Dan,

I tried to slow my nose gear down by putting in an orifice in the down hydraulic line going to the nose gear cylinder. I tried sizes down to 0.040 in. I didn't try anything smaller, because I was worried about a potential clog developing, since the system is unfiltered. But with 0.040, the gear still hits the door on my plane. To prevent the scratches, I made a stainless plate -- scraps from the firewall material -- which attaches at the hinge screw line and is just big enough to cover the area where the scraping occurs. (Both sides of my door cylinder are connected. The door opens faster this way, but still not fast enough.)



Mike Reinath
N3602M at 380 hrs.