McFarlane Aviation Products

Part Number: MC0542102-1

HEAD BEARING, Cessna Shimmy Dampener

Eligibility Notice

Please verify that this product is eligible for your aircraft before adding it to your cart.

Click here to view product eligibility.

Approval	FAA-PMA
Condition	New
Manufacturer	McFarlane Aviation, Inc.
Unit of Measure	Each
Retail Price	$298.70
Your Price	$84.72
Stock Status	In Stock

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Product Details

Original Cessna Shimmy Dampener Components

Save $$ - Repair your fluid dampener

Don't buy a disposable rubber dampener. Save money with replacement PMA parts. McFarlane now has affordable repair parts for the original fluid dampener. Save over $400!

More cost effective than a throwaway unit
Durable one piece design

Improved Shimmy Dampener Shaft
Save more than 50% - Lasts longer!

Perfected chrome finish for improved O-ring life
Durable one piece design

MC0542120-1 Shaft

Head Bearings and Piston
Precision machined direct replacements

MC0542102-1 Head Bearing
(1-5/16" diameter)

MC0542102-3 Head Bearing
(1-3/16" diameter)

MC0842400-3 Piston

Convenient Assemblies and Kits
Quick and easy! We have done the assembly for you

Simplify your repair process
Assembled kits make overhaul more efficient
One part number gives you everything you need

Repair kits include piston assembly and all necessary snap ring(s) and o-ring(s).

Maintenance Tip:
Measure the diameter of the head bearing to determine the correct piston assembly or repair kit. Always replace worn head bearings as they keep the shaft and piston in alignment. Support the shaft well when replacing the piston.

Can You Stop Nose Gear Shimmy? by Dave McFarlane

To repair your fluid dampener, go to Seal and Repair Kits.

For dampener replacement parts, go to Shimmy Dampener Components.

Related Categories

Landing Gear Components >> Shimmy Dampener Parts and Kits >> Original Cessna Shimmy Dampener Components

Eligible Aircraft

Make	Series	Model	Beginning S/N	Ending S/N	Quantity Per Aircraft	Location	Comment	Eligibility Chart
Cessna	150	150	17879	59018	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	150	150A	15059019	15059350	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	150	150B	15059351	15059700	1	SHIMMY DAMPENEER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	150	150C	15059701	15060087	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	150	150D	15060088	15060772	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	150	150E	15060773	15061532	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	150	150F	15061533	15064532	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	150	150G	15064533	15067056	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	150	F150F	F150-0001	F150-0067	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	150	F150G	F150-0068	F150-0219	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	172	46433	46754	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	172A	46755	47746	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	172B	17247747	17248734	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	172C	17248735	17249544	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	172D	17249545	17250572	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	172E	17250573	17251822	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	172F (T-41A)	17251823	17253392	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	172G	17253393	17254892	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	172H (T-41A)	17254893	17256449	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	F172D	F172-0001	F172-0018	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	F172E	F172-0019	F172-0085	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	F172F	F172-0086	F172-0179	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	F172G	F172-0180	F172-0319	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	F172H	F172-0320	F172-0519	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	FP172	FP172-0001	FP172-0003	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	172	P172D	P17257120	P17257188	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	175	175	55896	56238	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	175	175A	56239	56777	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	175	175B	17556778	17557002	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	175	175C	17557003	17557119	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	182	182B	51557	52358	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	182	182C	52359	53007	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	182	182D	18253008	18253598	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001
Cessna	182	182E	18253599	18254143	1	SHIMMY DAMPENER	See Note 1	7001

Eligibility Chart 7001 Notes:

Aircraft Models in this serial range are eligible for McFarlane Head Bearing when equipped with a Fluid Filled Dampener with a 1-5/16" diameter head bearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question
I installed a torque link kit and serviced my shimmy dampener; why do I still have a shimmy problem? There are many components all connected to keep the nose gear in line. If one component is worn or out of tolerance it can cause shimmy problem. Reference Dave McFarlane’s article: Can You Stop Nose Gear Shimmy instructions and suggestions. Overlooked items also include the rod ends, shimmy dampener mounting and attachment, shimmy dampener, and steering collar. The steering collar is where the steering rod tubes connect and the upper torque link is attached to, along with the shimmy dampener on most aircraft. If the steering collar has play vertically and laterally and is allowed to tilt; that will cause excessive wear and force on the torque links, steering, and strut components. There are three different thicknesses of shims to help get the collar in place. Ensure that the shimmy dampener is working properly with no dead spots in dampening action. The cylinder could be worn on the inside or on a piston that warrants replacement of components. All of the nose strut components are tied to each other and any movement is transmitted through to the tire and back through the dampening system, which if remedied will continue to be more pronounced.
What does temperature compensated mean? When hydraulic oil changes temperature, the volume of the oil also changes. This volume change from a temperature reduction will create a vacuum in the oil chamber of the original Cessna uncompensated shimmy dampener. This vacuum will cause the oil to vaporize giving the oil a foamy expanded mixture that is compressible. The shimmy dampener action is then drastically degraded. An increase in temperature will increase the oil volume causing a drastic pressurization of the dampener oil chamber. This pressure will force small quantities of oil past the dampener shaft seals. The decrease in oil will then aggravate any temperature reduction with increased chamber vacuum and related oil vaporization. This process explains why continuous servicing of the original shimmy dampener is required. The temperature compensation system works by having a small chamber of oil that is spring pressurized through a very small passage into the main dampening restrictive orifice of the shimmy dampener. The spring loaded oil chamber can adjust for oil volume changes as temperature changes. A similar system is built into your car shock absorbers. The temperature compensated hydraulic system requires very little service over extended periods of time and assures stable shimmy dampening action.
Why is a hydraulic shimmy dampener better than a rubber dampener? A rubber based dampener is continuously fatiguing the rubber components as it changes direction of motion. The rubber system depends on stable friction of the rubber riding in a metal tube. This is very difficult to achieve over extended usage. There are inherent differences in static friction of rubber and dynamic friction of rubber that affect dampening performance. Long term use changes the performance of the dampener caused by all of these un-repairable factors. The hydraulic system works in a film oil with stable performance for long periods of time and it is totally repairable.