REFLECTOR: Main gear leg problems

[Lou Stedman]

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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