First off I have only seen the gear a couple times so I thought I would throw out some totally uneducated thoughts out there. One I know that it extends to raise the AOA for takeoff and that is a "wow" factor thing but could that be part of the problem?? would it be possible to fix the leg at a fixed length loose the strut extension wow and then change the motivator for the rotation to something more conventional??? Also if it is binding the way the yoke turns in the strut, following up on Bobs idea, could you steal a bb thrust washer from one of your heli friends and see if that might work? Just throwing it against the wall and seeing if it sticks, Scotty