REFLECTOR: slow nose gear down indicator

Wed Feb 20 10:33:30 CST 2013

I don't see how, the wind pushes it fully open?

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: slow nose gear down indicator
From: John Dibble <aminetech at bluefrog.com>
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
Date: 02/20/2013 09:25 AM

> Yes.  As the gear goes over center, the gear leg moves forward (retract
> direction).  The wind pushes the leg back toward the "neutral" point.
> The Hydraulics will hold the gear in the over center position.  However
> a strong spring will move it a tiny bit further.  Adjusting the
> microswitch may do the trick.
>
> John
>
> On 2/20/2013 8:53 AM, Scott Derrick wrote:
>> Whats odd is it always go quickly green doing a gear test on jacks, by
>> releasing the the valve or using the hydraulic pump.
>>
>> So maybe the wind pushing on the gear is doing something?
>>
>> Scott
>>
>> -------- Original Message --------
>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: slow nose gear down indicator
>> From: Richard J. Gentil <richard at naples-air-center.com>
>> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
>> Date: 02/20/2013 07:23 AM
>>
>>> Scott,
>>>
>>> The gas strut is supposed to help the nose gear go over center during
>>> free fall.
>>>
>>> Richard
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone 5
>>>
>>> On Feb 20, 2013, at 9:11 AM, Scott Derrick <scott at tnstaafl.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>     I checked the micro switch a while back and it is mounted solid
>>>> and looks like it works as designed.
>>>>
>>>>     I will do a thorough inspection of the mechanism, I do every
>>>> annual and its coming up very soon.
>>>>
>>>>     So maybe I don't understand what the gas strut is for?  I
>>>> thought the hydraulic ram pushed the gear strut to full extension
>>>> but then the gas strut pushed the locking mechanism over center so
>>>> so you are not relying on hydraulic pressure to keep the nose gear
>>>> in the down position when the electric pump is not powered up and
>>>> the pressure eventually leaks down internally.
>>>>
>>>>     What does the gas strut do?
>>>>
>>>> Scott
>>>>
>>>> -------- Original Message --------
>>>> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: slow nose gear down indicator
>>>> From: Scott Baker <scottb33333 at gmail.com>
>>>> To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
>>>> Date: 02/20/2013 05:43 AM
>>>>
>>>>> On 2/19/2013 7:38 PM, Scott Derrick wrote:
>>>>>> Lately my nose gear down(green) light has take longer and longer to
>>>>>> light up.   The main green lights up, the gear motor stops, 10-15
>>>>>> seconds later I finally get a nose gear green. Actually today it took
>>>>>> maybe 25 seconds before the nose green lit up.  I was starting to
>>>>>> wonder.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think my gas strut is getting old,  97 model strut. Maybe it just
>>>>>> doesn't have the umphh to push it over center?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anybody see this type of behavior?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Scott
>>>>> Hi Scott,
>>>>>
>>>>> First check the nose gear down micro switch and its mount to
>>>>> confirm the
>>>>> switch is functioning as it should and the micro switch mount is
>>>>> solid.
>>>>>
>>>>> Something other than the gas spring is the culprit.  If the nose gear
>>>>> linkage is rigged as it should, the hydraulic ram (by virtue of
>>>>> extending itself to its most outward travel) should push the
>>>>> linkage to
>>>>> its over-center position.  As you know, when the ram reaches its
>>>>> furthermost travel, hydraulic pressure builds and ultimately turns the
>>>>> pump off when the 'gear down' hydraulic pressure switch reaches its
>>>>> set
>>>>> pressure (about 550psi).  When this happens, the ram should not be
>>>>> capable of any further travel.  This is a long winded way of saying
>>>>> that
>>>>> the strength of gas strut has no bearing on the travel of the nose
>>>>> gear
>>>>> linkage.
>>>>>
>>>>> Check the travel limits of the nose gear ram to make sure that it is
>>>>> providing full travel and the gear linkage is over-center when the ram
>>>>> reaches its furthermost travel.  Possible problem areas include loose
>>>>> mounting screws at the base of the nose gear cylinder; ram rod end
>>>>> bearing turning (though not likely); some sort of blockage inside the
>>>>> ram that is limiting its full travel; or major slop in the nose gear
>>>>> linkage pivot bolt bearing/bent bolt.
>>>>>
>>>>> Best,
>>>>> Scott B.
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>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the
>>>> understanding which bringeth peace.
>>>> Helen Keller
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>>>
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>>
>
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