Wheel alignment

[rdwater]

My right wheel appears to be toed out. The distance between main tires when measured at the front of the tires is about a half inch wider than when measured at the back of the tires. I don't see any adjustments.

Questions:
(1) Is this a worry? I haven't flown or taxied her yet.
(2) If so, what can I do about it?

Thanks, Bob

[Robert Lees]

Re: Wheel alignment

Are the bungees up tight against the stops? This can cause wheel mis-alignment. Push the aircraft back until the gear diagonals and bungees come up snug, then re-measure.

Rob

[AndyDuke]

Re: Wheel alignment

Alternatively, if you can lift the aircraft so that the wheels are off the ground, then remeasure, you may get a better result?

[rdwater]

Re: Wheel alignment

Thanks for the ideas. I have brand new bunges and they are really snug. I've seen no deflection when I climb in (+~200 lb). Its definitely a toe out (front to back alignment) than a caster or camber alignment issue. How do you lift the plane (with wings off but everything else on) to get the wheels off the ground?

[jgerard]

Re: Wheel alignment

lift it with the engine mount.

Jason
N43643

[jrzangger]

Re: Wheel alignment

No adjustment that I'm aware of for toe in or out. Sounds like the plane has hit something along the way. My gear brace struts were bent and I forced them beyond center to get them back in line. You may have to do something similar with a long pipe on the axel. (put a nut on to protect the threads)

[jgerard]

Re: Wheel alignment

I was speaking with one of those typ. airport oldtimers, and he said that having a bit of toe-out helps in making the plane a bit more resistant to groundloops. Not sure if I can properly describe in words how it was explained to me (lots of pointing and hand jestures) but I would seem to agree with him.

Jason
N43643

[lktiller]

Re: Wheel alignment

theory is valid; In a turn, extra weight is placed on the outside tire, toe-out would resist the turn.
Reality is; the effect of toe-out is insignificant at the speeds where a ground loop occurs. Compared to the force required to control the craft, the rudder is much more effective.

Best to keep the wheels straight to reduce tire wear.

[lktiller]

Re: Wheel alignment

theory is valid; In a turn, extra weight is placed on the outside tire, toe-out would resist the turn.
Reality is; the effect of toe-out is insignificant at the speeds where a ground loop occurs. Compared to the force required to control the craft, the rudder is much more effective.

Best to keep the wheels straight to reduce tire wear.

[crispy critter]

Re: Wheel alignment

I hate to object on a good theory but that is incorrect.Toe out at the bottom or the front(front is much worse)will cause the aircraft to turn with the wheel that has the most weight on it.It also puts much more stress on the bungees constantly pulling the gear outwards causeing the gear to have a little more movement in it which will also cause it to steer a little more unpredictable.Not to mention what it does to the life of your wheel bearings and the added strain on the axles.Straight is the why you want it when the airplane is setting on the gear full of gas.