 LBS. per leg.

Exceptions:

In the mid 50’s the gear legs identified as heavy-duty for the Cessna 180 P/N 0741001-5 & 0741001-6 measured .700 to .710. This contradiction thus confused the issue and Cessna never admits to knowing about this anomaly. If you have a heavy-duty gear, say on a 1956 C-180 and need to replace a gear leg with a new heavy-duty gear, you will get a .750 non-dimpled –7 or –8. The stiffness will be greater on the replacement leg so the plane will have a list that exceeds the 3 1/2” service manual requirement. You will have to replace both gear legs.

Gear Serial Numbers:

All the gear legs have Serial Numbers. The 170 gear legs will have a letter followed by numbers like Z345, while the early 180 gear legs will have a letter mix like 1Y345. Later years went to the 6-digit serial number like 801123. The serial numbers are on the end or the inside of the axle attach area.