ORIGINAL: tmaucher
I have a 46 size vq hurricane with a set of spring airs on it and they have been nothing but trouble. They dont allways work upside down, like gravity is enough to stop them. Twice one of the gears has failed to spring down at all. Is it a valve problem or a retract unit itself problem?
Hi, are your retracts actually made by Spring Air or are they some other brand?
In general spring air style gear dont work well upside down. Your right that gravity can be enough to stop them. When the plane is inverted the spring force in the pistons have to overcome the mass of the wheels, struts, wheel pants.... you generally need the gravtiy assist to get the gear down and locked.
If the gear is failing to come down odds are you have a retract problem. Could be many reasons. Dirt in the gear jamming the action. Maybe the gear is old and the springs have relaxed some and need replacing. Maybe the pistons seals need lube. Not to mention what a bad landing can do to make gear not work right. Ive been there done that.