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Chris,
I'll make that 4 cents - Mark's 2 + my 2. What does Velocity
indicate for checking toe-in/toe-out?
Terry
N51079
KSCK
On 1/24/2014 9:36 AM, Mark Steitle wrote:
Chris,
My 2 cents worth... This sounds more line a toe-in /toe-out
situation. While it may be perfect while in a static state, it
could go to a toe-out condition due to gear flex under hard
braking. Camber doesn't typically cause rapid tire wear, but
toe-in / toe-out will.
Mark
Sent from my iPad
Well,
on one hand I am pleased that when I did a quick loop of
the pattern after I got off work this morning (I just
switched to graveyard shift this week so get off work at
0700 hrs) my rotary ran smooth and strong and seemed to be
producing pretty kick ass power.
HOWEVER, when I landed, I had my
starboard tire blow out. Yes, it is quite the attention
getter. I swayed slightly to the right of center of the
runway at LVJ and luckily exited the taxiway closest to my
hangar.
I was able to get it back to the
hangar. No damage to the aircraft this time, not even the
tire rim. But, I noted I had excessive wear on the inside
of the tire.....much more than i would have expected with
only 15 landings and less than seven hours of flight. I
have done extensive taxi testing though (basically having
and expensive go-cart)
I had noted on my conditional
inspection that I had uneven wear but it did not seem that
bad and I pledged to mind it. I concluded that the uneven
wear on the inner tire was due to the gear spread that I
had noticed on my and other canards (my hangar mate has a
long easy and he is always lifting his bird to get the
gear from spreading after taxi).
Velocity is pretty specific on how to
set the camber and recommend you set the camber after
installing the engine and wings, which I did.
When the gear is not spread, the
tires set directly in the center "meat" of the tire.
However, I have now noted...with the consequences, that as
the gear spreads, there is a significant tilt to the inner
edge of the tires thus causing the wear.
The gear bow is provided in the
Velocity kit and it quite sturdy. What am I missing
regarding the bow spread tilting the tire to the inside of
the tire, thus wearing in what would seem a less wear
prone area? I am certain the camber was proper when the
gear is not spreading out. I remember how tedious it was
setting it, lowering the plane, checking, lifting,
setting, lowering, checking repeat a number of times to
ensure the proper set (same goes to the toe-in process),
but it is significant enough from the spread to roll the
tire on the inner edge to cause a problem.
Before I drop a few hundred on new
tire and tube and try to fly again, I would like to figure
out what I need to address. Is it just to re-set the
camber to be on the center meat of the tire when spread
since this seems to be the case when taxiing or is there
something else?
Insight guys???? Discuss.
Thanks,
Chris
cross posted to
the canard aviation forum and the Velocity list as I
know this is outside the scope of this list.
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