REFLECTOR: Paul Calhoun's nose gear incident

[Alex Balic]

We should look to replace them all with spring cartridges- there are a few
different manufacturers- if there is not a stock size that will work, then
they can be fabricated for a reasonable amount, especially if there are
enough numbers to reduce manufacturing cost. I am sure just the cost of a
single MT blade replacement would pay for most of them.

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of Richard Riley
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 9:09 PM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Paul Calhoun's nose gear incident

At 04:59 PM 8/15/2006, you wrote:

>He also believes that the gas spring could have been a factor and 
>was due for replacement, a mother bear job.  I've heard they are 
>only good for a few years ???

A note from a Non-Velocitian, take it for what it's worth.

Yes, gas springs are only good for a few years.  But, there's 
something very few people realize.  Gas springs can seize, anywhere 
in their stroke, and when they do they won't budge in either 
direction.  If you try to force them they'll bend in half or snap off 
before they move.  It's rare (one in 1000 or so). We used a pair of 
gas springs as over-center springs on Berkuts for a while, then 
someone who worked for the manufacturer saw how we were using them 
and warned us.  If it's on something like a trunk lid it's not a big 
deal, you pop one end off it's ball and close the thing.  But on a 
retractable gear, it can be a real problem.

YMMV

I don't know how it's used in the Velo gear, but wanted to pass along 
the heads up.   


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