REFLECTOR: Belleville washers

Sat Jul 4 19:21:27 CDT 2009

Terry,

I'm going to a castle nut and cotter key in lieu of the nylon nut.  I  
had significant shimmy on a landing in April and broke the strut at  
the bottom of the "taco" weld.  The incident caused a hole in my  
fuselage, one in the wing and ground down my nose substantially.  The  
nut came loose after three flights.  I'd recommend checking it before  
every flight.

Further investigation found the strut had not been heat treated after  
welding the gussets (tacos) on.  Rockwell hardness around the weld  
joints was 57 on the "C" scale.  The rest of the strut was 42!  I  
understand a 57 hardness on 4130 steel is "glass brittle".  You may  
want to check the heat treat of your strut near the welds.

I understand, if you always have good landings and experience very  
little shimmy, an improperly stress relieved NLG strut will probably  
be ok.

John

On Jun 20, 2009, at 3:50 AM, Terry Miles wrote:

> John,
>
> Thanks so much for volunteering that.  I recall that they went in  
> originally smooth, primed and un-lubed.  The problem I have is  
> adjusting the big nyloc to setting that is neither too loose nor  
> too tight.  A bit of grease seems to increase the torque range  
> tolerance.   The prime coat of paint is long since rubbed off and I  
> thought the rust was part of my culprit.
>
>
>
> If I were to say, it is steering problems I have and not so much  
> shimmy problems.  I have an XLRG.  The only shimmy I see in when on  
> the brakes in the latter half of the roll out, and then only when  
> there is more wgt on the nose wheel from having someone in the  
> right seat.  I am tempted now to take my 1/7/8 (or whatever size it  
> is) end wrench over to the local welding shop and have then make a  
> 1/2 fitting on it to fit my torque wrench.  The fish-scale-as-tq- 
> wrench method is not working for me…and the end of wrench is so fat  
> I can only get a few degrees of bolt rotation at a time before it  
> hit the forks.
>
>
>
> So people know, there are several different nose leg assemblies in  
> the field with differing washer count.  Were I to add a nylon  
> washer and not remove any steel washers, it would have to be in the  
> thinner side.  As it is, I barely have 3 threads showing.
>
> Terry
>
>
>
> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector- 
> bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of John Youngblood
> Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 18:18
> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Belleville washers
>
>
>
> Terry,  The idea of Belleville washers is to develop turning  
> friction to subdue shimmy.  You may want to wipe off the grease in  
> order for the washers to transfer torque.
>
>
>
> John
>
> On Jun 19, 2009, at 2:04 PM, Terry Miles wrote:
>
>
>
> Jeff
>
> Whatever you got.  1/16th or so?  This is out of sequence some, but  
> I have been removing, polishing off corosion, regreasing (just  
> stock marine grease) and adjusting the tq to my bellvues on about a  
> quarterly basis.  If you have a better mousetrap I'd be interested  
> that's all.
>
> Terry
>
>
>
> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector- 
> bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Howell
> Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:24
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Belleville washers
>
>
>
> I may still have a few made I will have to check. I made them in  
> different thicknesses. what thickness are you looking for? Jeff
>
>
> From: terrence_miles at hotmail.com
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:31:12 -0500
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Belleville washers
>
> Jeff,
>
> Could I talk you into making a set for me?  I'd gladly trade for  
> free banjo lessons or $5 or whatever plus shipping.
>
> Terry Miles
>
> From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector- 
> bounces at tvbf.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Howell
> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 17:29
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Belleville washers
>
>
>
> I ordered some 2 1/2" round stock on line and opened up a hole to  
> the right dia. using a lathe. It works great.
>
>
> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:19:50 -0700
> From: ajlz72756 at yahoo.com
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Belleville washers
>
> Where did you get the nylon sheet stock that you made the washers  
> from and how many did you use?
>
>
>
> Andy Ellzey
>
>
>
> From: Jeff Howell <jeffreyhowell at hotmail.com>
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Sent: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 2:07:49 PM
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Belleville washers
>
> I found that a combo of a home made nylon washer and a nose wheel  
> lock makes a great addation to any velocity. no nose wheel shimmy  
> and awsome steering (taxi) on the ground...Jeff
>
>
> From: johnt at comp-sol.com
> To: reflector at tvbf.org
> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:25:25 -0500
> Subject: REFLECTOR: Belleville washers
>
> I have the 'thin' belleville washers (with spacer) - and plan on  
> purchasing a new washer kit from the factory, but I thought someone  
> had successfully been using SS washers - and had suggested McMaster  
> as a source...?
>
>
>
> John
>
>
>
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