REFLECTOR: slow nose gear down indicator

Wed Feb 20 14:55:18 CST 2013

Larry,

thanks a lot!  makes perfect sense. So I can re-adjust in-situ?

Scott

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: slow nose gear down indicator
From: Laurence Coen <lwcoen at hotmail.com>
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
Date: 02/20/2013 12:29 PM

> Scott,
>
> What you are describing happened to me and this was the cause.  The
> hydraulic cylinder stopped pushing the link over center.  The reason was
> the lock nut on the end of the hydraulic cylinder shaft wasn't tight
> enough to prevent the shaft from turning  in the end fitting thus
> screwing it in gradually.  When I readjusted it I added Lock-tight and
> made sure the lock nut was nice and tight.  Since the gas spring is now
> pushing the link over center it is working against the wind force
> pushing on the gear which tries to hold the link ON center and explains
> why it doesn't happen in the hangar. The gas spring has less poop when
> it gets cold on top of that.
>
> Larry Coen
> N136LC
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Scott Derrick" <scott at tnstaafl.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2013 10:33 AM
> To: "Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list" <reflector at tvbf.org>
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: slow nose gear down indicator
>
>> 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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>>
>> --
>> He who knows others is wise;
>> He who know himself is enlightened.
>> Lao-tzu
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