REFLECTOR: main gear pivot bolts

[John Dibble]

What hardness are your bolts?  I need to check mine also, but first I want to buy new ones, so I can replace them if needed.

John

Scott Derrick wrote:

> 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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