Nose Gear Links IV

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From: by way of Marvin Kaye <marvkaye [at] olsusa.com> <N295VV [at] aol.com>
Subject: Re: Nose Gear Links IV
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 10:40:59 -0400
To: <lancair.list [at] olsusa.com>

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Yes, replace the links.  I flew it yesterday, and I noticed more nose

stability on my landing.  One of the old links was definitely bent-slightly,

but bent.  I think i did it on a hard turn off on to a taxiway, and not on a

landing.  I refuse to do quick turnoffs now--let the plane behind me do a go-

around--it is my runway to use, and I am not going to damage it (I also cupped

the nose wheel as I went thru the turn off).



Caveat--after replacing the links, inspect the attachment plates on the yoke

for cracking on each pre-flight inspection.  If the stress is simply being

transferred now, they will probably be the next thing to be damaged.  That

gear leg has a very long moment, and the forces are tremendous with the

leverage.   I did notice quite a bit of bolt hole elongation, and I may

replace the AN4 bolts with AN5 in the future.  It would require reaming the

holes--not a tough job at all.



I also noticed quite a lot of wear on the AN5- bolt on the gear.  I greased

hell out of the new one, but the old one seemed quite lubricated, and the wear

must be stress wear.



One more thing--every so often, put the plane on jacks, bleed off the

hydraulic pressure, and hand-push the yoke upward to release the front gear so

it will swing.  If the gas-strut isn't really hard to push upward,  replace it

immediately!  I am planning on replacing mine every 300 hours as a maintence

item--if it loses pressure, you lose the gear and the engine.  A $30

replacement now and then is a cheap investment.



Best regards, David Jones