REFLECTOR: Shimmy and Nose Gear Pivot Bushings

[Ron Brown]

I discovered how destructive nose wheel shimmy can be.

On a half dozen or so occassions, I have had nose wheel shimmy after 
landing.  The last time, I smelled hot epoxy.  After shut down I did some 
investigating and found that the right side pivot bushing had worked loose 
from its mounting in the keel. It had worn the hole into an egg shape with 
most of the wear toward the lower front of the bushing mounting.

I have epoxied a new bushing into place using the Aeropoxy structural 
adhesive.

>From now on, I am going to keep my bellville washers clean and tighter to 
minimize - or rather prevent nose wheel shimmy.  (sure makes steering 
tougher - especially on take off)

Has anybody else had this problem?  I am guessing there is a problem in that 
there is a new and improved mounting for these bushings.

Do I also need to go ahead and plan to replace these with the new bushings 
and plates that are shown in the latest on-line plans?

Ronnie
173 Elite RG



 (173 Elite RG).