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18-Nov-2008
Catégorie: Finishing : Landing gear

I will modify the front wheel fork. The assembly of the front wheel is somewhat akward. The picture shows one of the mushrooms that will hold the wheel in position. Both mushrooms are held in position by torqueing the axle bolt.
The mushrooms are supposed to stay put as the wheel turns, but sometimes they begin to turn. This can induce some oscillations and shimmy.



I found all the informations on VansAirforce. One of the builders even asked Vans about the mod and they didn't object to it. The idea is to install a bolt on the fork that will hold the mushroom.
The only deviation from the informations on the website is that, as suggested by Vans, I'm using a smaller bolt (AN509-8R12).



Here the assembly is done. I only tapped the mushroom, to avoid any cracks in the fork.



Then it's priming time for the fork.



Then the fork is installed on the gear leg, for another special task. It's not possible to verify the torque of the big bolt with a torque wrench. So there is a small trick, it's done by using a small scale. The measure has to be taken a few times after the fork has been rotated a few times to each stop.



Once the correct value set, the gear leg is drilled for the cotter pin.



And now the wheel can be installed.




Working time on this subpart
Today :  4h (Total : 16h)

Lectures (2665)
17-Nov-2008
Catégorie: Finishing : Landing gear

Today I begin by making the brakes lines going from the fusleage exit to the caliper. Nothing very difficult.



The lower part is routed around the wheel axle this will allow enough play as the caliper is moving during braking. Along the gear leg, the tubing is protected by small PVC hose parts. Some electric tape will hold everything inc position during final assembly.



Then I begin working on the front wheel, which was not completed. I take of the wheel and will also take off the fork as I intend to modify it slightly but I first have to do some research on that, so it will next time.



I also installed the engine mounts. The parts are the same but the assembly sequence is different between the upper and lower mounts. The compression points are not the same. It's visible by increasing the size of the picture (see the parts with the small yellow line).




Working time on this subpart
Today :  2h (Total : 12h)

Lectures (2562)
15-Nov-2008
Catégorie: Finishing : Landing gear

I begun today by torquing all the bolts on or near the firewall (brake fluid reservoir, rudder pedals, battery mount...). Then I torqued the six bolts on the engine mount, on one I needeed to add a second washer so that the cotter pin actually prevents the bolt from turning.




I the use my hoist to lift the fuselage. Guillaume gives me a hand to install the gear legs, but it can be done alone.




After thirty minutes, the fuselage can be lowered on the wheels. It looks quute high, I will have to use some steps to climb on board for the time being.




As there is no engine for the time being, the center of gravity is way aft. So I have to keep the sawhorse in the back. I had to add a cardboard box to get the correct height. After the picture, I tied everything down with a rope.




The front gear lecg bolt is inserted from the cabine via a hole drilled earlier in the firewall.




That hole get a small cover that will also get some sealant to avoid fumes from the engine compartment entering the cabin.




And here the left gear leg having been torqued.




Working time on this subpart
Today :  4h (Total : 10h)

Lectures (2566)
06-Jun-2008
Catégorie: Finishing : Landing gear

Today, the three wheels got installed on the legs. For the main wheels, six spacers have to be fabricated. I made them slightly longer than per plans so I don't have to use a washer later.



Then the fixed part of the brake caliper and the fairing bracket are bolted to the gear leg.$



Then the wheel and the brake caliper are installed on the leg.



A big nut holds the wheel on the leg. The nut is held in position by a cotter pin. So the axle has to be drilled, I first mark the two drill positions using a long drill bit. The final drilling is done with the wheel of the leg.



And a picture of the result.



Then I install the front wheel. No difficulties here, but nothing is finished yet as the big nut on the left side still has to tightened to the correct value. This will be done after the axle has been greased correctly via the small nipple (red dot above the nut). I first have to buy a grease pump.




Working time on this subpart
Today :  4h (Total : 6h)

Lectures (2405)
05-Jun-2008
Catégorie: Finishing : Landing gear

Today it was sunny for two hours, this allowed me to ...mow the lawn.
After that I installed the tyres and tubes on the three wheels. First the main wheels, the rims have to be separated and the greasing of the bearings verified. The felt seal has to be greased too.



First some talc is put on the tube and tyre, then the tube is inserted into the tyre, being careful to align the valve with the red dot.



Then the first half of the rim is inserted into the tyre. The most difficult part was to get the valve into the grommet.
The the other part of the rim is bolted on. The tube is inflted and deflated a few times to be sure it seats correctly in the tyre.



For the front wheel, the principle is the same. But, the bearings are not greased and there is a bit less space for the assembly. The two halves of the rim might pinch the tube during assembly.



Here is how I did it, the clamps allow the tyre to be squeezed to be level with the first half of the rim. The tube is the put out of the way and the second rim-half installed.



As with the main wheels, the tube gets inflated and deflated a few times. Then the wheel is inserted in the fork. The bolt is quite loose as the brackets for the wheel pants have still to be installed.




Working time on this subpart
Today :  2h (Total : 2h)

Lectures (2937)

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