Bad Gear Legs

[Kerbs]

I purchased a set of landing gear legs (both sides) at an auction site unseen. I should have known the deal I thought I was getting was not a deal. As soon as I picked them up, I could hear the rust flakes cascade down inside of the tubing and a light push with a screwdriver on one of the sides put a hole right through. Fortunately I purchased them just to have a spare set. Is there any value in saving the axles etc or should I just consider them as scrap at this point? I don't have a use for them as is. I would just hate to toss them if there is anything I should salvage that someone could use.

[Robert Lees]

Useful for making a jig? (owner-produced parts)

[Hank Jarrett]

ABSOLUTELY!!! Rust shouldn't prevent using them to make a fixture (Sorry, we aren't allowed to call them jigs here any more). We had a set of gear fixtures here some time back we were trying to get moved and they got scrapped before we could get them. I wish there was a way to get the corroded gear here for the welder who was going to make a new set of fixtures. I am in SE Virginia and the cost to ship from Washington would be astronomical! If you can find someone to weld a set of fixtures your welder could do some nice side business in "repairing" gear and a fixture set on each coast would be GREAT! You are right that once you have a fixture the bottom of the gear is the hard part to get. With a fixture you can replace the tubes and get it signed off as a "repair". I would verify a new fixture by putting in a couple of sets of good gear to be sure the rusted ones were straight, but I would love to come across a set of rusted up gear!

Hank

[Kerbs]

Thanks Hank. Wish they were easier to get them to you. At the cost of new legs form Univair, I would think there would be a lot of value in having fixtures.

[astjp2]

I have like 5 spares...I should make a jig, too bad there are no welders locally...Yes save the gear and repair them. please post pictures of the damage, I may have some streamlined tubing that you can repair them in a couple of weeks. Tim

[Scott]

Is it just the diagonal braces that are corroded? Usually they're the ones to go, and can be replaced without any jigs or special fixtures.
s

[Hank Jarrett]

Problem is that when the diagonal goes bad the gear gets out of rig and sometimes you can't see it. Just a little toe in or out can make a landing more exciting than you want! Best to check the rig and for that you really need a fixture.

Hank

[Scott]

If the bolt holes at the lower end of the current diagonal strut line up you're good. If the gear is otherwise good and the only issue is corrosion in the diagonal strut, no problem replacing the diagonal.

Not possible to affect the toe by replacing that strut, assuming a reasonable job of fitting. Good news is it's easy to check... if the bolt slides in and out without a lot of force, your good.

Whatever toe is there, good or bad, will be the same after the strut is replaced.
S

[Hank Jarrett]

Agree Scott, but if the alignment is bad it won't show till you try to measure after the welding is all done (or worse on the first flight). Lots have been repaired by just welding in a new piece of streamlined tube, and since the welding is done at the TOP heat twisting should be pretty minor. We just need a fixture (fopr the whole tribe) so we can do proper repairs and fix any alignment problems. Whatever Stu does he SHOULD NOT trash the strut! It CAN be repaired. I just wish he was not on the opposite side of the country. We have a GREAT welder here and we could use the gear from my restoration plane to verify everything is straight.

[Kerbs]

Thanks, I won't trash the gears. Fortunately my plane has good legs on it and I don't have any concern about them. I was able to get the second set for cheap enough I figured it was worth having them around. I'll see if I can grab a couple of pictures today.

[astjp2]

If the bolt holes at the lower end of the current diagonal strut line up you're good. If the gear is otherwise good and the only issue is corrosion in the diagonal strut, no problem replacing the diagonal.

Not possible to affect the toe by replacing that strut, assuming a reasonable job of fitting. Good news is it's easy to check... if the bolt slides in and out without a lot of force, your good.

Whatever toe is there, good or bad, will be the same after the strut is replaced.
S

5’ of schedule 40 and securing the airplane will correct the toe, do it all the time.

[Hank Jarrett]

Seen it done too, but getting it straight in a jig (sorry, "fixture") sure seems a better way if you have a fixture. We NEED a fixture! High on my list of things we need as a group, and I don't even need it for my planes. yet!

[astjp2]

Seen it done too, but getting it straight in a jig (sorry, "fixture") sure seems a better way if you have a fixture. We NEED a fixture! High on my list of things we need as a group, and I don't even need it for my planes. yet!

too much work to pull the gear Hank, I barely want to pull the tires because the shinn wheels have such a problem being worn out and having spun bearings. IMHO tim

[Hank Jarrett]

Part of my problem is I LOVE to work on my plane. I will wear it out from taking it apart and putting it back together long before I wear it out from flying! Not uncommon at all for me to take something OFF the plane to clean it or make a minor change. A&Ps love me! I am always polishing something or touching it up. Tires come off all the time! Gear legs, not so much!

[N96337]

I was hoping someone would have a "fixture" by the time I get started on my gear legs.....
John