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Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:47:44 -0400
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From: "Janie & Ed Smith" <2luv2fly@cox.net>
Subject: Retractable Step IV-P
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"I've done it alone many times, several times just trying to figure a way to 
make the "retractable" step actually work, before I finally gave up and 
disconnected the cable and just locked it down."


John,

The retractable step has been quite an "opportunity" for us as well.  They 
certainly didn't put their "best man" on the engineering and design for the 
step.

There are many reasons why the step doesn't work, but the main reason ours 
didn't extend with the gear was because the spring just didn't seem to be 
quite strong enough to overcome the resistance of the aerodynamics under the 
wing.  I felt like the air flow under the wing was a contributor to the step 
staying in the retracted position because every time we put the airplane on 
jacks and cycled the gear - everything worked perfectly!  The step would 
fall down and only take a "nudge" to get it into the locked position.  My 
thoughts were that the wind load would push it to the down & locked 
position, so I concentrated on getting the step to make that initial 
movement to the down position.

I found a company in Norfolk, VA that specializes in custom springs and I 
had them make a spring for me that was about 30% stronger.  Right away, we 
noticed an improvement because the step would extend, but only at about 100 
kts.  Anything above that speed resulted in the step being on the wrong side 
of the gear.  Eventually, after 4 tries of different spring sizes, we now 
have a step that extend @ 140 kts - just about every time.  The only down 
side to all of this is that the custom one-of-a-kind springs cost $40. each. 
Of course, in the whole scheme of things - that is a small cost for the 
convenience of having a step.  Like the A/C that Jeff was talking about - - 
it sure is nice and Janie (better half) likes it, so there "ain't" no 
problem with the cost!!  <grin>  You know the old story about Mamma being 
happy!

Tailwinds,

Ed Smith
N9JE
Chesapeake, VA