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Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 5:51 am
by cowman57
It's my first winter with the pants on here in NE Wi. Just wondering what the general opinion is here on the forum about pants during winter concerning snow/slush freezing and causing problems.
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 1:42 pm
by strangebird
I used to take them off in the winter so as to not have snow and slush build up inside them, brakes can freeze and you want to have access to free them need be. and not have wheel issues, it s amazing how much will get in there same with grass and leaves on grass strips.
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2014 2:17 pm
by hilltop170
Take them off. No good reason for them in snow, slush, and freezing conditions. Leave the backing plates in place so they quickly go back on next spring.
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 1:57 pm
by n3833v
I always take mine off in winter. 15 min off and then back on in spring. I don't need to have them freeze and do a ground loop.
John
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 1:59 pm
by bagarre
Flying in Maryland, I keep mine on for the most part.
I took them off once when the snow was too deep to taxi out of the grass.
Most everything I land on is paved tho.
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:11 pm
by GAHorn
Ever since I married the right girl I fly with my pants on. (Had to take them off once to wash out the mud, tho'. No. Not that kind of mud. Not those kind of pants.
Last year, on the way to Bardstown we took off on our recently-rained grass strip and packed mud in them. I landed ten minutes later at a nearby airport and borrowed an elect. screwdriver to remove them and wash them out with a water hose. I was worried the mud would dry before the next landing 3 hours away, and prevent wheel rotation. It is a simple matter but I can see how snow/ice might be a concern. That's what the "scraper" is there for.)
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2014 12:26 am
by Joe Moilanen
If you paint them pink and turn them upside-down they also work good for planting flowers in

Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2014 4:06 pm
by flyboy122
cowman57 wrote:It's my first winter with the pants on here in NE Wi.
Hey Cowman,
Whereabouts in NE WI are you? I'm in Oconto and its my first winter with a 170 as well. (And yeah, my wheel pants are staying in the hanger.)
DEM
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:22 am
by GAHorn
Let me say this about pants.... they keep water-puddles from covering up the windshield and slinging muddy water all up under the wings and fuselage...and they keep rocks and dings off the tail.... and that's the primary reason I have 'em and like 'em.
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:07 am
by blueldr
Hey, you guys up there in Wisconsin, if you take the pants off of your airplane in winter, does it take any longer to get the engine warmed up?
Or maybe the lower part of the turn and bank indicator would shrink up and become sluggish.
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 2:49 am
by cessna170bdriver
gahorn wrote:Let me say this about pants.... they keep water-puddles from covering up the windshield and slinging muddy water all up under the wings and fuselage...and they keep rocks and dings off the tail.... and that's the primary reason I have 'em and like 'em.
But they won't keep cow crap off of the windshield; just ask Bob Coats...

Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:32 am
by hilltop170
gahorn wrote:Let me say this about pants.... they keep water-puddles from covering up the windshield and slinging muddy water all up under the wings and fuselage...and they keep rocks and dings off the tail.... and that's the primary reason I have 'em and like 'em.
And we live in Texas! Mine are on all winter too. I wouldn't think of leaving them on if slush or muddy water was anywhere near freezing when I splashed thru it.
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 12:42 pm
by GAHorn
hilltop170 wrote:...And we live in Texas! ....
Hey, Richard! You think we should add spurs to them on the trailing edge?

Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2014 1:28 pm
by cowman57
flyboy122 wrote:cowman57 wrote:It's my first winter with the pants on here in NE Wi.
Hey Cowman,
Whereabouts in NE WI are you? I'm in Oconto and its my first winter with a 170 as well. (And yeah, my wheel pants are staying in the hanger.)
DEM
Clintonville....Not too far away. Do you ever get to any of the Friday dinners at central county 68C, or any of the Wisconsin flying hamburger socials during the summer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMBE2V8HuVA
Re: Wheel pants in winter?
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2014 1:55 am
by hilltop170
gahorn wrote:hilltop170 wrote:...And we live in Texas! ....
Hey, Richard! You think we should add spurs to them on the trailing edge?

You go first, I'm not a cowboy.