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
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Mod 71 - Nose gear leg bungee, replacement with
springs
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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.
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161856909618AA7!137&parid=2161856909618AA7!136&type=1&authkey=KzlAF!wKhQk%24
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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>
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
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Rob Housman
Sent: 27 August 2011 21:24
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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