I am currently carrying out deep winter maintenence on the fleet ready for 2014 flying season . I currently have 6 Smooth stops, all some years old. 3 work great, (Phantom, Sabre, BobCat) always have. 1 has been intermittent, (original BobCat) fully serviceable now after O ring change and lube.

2 others (spares) have me beaten. Despite O ring changes and lube and set up exactly as per instructions, they STILL leak badly. I have even tried changing the piston assembly to the latest, long, type but still they leak. These things are hardly complex devices so can anyone shed any light on the problem ?

I am not the only one in the UK with this problem, several flying colleagues have ditched them, being too unreliable.

Yes, I know there are two obvious answers (bin them, ship to BVM) but I would like to try and fix the problem first, and perhaps help my colleagues who have given up with them !

Anyone know the secrets ?

David Gladwin.