B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Confusion; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance
General Maintenance Action; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure; Manuals; Logbook Entry; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part
With this report; I am trying to find an answer to my questions that have gone unanswered regarding the concern I have with the use of the B737-Max nose landing gear wheel onto the B737-NG. The IPC (Illustrated Parts Catalog) says you can use 737-Max Nose Wheel XXXXXXXXX on the 737-NG; they are interchangeable but once this MAX wheel is installed; it does not turn freely like the other wheels. Something seems wrong. After removing the wheel to inspect why it wouldn't spin; I inspected the wheel bearings from the MAX wheel and found out that the MAX wheel uses an outer bearing that is not listed on the 737-NG IPC. Part Number XXXA-XXXXX. Can you use a wheel that is listed on the IPC; but the wheel bearing is not? The MAX IPC does not break down the nose wheel assembly like the 737-NG IPC does. Maybe I missed something? So; my concern is that the wheel does not spin freely and the outer bearing is not listed on the 737-NG IPC. I see the 737-NG flying with the 737-MAX nose wheel. But I have refused to install this wheel until I can get an answer to my question. Part number of the MAX wheel bearing should be listed in the 737-NG IPC737-NG IPC-XX-YY-ZZ-AB737-MAX IPC-XX-YY-ZZ-BA
Technician reported confusion over effectivity and interchangability of B737NG and B737MAX nose wheel assemblies and refused to install a wheel assembly on an aircraft until determination could be made.