Landing Gear Grapple

 

I thought about calling this post "Wrestlemania", but the synonyms for "wrestle" describe Nick and Tom's efforts so well that any of them will work: grapple, rassle, scuffle, tussle. The left side landing gear had prior undocumented damage and somebody had welded a repair, and now the gear didn't align with the frame and the connecting bolts wouldn't fit. Here's what happened when a "simple" job turned ugly.

No amount of jiggling or muscle could get the bolts in. The landing gear frame would have to be manipulated with heat to slightly change its alignment. 

Nick explained that the metal leg had to be heated all the way around its diameter in order for the metal to yield ever so slightly. 

I can't speak for Tom, but as I watched Nick, I wondered how in the heck heating the landing gear would make it more "pliable", enabling the bolts to connect to the frame. Tom never doubted, or at least never owned up to any doubts. Tom knows that Nick has restored many airplanes, and Nick just doesn't quit (or is it that he never knows when to quit...). Faced with a technical problem, Nick ponders. It might take a day or two but the answers come to him, and the project advances.

Throughout the heating process Nick reminded us how hot the metal was and to stay clear. Can somebody tell me which is hotter: "red hot" or "white hot"?  The landing gear was "white hot" and were it not for Nick's warnings, I probably would have walked into it or touched it or something; it didn't look sinister. 

It wasn't sinister at all and the heating method worked! Now everybody's mood can cool along with the metal... Problem solved.

Photos and text by Kathleen Jacques.

Landing Gear Bungee Installation

"Are you kidding me?" There was nothing particularly intuitive about the bungee installation, and the instructions weren't so instructive.  We were using large closed loop bungees and were respectful of their ability to dangerously bolt off course if we botched the installation.

Under the circumstances, eye protection seems like a good idea.  Another good idea was contacting the Short Wing Piper Club to borrow a bungee attachment tool.  The club has a great lending library for members that lets them borrow specialized tools - all you pay is postage.  Once we figured out how to mount the tool it was a cinch - the scary bungees were demystified and quickly installed.  Thankfully the eye protection wasn't put to the test.

Stretching the bungees into place requires a lot of strength; without the club's tool we might still be at it. Dick stopped by on his way home from work (no, we did not page him), and characteristically jumped in to help.

As Tom pulls the right side bungees into place, Dick helps counterbalance 

the backward pressure. Nick keeps the plane from an unplanned flight.

Pretty, aren't they?  Thanks for the help Short Wing Piper Club.

Contemplating bungees; thank goodness the installation was easier than expected.  In the next post I'll tell you what happened right before the victorious bungee installation. Tom was firm that he wanted to end the day on a good note following the aggravation he and Nick had just had with the left side landing gear.  In this picture Nick and Tom fill Dick in about the landing gear mayhem they'd just encountered. Never mind - all's well that ends well.

Photos and text by Kathleen Jacques.