Angier,

 

1. The LEG should be rigid as it can be with its 4 (or 5 if you like) movement points (2 solidly bolted rod ends on the over center over-center link, the 2 leg pivot bearings in the fwd and aft spars plus the link pivot bolt itself). 

2. The wheel should be tight enough on the axle so that a push/flick attempt to rotate it should have it stop before one rotation (i.e. the bearings must be tight against the wheel hub), thus no side movement. 

3. Then there is the leg pivot bolt that the casting rotates on and that should be tight enough to allow fwd/aft rotation, but very little sideways displacement. 

4. That leaves the suspension (TK5's ?) that contributes nothing particularly structural to side loads.

 

So, where is it too loose or is it loose?

 

When the plane sits on its wheels, the stub wing is bearing the fuselage weight and flexes a bit so the wheel is under a load that pushes it outboard.  You would notice this when the plane is first jacked off the floor and the wheels pull inboard a bit.

 

Scott Krueger

 

With N4ZQ on jacks, I have some side play in each main gear and I understand that this is typical. I haven't had an opportunity to measure it yet but plan to do so. Have any of you measured this movement. What would be considered excessive?

Thanks,

Angier Ames
N4ZQ
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