Landing Gear Replacement
06-21-2008 | 09:55 PM
#1
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From: Lexington,
KY
Landing Gear Replacement
Was flying Friday night after work and lost a wheel collar, then the right main wheel on my Alpha 60 on a takeoff run. The strut dug into the grass spinning the plane and bending that side of the gear. The plane was undamaged. In attempting to straighten the gear, the strut cracked at the mounting hole for the axel and retaining nut. H9 is backordered on the gear for ~ 6 weeks. One of my LHS's had a Goldberg gear that will fit. The mounting portion of the gear is just slightly shorter than the original, and the height is the same. The stance will be narrower by about 1.5".
The original gear is fairly wide, so I don't think the loss of 1.5" will matter aprecieably. The labeling indicates that the gear is designed for a flat fuse .46-.60 plane. Does anyone think the difference in stance will be a problem?
The weight seems to be nearly the same, so any shift in CG should be small, especially given the placement of the gear with respect tot eh COG.
Bob
The original gear is fairly wide, so I don't think the loss of 1.5" will matter aprecieably. The labeling indicates that the gear is designed for a flat fuse .46-.60 plane. Does anyone think the difference in stance will be a problem?
The weight seems to be nearly the same, so any shift in CG should be small, especially given the placement of the gear with respect tot eh COG.
Bob
06-21-2008 | 11:03 PM
#2
Senior Member
RE: Landing Gear Replacement
Bob, some time back, I stumbled across the Dubro Heavy Duty Composite landing gear. I've converted about 25% of our active club members to it by now. They are tougher than nails. You cant bend or break one, but the give a good flex on a hard landing to protect the airframe. I use them on 40 size stick planes, 4*60, Supper aeromaster Biplane, any thing that is between a 40 and on up. They can be painted, or as one guy at the field did, covered, or just left natural colored.
I use the Dubro axels on them and I've never bent one even on the planes Ive totaled out. I wish they made a bigger one as I've got a 1/4 scale Laser 200 and a 1/3 scale Extra 230 on the building que.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXNM65&P=SM
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXD823&P=7
A great combo.
Don
I use the Dubro axels on them and I've never bent one even on the planes Ive totaled out. I wish they made a bigger one as I've got a 1/4 scale Laser 200 and a 1/3 scale Extra 230 on the building que.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXNM65&P=SM
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXD823&P=7
A great combo.
Don
06-22-2008 | 12:42 AM
#3
My Feedback: (8)
RE: Landing Gear Replacement
I am using the Dubro gear on my plane. It works and looks great. The gear at your LHS should work fine too though. Any difference you notice you will compensate for without even realizing it, especially because the height is the same. The height is the only thing that would change how your plane taxis and takes off. That can be corrected by using different size wheels, too, just in case there is a slight difference.
06-22-2008 | 04:48 AM
#4
Senior Member
RE: Landing Gear Replacement
ORIGINAL: mitchell170
Was flying Friday night after work and lost a wheel collar, then the right main wheel on my Alpha 60 on a takeoff run. The strut dug into the grass spinning the plane and bending that side of the gear. The plane was undamaged. In attempting to straighten the gear, the strut cracked at the mounting hole for the axel and retaining nut. H9 is backordered on the gear for ~ 6 weeks. One of my LHS's had a Goldberg gear that will fit. The mounting portion of the gear is just slightly shorter than the original, and the height is the same. The stance will be narrower by about 1.5".
The original gear is fairly wide, so I don't think the loss of 1.5" will matter aprecieably. The labeling indicates that the gear is designed for a flat fuse .46-.60 plane. Does anyone think the difference in stance will be a problem?
The weight seems to be nearly the same, so any shift in CG should be small, especially given the placement of the gear with respect tot eh COG.
Bob
Was flying Friday night after work and lost a wheel collar, then the right main wheel on my Alpha 60 on a takeoff run. The strut dug into the grass spinning the plane and bending that side of the gear. The plane was undamaged. In attempting to straighten the gear, the strut cracked at the mounting hole for the axel and retaining nut. H9 is backordered on the gear for ~ 6 weeks. One of my LHS's had a Goldberg gear that will fit. The mounting portion of the gear is just slightly shorter than the original, and the height is the same. The stance will be narrower by about 1.5".
The original gear is fairly wide, so I don't think the loss of 1.5" will matter aprecieably. The labeling indicates that the gear is designed for a flat fuse .46-.60 plane. Does anyone think the difference in stance will be a problem?
The weight seems to be nearly the same, so any shift in CG should be small, especially given the placement of the gear with respect tot eh COG.
Bob
Notice in the attached, the important thing is to place the footprints at a good angle to the CG.
06-22-2008 | 06:26 AM
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From: MCALISTERVILLE,
PA
RE: Landing Gear Replacement
I'm sure your gear will be fine,just be careful to not try and turn too fast on the runway because the plane may want to tip over easier.
With that said......I also use the dubro flexible gear that those other guys spoke about,and I also agree its a GREAT GEAR! I've bent more gears than anyone at my field,but I've never bent,broke or had any problems with this gear. This landing gear beats the crap out of any metal type gear I've seen. The metal gear are fine if your a good enough pilot to land perfect everytime,but if not.........this is the ideal gear.
With that said......I also use the dubro flexible gear that those other guys spoke about,and I also agree its a GREAT GEAR! I've bent more gears than anyone at my field,but I've never bent,broke or had any problems with this gear. This landing gear beats the crap out of any metal type gear I've seen. The metal gear are fine if your a good enough pilot to land perfect everytime,but if not.........this is the ideal gear.
06-22-2008 | 08:54 AM
#6
RE: Landing Gear Replacement
I have been recommneding the Dubro composite gear mentiod by others for well over one year now. I have it on my SPAD J3-Cub which is about 7-1/2 pounds. I know I have flattened that gear more than once trying to tame that beast. Zero damage to the gear. My new SPAD Canard swept wing also uses that gear. I know it has fallen about 10 feet nearly straight down during a bad landing. So far no damage.
