Landing Gear Question????
 

Hey Guys,
Im trying to fit a new landing gear to my trainer as my old one fell off, but it is not working properly. I have a Kyosho Calmato which originally had one of those aluminium plates, i bought a replacement but it is larger than my old one. i drilled new holes and started to screw the new gear on but the blind nuts i was trying to screw it into have fallen out, can i just epoxy or CA this thing to the bottom of my fueslarge?

I cant get into the space where the blind nuts where as the pre-fitted servo tray is in the way. Every time i try and do sumthing in this hobby it goes wrong :(. So i am wanting to epoxy it in place, will this work? If that wont work what can i do??

Cheers phil.

RE: Landing Gear Question????
 

I have the Calmato as well,

By looking, I can see your problem. I would not use epoxy for this application. You may be better off trimming the new gear or trying to find the replacement gear.

Also try removing the servos to access the blind nuts from the top of the fuse. If nothing else, try some 'butterfly' nuts, (the smallest you can find), and use them in conjunction with epoxy to secure the new gear. Remember to re-balance if you add new hardware.

As far as everything you have tried going wrong, I agree!! That is the nature of any new skill. I needed a lot of help learning to drive a car, especially in California. I needed a lot of help with trig, calculus and computers too. (Probably less help than I need in RC planes).

I sense discouragement. Learn from these experiences, you have a lifetime to enjoy this hobby....take your time. I am new to this as well. Heck, I can't even keep the plane where I want it for landings. I am getting frustrated too. But after I take a few minutes to watch an accomplished RC pilot do some really good flying, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel again.

Building and re-building are fun for me. I have been building models for years.....long before I ever flew one. Just try to be patient.

Good Luck,

Fellow Student

RE: Landing Gear Question????
 

If you try to attach the gear with just epoxy, you'll be doing a lot more repairs after your first landing attempt. The gear will rip off, probably even with the most gentle of landings. I would recommend that you remove the servos to gain access and install new blind nuts. I know that this seems like a lot of work, but you'll be glad you did it in the long run.

RE: Landing Gear Question????
 

Hey Guys,

Yes there was a bit of disgouragement this afternoon, and yes the epoxy was a bad idea as well :D but i have gone and had another look at it. I got the blind nut back in position and i have re drilled holes in my landing gear plate so it all fits in properly now all i have to do is fit it on and then zap it so it wont fall off again.

RE: Landing Gear Question????
 

You started off by saying your gear fell off. Was this in flight and did you then not find the missing gear? I know that can be hard sometimes. And what do you mean by "zap it so it wont fall off again"? What is the purpose of the "ZAP"? [sm=confused.gif]

RE: Landing Gear Question????
 

If the gear did fall off in flight, be sure to use some loctite on the threads this time around. Take the bolts out one at a time, put some loctite on the threads, and put it back in. It's a good idea any time you don't have a locknut or something else to keep things from vibrating loose.

RE: Landing Gear Question????
 

Loctite is a very good idea, I almost lost my 4* .6 because 2 of the 3 landing gear screws came out in flight, I did a nice touch, then the gear turned before I could do the go....

RE: Landing Gear Question????
 

I think the loctite wouldnt help, Cause instead of falling out, It would rip out mostlikely causing the gear to rip a chunk of wood out. I would much rather belly land and just re attatch gear than belly land and rebiuld the fuse

RE: Landing Gear Question????
 

Don't understand the comment about Locktite not helping. The purpose is to stop the landing gear falling off by preventing the screws coming undone.

Any damage caused by a bad landing will be the same irrespective of whether the screws are locktited or not (unless of course the gear drops off in flight, as happened here).

BTW, the gear did fall off in flight (I was there) and a search failed to find it. There is a creek in the area where it detached, so it may have gone to a watery grave!

Terry

RE: Landing Gear Question????
 

Just a little update,
i have put my landing gear back on after many attempts and many blind nuts falling out i have screwed the landing gear back on and locktighted it so it wont vibrate off again. Now to do the wheels.
phil.