Strap thickness?

[mhorowit]

Attached is a picture of the fitting at the lower end of the landing gear. I can get most of the dimensions from the piece, but I'm not sure of the strap thickness. Anyone know that measurement?

Also, any suggestions for how to wrap this strap around the steel tubing that holds the bushing? - Mike

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Strap thickness?

Mike,

The strap is probably .035 or maybe .049 -- you could hold a finely graduated scale next to it and get a good idea because there are only a few standard sizes of steel sheet; or you could measure the piece with calipers where there is and is not a strap and do the math.

Bending is easy. Hold one end of the strap to the gear leg with a vice grip and then heat it with a torch whilst tapping it into place with a ball peen hammer. It is just like a blacksmith shaping a horseshoe. The steel will lay nicely onto the curve with nearly zero spring back.

[mhorowit]

Re: Strap thickness?

Mike,

The strap is probably .035 or maybe .049 -- you could hold a finely graduated scale next to it and get a good idea because there are only a few standard sizes of steel sheet; or you could measure the piece with calipers where there is and is not a strap and do the math.

Bending is easy. Hold one end of the strap to the gear leg with a vice grip and then heat it with a torch whilst tapping it into place with a ball peen hammer. It is just like a blacksmith shaping a horseshoe. The steel will lay nicely onto the curve with nearly zero spring back.

Mark - Good morning - I ground away the weld and it appears the strap is about .100. Additionally, the L-2 blueprint on the CD shows .083. Now, the two gears (L-2 vs BC-12 D) are not alike, but I'm thinking the forces acting on that strap are similar. Does that sound reasonable? That's pretty thick.
If the thickness is indeed closer to .100, bending may be more of a pain.

- Mike

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Strap thickness?

As you shape the metal it can streach or shrink changing the thickness. A good metal man will be able to look at how the sheet part was formed and tell you how thick it was when they started forming it.
If you keep learning techniques like this you are going to make a great production manager pretty soon!
Hank

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Strap thickness?

Mike,
What you say sounds reasonable. It may have started with a .10 strap and lost thickness in the bend process - like Hank said. In any event, I think you will be amazed and delighted at how easy the bend can be done. Get your new piece hot and hammer it -- rough-form it over the tang of an anvil or over a BIG bolt chucked into your vice. A 10 ounce ball peen hammer will do this job if you have enough heat in the metal. Once you have about a 180 degree bend in the new strap, the rest is fine-tuning it while in place on the gear leg.

The worst case scenario is that you have to make one practice strap to gain the skill you need.

[mhorowit]

Re: Strap thickness?

Mike,
The worst case scenario is that you have to make one practice strap to gain the skill you need.

Except for purchasing the metal, I'm good to go. Thanks - Mike