On my 235 (which has the 320 Oleo strut) I have
noticed more than expected wear where the nose gear
over center link connects to the nose strut in only
about 100 hrs or so flying. I do not really like how
the thing was designed as it is raw alum rotating on a
steel bolt. With the nose off the ground you can
wiggle the wheel fore and aft due to the long moment
which will make the problem excelerate as the parts
wear.

I am contemplating a few options.

Option #1 use a steel rod end and tigtening the
through bolt on the strut. That would wear well but am
unsure about over all strength.

Option #2 I have also thought of making a new over
center link (front piece anyway) that has a little
more meat on the mount point and pressing in a
hardened steel bushing or a pre oiled brass one. Or
maybe a brass sleeve with an over sized steel bushing
that could be tightened to the nose strut stopping the
wear in the steel holes in the strut. I believe a much
better part can be made. My friend is an engineer and
Stuart P-51 builder. He is also a wiz with auto cad.
He has completely redesigned the hydraulic system
including machining out new single piece hyd cyls for
his project. They are works of art.

Rumor has it that Bryan Burr was impressed enough with
his work to have him redesign the inner gear door
actuators on his Legacy.
 Anyway, I believe I could get him to scan in the old
part, add a little beef where necessary to accomidate
the bushings and machine out a bunch of them.
Is there any interest in the group for a much better
nose gear over center part or has someone come up with
a better solution already?
Or am I the only one with this issue???

Randy Snarr
Salt Lake City, Utah
235/320


 


 
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sucker-punch spam with award-winning protection.
Try the free Yahoo! Mail Beta.
http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta/features_spam.html