REFLECTOR: Main gear leg problems

Fri Jun 20 12:06:56 CDT 2008

Dave:

Look into the boot- peg leg. It works & the idea helps control heat. You are 
not going to change the factory.

Milt

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Philipsen" <velocity at davebiz.com>
To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Friday, June 20, 2008 11:38 AM
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Main gear leg problems

>I just talked with the factory yesterday and I was told that I cannot
> buy any parts unless I am a "customer".  Since I am not the original kit
> builder the only way I can become a "customer" is to pay the $400.  I
> can definitely understand the fee for support but I'm not really in
> agreement with "parts" end of it.  And, I'm sure there's a little bit of
> grey area between the two categories.  Since I am a DIY sort of person,
> it is unlikely that I'll pay the fee unless I get into a real bind as
> far as needing a specific part that I cannot find elsewhere.  I have an
> A&P friend who is building a Cozy and he has been a real help as far as
> maintenance is concerned.  The Cozy people have to build and source
> everything from scratch since it's a plans built airplane.  The Cozy is
> similar enough to the Velocity that, in many cases, I can source or
> fabricate a part in the same manner as they do.
>
> The Reflector has also been very helpful.  I enjoy reading the
> discussions and I learn a lot from them.  Now I just gotta decide what
> I'm gonna do with this gear leg.  I believe that I may be able to fix it
> myself and fabricate some extra support for the leg when I'm done.  So
> far, the idea of some sort of sandwich seems pretty good.  I could use
> some thick aluminum or steel on each side of the leg which would be
> bonded or fastened (or a combination of the two) to the leg to prevent
> further sagging.  I also believe that if the original builder had
> installed a good heat shield I wouldn't be having this problem now.
>
> Dave
>
>
> Brainard, Jerry wrote:
>> That's a bit harsh.  I have not found them to be the money-grubbing sort
>> that you seem to be intimating.  They have been very fair and helpful
>> with me.
>>
>> I must say that I am a bit surprised that one must pay $400 to buy a
>> part.  It was my impression that the fee was for support of anyone but
>> the original buyer.
>>
>> But hey, your mileage may vary
>>
>> Jerry
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
>> Behalf Of Milton Mersky
>> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 8:23 PM
>> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Main gear leg problems
>>
>> Dave Philpsen:
>>
>> We also had to have a metal boot on our 173 RG. It worked fine. No more
>> extra heat to the legs.
>> As far as extra bounty to the factory, this is the attitude and
>> character of
>> those in charge. Get used to it or buy some other kit
>>
>> milt
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Dave Philipsen" <velocity at davebiz.com>
>> To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 6:10 PM
>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Main gear leg problems
>>
>>
>>
>>> Yeah, only problem is that the factory tells me that the booties are
>>> technically made for the RG although some have modified them to fit on
>>> the FG.  A complete new fiberglass ger leg (bow) costs about the same
>>>
>> as
>>
>>> a pair of booties.  In addition to all of that, I will have to pay a
>>> $400 premium because I have not "registered" with the factory as the
>>>
>> new
>>
>>> owner (bought it 2 yrs. ago from the builder).
>>>
>>>
>>> Lou Stedman wrote:
>>>
>>>> I am here to tell you that it is not pleasant when this situation
>>>>
>> causes
>>
>>>> the
>>>> leg to fracture on landing. Mine did and by the time I replaced the
>>>>
>> prop
>>
>>>> and
>>>> removed the engine for inspection, I have spent well over $5000. If
>>>>
>> you
>>
>>>> want
>>>> my two cents, it is buy the booties and fix it now. When the leg
>>>>
>> heats up
>>
>>>> enough to bend, the epoxy that was in the heated area will wick down,
>>>> leaving dry fiberglass. That is exactly what happened to me. You know
>>>>
>> the
>>
>>>> old saying, "you can pay me now or pay me later" pay it now and save
>>>> yourself a lot of time and money.
>>>>
>>>> Lou Stedman
>>>> Velocity N7044Q
>>>> Olean, NY
>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>> From: "Dave Philipsen" <velocity at davebiz.com>
>>>> To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2008 12:56 PM
>>>> Subject: REFLECTOR: Main gear leg problems
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Recently I noticed that at least one of my wheels (haven't looked
>>>>> closely at the other one yet) is cambered out slightly at the
>>>>>
>> bottom.  I
>>
>>>>> believe this is due to excessive heat from the brakes causing the
>>>>>
>> gear
>>
>>>>> leg to soften a bit.  From the heat and the weight of the airplane
>>>>>
>> the
>>
>>>>> gear leg has splayed out slightly at the bottom. I'm not so sure
>>>>>
>> that
>>
>>>>> grinding off part of the axle mating surface on the leg will help
>>>>>
>> that
>>
>>>>> much because I believe that the bolt holes are angled.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have an idea and I just thought I'd throw it out to the group to
>>>>>
>> see
>>
>>>>> what kind of response I get.  What if I were to take the wheel off,
>>>>> remove the axle shaft and re-mount it on the opposite side of the
>>>>>
>> gear
>>
>>>>> leg (pointing inward)?  Then I would allow the full weight of the
>>>>> airplane to rest on the axle shaft which would rest on a block of
>>>>>
>> wood
>>
>>>>> on the floor.  Perhaps I could use a heat gun to heat the bottom of
>>>>>
>> the
>>
>>>>> gear leg and allow it to bend back in the right direction.
>>>>>
>>>>> Is this feasible or would it be more work than it's worth?  I
>>>>>
>> suppose
>>
>>>>> the other alternative would be to buy some aluminum feet as I have
>>>>>
>> heard
>>
>>>>> the factory sells these.
>>>>>
>>>>> -- 
>>>>> Dave Philipsen
>>>>> Velocity STD-FG
>>>>> N83DP
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
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>>
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>>>>
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>>> -- 
>>> Dave Philipsen
>>> Velocity STD-FG
>>> N83DP
>>>
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>>
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>
> -- 
> Dave Philipsen
> Velocity STD-FG
> N83DP
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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> 