REFLECTOR: slow nose gear down indicator

Wed Feb 20 11:07:33 CST 2013

John,

read your email again john,  I've never seen it do that, move back and 
then forward before stopping?

hmmm...

Scott

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: slow nose gear down indicator
From: Scott Derrick <scott at tnstaafl.net>
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list <reflector at tvbf.org>
Date: 02/20/2013 09:33 AM

> 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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