X-Virus-Scanned: clean according to Sophos on Logan.com Return-Path: Sender: To: lml@lancaironline.net Date: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 13:34:56 -0400 Message-ID: X-Original-Return-Path: Received: from nm11-vm6.bullet.mail.ne1.yahoo.com ([98.138.91.104] verified) by logan.com (CommuniGate Pro SMTP 6.0.5) with ESMTPS id 6393363 for lml@lancaironline.net; Sat, 27 Jul 2013 12:43:17 -0400 Received-SPF: none receiver=logan.com; client-ip=98.138.91.104; envelope-from=chris_zavatson@yahoo.com Received: from [98.138.101.132] by nm11.bullet.mail.ne1.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 27 Jul 2013 16:42:41 -0000 Received: from [98.138.226.58] by tm20.bullet.mail.ne1.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 27 Jul 2013 16:42:41 -0000 Received: from [127.0.0.1] by smtp209.mail.ne1.yahoo.com with NNFMP; 27 Jul 2013 16:42:41 -0000 X-Yahoo-Newman-Id: 517948.64299.bm@smtp209.mail.ne1.yahoo.com X-Yahoo-Newman-Property: ymail-3 X-YMail-OSG: 6mZaJBQVM1lYDFm.xIuww9zXbRrSD8O7xqvoQ50YfS6mcZO 02LeckxyJvN6CQksF26q6P6sC4940o.Uiu6TxSm_yJAzBVjt6gjJS9pYqWOy hTgTdjZRK43IVsgCBJI3407rMBiwfRbsDcaVkJNvVqRtfczg.vtVdNVwJfEn azUnrYdu4RHmpEEx.4fUiLOmYrJeV2xi2SuedDbLp36oO3bJS3EP7JUCmln_ 6NA5g15bIYi_Sb5lkIAwUmIvb_IZertkID.gJ5X0wW2hBYBF4cnx2kNZNbYl ubYKrYysWPoEbFu8hfFboQl4Nv3siJ8A38xucD.xfcfELUQGpu80oyGP15eX d1yFTPE4c00LRd9NLYhixDQtSgoQpPSzWY9Lxt377Mmzysa7hvp.ofLbkn1G tYKUxVb4_xUACHMZeF2ONk7ZZFJk8rKazNA1097ajTrCH725NGL5LD_bk9ng zKzmhqQT323Fecv0pAr5Om8b8oHmPb1HD9zjr8rFLFmmWiFiYNX_Co_f7H5A YJwt64F6PgeLdLQmlE._q8Ia.tni.PnjfT08ApHzeVQWErHZtv7og5Iw_wGP xa9cfQaJFRG0wKdlaWxhVI38JB1zA26c- X-Yahoo-SMTP: 076hgjCswBC.G6e0vm7vgvZ9JJ0zmeBo_Oyw X-Rocket-Received: from [10.167.127.74] (chris_zavatson@166.137.186.61 with ) by smtp209.mail.ne1.yahoo.com with SMTP; 27 Jul 2013 16:42:41 +0000 UTC Subject: Re: [LML] L360 Over centre springs References: From: Chris Zavatston Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=Apple-Mail-E41E34E6-7E61-4349-B8E9-68A075E10DA6 X-Mailer: iPhone Mail (9A405) In-Reply-To: X-Original-Message-Id: <84EFF2AE-B481-498C-9653-60020B5B6DD9@yahoo.com> X-Original-Date: Sat, 27 Jul 2013 09:42:35 -0700 X-Original-To: Lancair Mailing List Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 (1.0) --Apple-Mail-E41E34E6-7E61-4349-B8E9-68A075E10DA6 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Rob, Let Lancair know about the replacement springs going soft. I am still using my original rat-trap springs after 15 years (1,400 hrs) of f= lying. They work great. Springs are not rocket science, but it sounds like= you've rein into an inventory or manufacturing issue. =20 The rat trap spring was a great design improvement. Once you get your hands on a good set, you'll be set for life. Chris Zavatson N91CZ 360std www.N91CZ.net Sent from my spiffy iPhone On Jul 27, 2013, at 9:12 AM, "Stevens Family" wro= te: > Another query for those who have, or have built the L320 or 360, > =20 > I purchase a partly built L360 kit some years ago, which I am still in the= process of building. It came with the original undercarriage. I decided to u= pgrade to the outback gear early in my build process, and installed it some y= ears ago. After a couple of years, I discovered that the Rat Trap springs we= re not maintaining their tension when the gear was in the retracted position= , and on occasions, when I extended the gear (which I do by hand as the airc= raft is upside down in the jig) the hook would disengage from the over centr= e link. Upon enquiry with Lancair, I was advised that they had had a bad bat= ch of springs, so they subsequently replaced them, free of charge. The repla= cements are shown on the order as being =E2=80=9C Item 1441=E2=80=9D and =E2= =80=9CSEQ U10B=E2=80=9D. That was in early 2009. With the new springs, all s= eemed in order. > =20 > Today I was again working in the wheel well, and discovered that once agai= n these springs had lost tension and were not remaining engaged when the gea= r was in the retracted position. I have scanned the LML archives and notice a= number of others have had similar problems. One poster had only been saved b= ecause he had installed both the Rat Trap springs, and the =E2=80=9Cscreen d= oor=E2=80=9D springs. Others had had Rat Trap springs break. All of this has= severely shaken my faith in them, as there is no back up if they mal functi= on. > =20 > My options from here appear to be to either try another pair of Rat Trap s= prings, or install the original screen door springs, or perhaps install both= . However the screen door springs which came with the original kit are too l= ong for the outback undercarriage, as the distance between the hinge bolt of= the over centre link, where they attach at one end, and the undercarriage p= ivot bolt where they attach at the other end, is about 60mm (2 3/8=E2=80=9D)= shorter on the outback gear. > =20 > Has anyone else had problems with later Rat Trap springs in recent years s= ince the original problem ones? > Has anyone out there used screen door springs with the outback gear? If so= , what specifications are the springs? > =20 > Thanks in anticipation. > =20 > Rob Stevens, > Perth, Western Australia. > =20 --Apple-Mail-E41E34E6-7E61-4349-B8E9-68A075E10DA6 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8
Rob,
Let Lancair= know about the replacement springs going soft.
I am still using m= y original rat-trap springs after 15 years (1,400 hrs) of flying.  They= work great.  Springs are not rocket science, but it sounds like you've= rein into an inventory or manufacturing issue.  
The rat tra= p spring was a great design improvement.
Once you get your hands o= n a good set, you'll be set for life.

Chris Zavatso= n
N91CZ
360std
www.N91CZ.net

Sent from my spiffy iPhone

On Jul 2= 7, 2013, at 9:12 AM, "Stevens Family" <stevens5@swiftdsl.com.au> wrote:

Another query for those who have, or have built the L320 or 360,

 

I purchase a partly built L360 kit some years ago, which I am still in th= e process of building. It came with the original undercarriage. I decided to= upgrade to the outback gear early in my build process, and installed it som= e years ago. After a couple of years, I discovered that the Rat Trap springs= were not maintaining their tension when the gear was in the retracted posit= ion, and on occasions, when I extended the gear (which I do by hand as the a= ircraft is upside down in the jig) the hook would disengage from the over ce= ntre link. Upon enquiry with Lancair, I was advised that they had had a bad b= atch of springs, so they subsequently replaced them, free of charge. The rep= lacements are shown on the order as being =E2=80=9C Item 1441=E2=80=9D and =E2= =80=9CSEQ U10B=E2=80=9D. That was in early 2009. With the new springs, all s= eemed in order.

 

Today I was again working in the wheel well, and discov= ered that once again these springs had lost tension and were not remaining e= ngaged when the gear was in the retracted position. I have scanned the LML a= rchives and notice a number of others have had similar problems. One poster h= ad only been saved because he had installed both the Rat Trap springs, and t= he =E2=80=9Cscreen door=E2=80=9D springs. Others had had Rat Trap springs br= eak. All of this has severely shaken my faith in them, as there is no back u= p if they mal function.

 

My options from here appear to be to either try= another pair of Rat Trap springs, or install the original screen door sprin= gs, or perhaps install both. However the screen door springs which came with= the original kit are too long for the outback undercarriage, as the distanc= e between the hinge bolt of the over centre link, where they attach at one e= nd,  and the undercarriage pivot bolt where they attach at the other en= d, is about 60mm (2 3/8=E2=80=9D) shorter on the outback gear.

 

Has anyo= ne else had problems with later Rat Trap springs in recent years since the o= riginal problem ones?

Has anyone out th= ere used screen door springs with the outback gear? If so, what specificatio= ns are the springs?

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

Rob Stevens,

Perth, Western Australia.

 

= --Apple-Mail-E41E34E6-7E61-4349-B8E9-68A075E10DA6--