From: RWolf99@aol.com
Message-ID: <20.a2e494f.26cb8cc1@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 02:20:49 EDT
Subject: Bent Nose Strut Rods
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

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I sent my nose strut back to Lancair three years ago to fix a slow oil leak 
that had been in evidence since shortly after I got the thing in 1994.  They 
told me that I had a bent rod, too.  (The strut, I mean...)  However, I had 
just trailered the kit 2200 miles on a not-so-well padded snowmobile trailer, 
just sitting on the gear atop the trailer, so the strut took a beating, I'm 
sure.

I have worried a little about trailering the thing, if the first trip "caused 
a bent rod".  Now, I'm not so sure the rod wasn't bent from the beginning.  I 
don't care about the cost for the repair -- it was about what I expected -- 
but I'm concerned about the survivability when trailered for 1000 miles.  
Let's see, if you roll on the ground for 2 miles each flight (half mile to 
the runway, half mile down the runway, and the same amount on the way back) 
that 1000 mile trailer ride is equivalent to 500 flights.  At 1.5 hours per 
flight that's like 750 hours of flying time applied to the aircraft 
suspension on a two-day trailer ride....

Comments?  Anyone else who has not yet flown had a bent rod?

By the way, if you need to borrow a Lancair trailer, let me know.  
Irrespective of concerns about the suspension, it really works well.  It has 
been towed behind both a Honda Civic CRX and a Mazda Miata.

- Rob Wolf
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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.
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