Charlie Kohler
<charliekohler@yahoo.com> wrote:> How quickly we forget! I think every student of Charlie's has been told
>this-- and
it's been demonstrated to many. I use the engine hoist rings and
>put the nose about 3 inches in the air. For redundancy, weight on the
tail is
>good.
>
> Then, Like Jack, whatever method you defeat the landing gear safety switch
>solenoid (by pulling
the pin/spring down) or lightly blowing into the
>pitot tube with the master switch on will work and then raise the gear handle
>to
the neutral position. --- Now you're ready for the exercise. If you are
>checking the nose strut gas spring then pull the gear handle
up/bleed off
>hydraulic pressure with flaps / put the gear handle down --looking for a
>swift nose gear down and locked action. You
must move quickly or the nose
>gear will come out on its own. OR check gear up (doors) (tunnel clearance)
>(strut clearance on
fire dam) etc. etc.
>
> Charlie K.
>
> See me on the web at
> http://www.lancair-iv.com/
[one other thing... if you install a small pushbutton in parallel with the speed
switch that releases the gear actuator lever you can use it to manually pull that solenoid up, allowing you to move the gear switch. On Ted
Noel's airplane we located the over-ride button all the way at the bottom of the CF panel that covers the gear/flap switch, totally out of the way and
inconspicuous, If you're worried about accidentally pushing it you can build it into a little recess and put a door over it, however, if you
choose the right location that's not really necessary. ANyway, it works well and simplifies the testing/inspection process. <marv>
]
>
>
>From: Jack Morgan <jmorgan1023@comcast.net>
> To: lml@lancaironline.net
> Sent: Wednesday, June
12, 2013 9:35 AM
> Subject: [LML] nose gear check
>
>
>
> Hi Ralf,
>
>
> I have done this and
see no problem. I hang a "box of rocks" (Lancair part
>number 120099008-00-a.... just kidding) from the tail tie down. Just add
>large rocks until the airplane sits back on the box (over 100 lbs of rocks).
>I then have a friend blow gently into the pitot to
release the gear lever and
>move it part way. Turn the master or pull the pump breaker and move the gear
>lever to full down if you have
the standard hydraulic reservoir. There is not
>enough capacity with the standard reservoir to put significant pressure on
>the main
cylinders. You can cycle the nose gear up and down without moving
>the gear lever all the way up to lock it. I suggest using the master to
>control the hydraulic pump since repeated cycling of the pump breaker will
>eventually fail it.
>
> If you have the large
reservoir, discharge it by moving the gear lever
>partially up and down until it is depleted and then use the pump as above.
>
>
With the weight of the rocks and the airplane there is considerable weight
>on the mains. I believe this set up is preferable to lifting the
nose as it
>gives extra insurance that the mains can't move. I have never let the full
>hydraulic pressure come up so don't know if the
mains can actually lift the
>airplane and collapse. Perhaps others have experience here and can comment.
>It is easy to partially
retract the nose by cycling the master and therefore
>the pump. You can then manually move the nose gear up to check the door
>clearance
and closure. Release one door so you can see what is going on with
>the other door when moving the wheel up into the tunnel.
>
>
Hope this helps.
>
> Jack Morgan
>
>
>
> On Jun 12, 2013, at 6:00 AM, Lancair Mailing List wrote:
>
>From: <bronnenmeier@GROBSYSTEMS.COM>
>>
>>Subject: Nose gear check 4P
>>
>>Date: June
11, 2013 10:30:07 AM EDT
>>
>>To: lml@lancaironline.net
>>
>>
>>Dear
subscribers,
>>
>>A friend took a picture of the belly of my airplane in flight with the
>>gear up. It looked to me that
the nose gear door was not completely
>>closed. I had that issue before on the ground before and adjusting the
>>threaded rods fixed
it.
>>
>>I am reluctant of putting the airplane on jacks and do a complete gear
>>check because my jack up equipment is not
perfect and it is a major
>>undertaking to get the airplane that high.
>>
>>Someone told me (unfortunately I don't remember
who) that I can leave
>>the plane on the main gear and just use a hoist with ropes around the
>>prop and lift the nose gear of the
ground and then move the gear switch
>>up (after unlocking it).
>>
>>The hydraulic pressure is not high enough to move the
mains but it will
>>move the nose gear. Is this an ok procedure to use? Do I need to remove
>>the spinner if I wrap a rope around
the 2 blades of my 3 blade prop?
>>
>>Thanks for your input
>>
>>Ralf
>>