If tire and wheel maintenance is performed within
your command, the command should conduct
appropriate training. The minimum requirements for
the training program should include the following:
QAR supervised tire and wheel assembly
removal and replacement.
QAR supervised wheel bearing cleaning and
lubrication.
QAR administered examinations.
NAVAIR publications familiarization training.
Display of tire and wheel safety posters in the
work centers. (See figure 11-6.)
Documentation of completed training.
INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL WHEEL
MAINTENANCE
One of the responsibilities of an intermediate
maintenance activity (IMA) is to determine wheel
overhaul requirements.
Other IMA responsibilities
include painting, cleaning, inspection (lubrication),
corrosion and physical damage blendout, and wheel
half mismatching.
Painting
When the wheel paint
extent that touch-up is not
has deteriorated to the
feasible, wheels may be
stripped and repainted. Stripping and repainting are
allowed only if the IMA is authorized to paint with
aliphatic polyurethane.
Cleaning
To inspect aircraft wheels for cracks, physical
damage, and corrosion, they must be clean. All dirt,
rubber, and grease deposits must be completely
removed.
Cleaning for appearance sake is not a
requirement. Removing stains is not a necessity.
Many wheels will be discolored after the rubber
deposits have been removed from the tire bead areas.
This discoloration is acceptable, and further cleaning
is not necessary. Often there are discolored areas
around brake keys that are difficult to remove without
damaging the paint.
The following steps describe the wheel cleaning
procedures.
Further information regarding the
cleaning of aircraft wheels can be found in Aircraft
Wheels, NAVAIR 04-10-1.
Clean the wheels as follows:
1. Prepare one tank (solution A) of cleaning
solution consisting of 4 to 9 parts cleaning solvent
(P-D-680) and 1 part solvent emulsion cleaner
(P-C-444).
2. Prepare another tank (solution B) of cleaning
solution consisting of 4 to 9 parts of clean water and 1
part emulsion cleaner (MIL-C-43616).
WARNING
You should use P-D-680 solvent only in
well-ventilated areas. You should also
avoid skin contact by wearing protective
equipment for your eyes and hands.
3. Place the wheel portion to be cleaned on a grill
over solution A, and spray it thoroughly with solution
A to remove all loose grease and soil.
4. Immerse the wheel portion in solution A, and
allow it to soak for 20 minutes.
5. Repeat step 3, and then scrub the tire bead
areas with bristle brushes to remove the rubber
deposits. Do not use wire brushes.
6. Thoroughly dry the wheel with compressed
air.
7. Immerse the wheel portion in solution B, and
allow it to soak for 20 minutes.
8. Place the wheel portion on a grill over solution
B, and spray it thoroughly with solution B. Remove
any remaining soil or grease deposits with liberal
amounts of solution B and bristle brushes.
9. Thoroughly wash the wheel portion with a
high-pressure stream of clean water to remove all
solvents.
Compressed air may be used to dry the
wheel.
Inspection
You should perform a visual inspection of the
wheel for cracks, loose bearing cups, corrosion,
11-6
