REFLECTOR: main gear pivot bolts

[Scott Derrick]

I pulled my main gear off yesterday and was disappointed that the 1/2" 
pivot bolts were slightly bent.  I only have a couple hundred hours on 
this set of  bolts and I don't think I'm that bad of a pilot when it 
comes to landing the thing.  Maybe its all a matter of perspective 
though. :-)

The bolts weren't bent a whole lot, and came out with light persuasion 
from a rubber mallet, but they are bent enough that I don't want to 
re-use them. The gear also retracted fine prior to removal which is my 
usual test to verify all is well as the clearance is fairly close for 
the legs and wheels up in the wings. A leg with a really bent bolt won't 
retract or will bind somewhere, ask me how I know!

I realize a redesign of this part of the system would be a lot of work, 
but every A&P that I have shown this pivot bolt system too has not liked 
it. Its a lot of bending forces on a long bolt that is not supported in 
the middle very well. Maybe the fix is to use a thicker sleeve in the 
leg to provide more support in the middle which is where the bolt always 
bends? Or possibly a better(stiffer) alloy steel for the sleeve?

Anybody else with hundreds of hours on there V that has had to R&R the 
main gear experience what I am?   Bolts always just a little bent?

Scott

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