REFLECTOR: FG nose gear play

[Velocity]

I had to -
remove the canard,
remove the keel cover
remove the gear bolt
remove the U-Bolt (strap)
remove the aluminum captivator plate
drop the nose gear to gain access to the rubber shock
remove the rubber shock and make a spacer to take up the void created by the
deformed (non-hardened steel) outer plate in the rubber shock
 
Then comes the fun part - when you put the shock back in (with the spacer) -
you have to somehow get the aluminum captivator plate to perfectly fit
against the gear leg again (which may not be in exactly the same resting
position as when you started - just a millimeter difference makes a
difference). I was standing on the canard bulkhead (to put weight against
the revised rubber shock) while fitting the aluminum captivator plate into
position - try picturing that! - it's a good thing I'm flexible. OR you may
need to re-do the aluminum captivator plate or L-brackets that position it.
 
I did not have to take out my instrument panel - but just working inside the
narrow keel is a bear. This is not something you want to do 3 times within 4
years like I had to.
 
I really think Velocity should come forth with a better design - I'm not the
only one with fore and aft play in the nose gear.
 
Kevin

  _____  

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Hiroo Umeno
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 2:23 PM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: FG nose gear play



How did you “repair” the shock?

 

I am not sure about yours but mine was installed while the top half of the
fuselage was still OFF.  The gear leg was installed from above with the fork
off and to do that, I will probably need to remove the canard, instrument
panel, radios, brake assembly, the control yoke systems, etc and cut off the
top of fuselage forward of windshield to the canard dog-house.  Talk about
major work!

 

Hiroo

  _____  

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Velocity
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 2:00 PM
To: 'Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list'
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: FG nose gear play

 

Hiroo,

 

I have had issues with the nose gear rubber shock deforming (even from the
plane sitting on the ground during building for 2 years). In the last 3
years I have either added spacers to take up the void created by the
deformed rubber shock or totally replaced it to eliminate fore and aft
movement of the nose gear leg.  I was getting shimmy of the nose gear when
there was too much play.  Even after a few landings with a new rubber shock
(not hard landings), I noticed some play return in the nose gear (fore and
aft) and with each additional landing it will only get worse.

 

I also found this issue with some other FG owners (newly completed aircraft
with just a few landings).

 

The rubber shock that Velocity has been supplying with the kit is no longer
available (it was an automotive part available through NAPA, Carquest, etc).
I spoke with Scott Swing about this issue a few months ago and recommended
that it is a good time to re-design the entire nose gear shock situation as
repeated repairs to this area is time consuming.

 

Waiting to hear back from Velocity on a re-design - putting in a new rubber
shock, should you find one, will only be a temporary solution - in my
opinion.

 

Regards,

 

Kevin

Scottsdale, AZ

 

  _____  

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Hiroo Umeno
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 1:27 PM
To: reflector at tvbf.org
Subject: REFLECTOR: FG nose gear play

For a Std FG aircraft (SUV) how much play is normal for the nose gear strut?
My nose gear has a bit of play both fore-aft and left-right. It is not much.
Perhaps it moves about 1” fore – aft and ½” left – right at the nose wheel
fork attach point with the nose lifted and pushed by hand at the bottom.
Given the way the whole assembly is mounted (at the pivot point up-top and
captivator plate and rubber shock against the bulkhead) I am guessing that
some amount of movement is normal. The lateral movement, however concerned
me a bit and I checked the knurled bushing that is potted into the keel and
that part is not moving at all.

 

Should I be concerned about this?

 

Hiroo

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/private/reflector/attachments/20070313/9f4afc54/attachment-0001.html