Rob,
There isn't much room but it is sufficient with the hooks forward in the
2011 (which I still haven't seen final) version which is how I do the
mod. If you don't have the engine, make friends with three 200 lb.
agile guys to spring things into action.
I am surprised that you don't leave the gear leg attached final as it is
quite easy to snap the spring into place even working alone. As Bob
Borger indicated in his email it takes a bit of rounding of the spring
end, and a bit of a pull to get them in. One thing that was not
forwarded though is I use a few 5/16 inch bolts to help lengthen the
spring. Hopefully Bob's photo album shows that we took the time to prep
and make sure the spring was dead straight.
I have an unfair advantage that I have done many of these and frankly
miss what I consider is obvious, which is not.
Apologies for leaving that info out.
Bud Yerly
----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Housman<mailto:rob@hyperion-ef.com>
To: europa-list@matronics.com<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com>
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 10:55 AM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Mod 71 - Nose gear leg bungee, replacement
with springs
Thanks for the detailed reply.
In the May 2006 version of the Mod it looks like the openings face
aft but in the 2011 version the opening is forward. I elected to use
the latest version for guidance. The Landing Gear Frame in my kit has
several additional members so there is not much room for the upper hooks
to move in either direction - they are trapped between two narrowly
spaced tubes.
In my case your other suggestions about getting the springs in place
don't apply since I am doing Mod 71 right after Mod 72, so the engine is
on the floor and not in the way. I also eliminated most of the hassle
getting the springs in place by removing the tie wires and the four
bolts on the pillow blocks that are the pivot points for the nose gear
arm. With the leg free to move a bit (still restrained by the safety
cable) I could get the lower hooks in place with minimum fuss.
Of course, with the engine on the floor that leaves me to contemplate
how to load the springs with sufficient force to remove the spacers.
Best regards,
Rob Housman
Irvine, California
Europa XS
Rotax 914
S/N A070
Airframe complete
Avionics soon
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Bud Yerly
Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2011 3:52 PM
To: europa-list@matronics.com
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Mod 71 - Nose gear leg bungee, replacement
with springs
Photo E-mail
View slideshow
<https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=2161856909618aa7&page=play&;
resid=2161856909618AA7!136&type=5&authkey=KzlAF!wKhQk%24>|
Download images
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Rob,
Attached is a drawing of how I round off my springs and a photo of how
we keep the spring from grinding into the steel frame by using small
bits of stainless.
Note that I install the springs with the openning forward. Please
note the left and right hand wind requires you to place the springs so
that they do not rub against the center tube.
The springs can be installed facing aft but the last snap in is a bit
difficult unless the entire wheel well is open or you are very strong.
Forgive me that I do not have my tech article on how to install the
springs any longer as folks were just not having problems and it went to
archive somewhere. Bob Borger and Gary Leinberger may have photo's of
us doing theirs if you ask..
Please round over the spring as per the drawing to make snapping the
spring over the top tube less painful. You may do the lower part as
well.
One indispensible tool is a piece of stainless cable with handles on
both ends to snap the spring up and over the top. I have one of the
guys standing on the wheel well and pull it up to snap in the spring
over the upper tube. Then he bounces on the front until the 5/16 and
1/4 inch bolts fall out.
The other nice to have tool is a set of threaded rods with a couple of
curved ends to help hold the gear up while I install, but rope or a
strap works also...I just like steel to protect me from a rope brake or
strap slip. It takes me with two helpers (for added weight), about 45
minutes to install the springs.
<https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=2161856909618aa7&page=play&;
resid=2161856909618AA7!137&parid=2161856909618AA7!136&type=1&authke
y=KzlAF!wKhQk%24>
<https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=2161856909618aa7&page=play&;
resid=2161856909618AA7!138&parid=2161856909618AA7!136&type=1&authke
y=KzlAF!wKhQk%24>
Small pieces of stainless between the spring and frame glued in
or just set in sealant will keep the spring from scratching up your
frame and rusting later on. Even with an engine on you can see that
putting a cable through the hook on the spring and pulling from above is
an easy safe method to snap the spring in. Technique: I normally put
the engine on to add weight when I am doing this operation alone. I put
a strap around the gearbox and nose gear leg to pull the spring a bit to
get the bolts to fall out then repeat.
Please use safety precautions so as not to injure yourself when
stretching and installing the springs and you will find it is an easy
install.
Regards,
Bud Yerly
Europa Tech Advisor
Custom Flight Creations, Inc.
www.customflightcreations.com<http://www.customflightcreations.com/>
(813) 653-4989
----- Original Message -----
From: G-IANI<mailto:g-iani@ntlworld.com>
To: europa-list@matronics.com<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com>
Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2011 5:28 AM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Mod 71 - Nose gear leg bungee, replacement
with springs
Rob
I have attached a copy of Mod 71 issue 3 for information.
The radius of the upper hook should be 38mm to fit the frame tube (
the lower is 32mm).
I am not aware of any batch of springs which have been out of
tolerance. If yours are please let Europa know.
Ian Rickard G-IANI XS Trigear, 300hours
Europa Club Mods Specialist
e-mail g-iani@ntlworld.com<mailto:g-iani@ntlworld.com>
From:
owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com<mailto:owner-europa-list-server@ma
tronics.com>
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com]<mailto:[mailto:owner-euro
pa-list-server@matronics.com]> On Behalf Of Rob Housman
Sent: 27 August 2011 21:24
To: europa-list@matronics.com<mailto:europa-list@matronics.com>
Subject: Europa-List: Mod 71 - Nose gear leg bungee, replacement
with springs
I've encountered another one of those "minor" problems I have come
to accept as normal with the factory's step child, the Tri-Gear.
The diameter of the Landing Gear Frame is 1.55 inch (39.4 mm) and
the opening in the spring that must hook onto it is 1.35 inch (34.3 mm).
This seems to allow for either of two solutions, neither one
particularly elegant. 1) use brute force to deform the hook in the
spring, 2) cut off some of the end of the hook.
Comments and suggestions from those who have perhaps already dealt
with this, or anyone else for that matter, would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Rob Housman
Irvine, California
Europa XS
Rotax 914
S/N A070
Airframe complete
Avionics soon
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