Hi all,

I have my first gas airplane after stepping up from electric. I bought the Great Planes 78" Edge 5r40. (No comments..heard them all). Anyway, I put a 52cc gas engine in it but the stock 2 piece gear that came with the airplane are way too weak? I've ben told tying the gear together with safety wire would only damage the plane as the stress point would now be under the fuselage. I am trying to see if anyone has had this issue and what gear if any you used to replace the weak stock gear. I have considered a custom made gear from TNT landing gear for $75.00

Thanks,

Mike

B&B specialties www.bennettbuilt.com has a very nice little kit called Landing Gear Reinforcement Standoffs for $8.95 that works great and may be exactly what you are looking for. You have to bend your own piano wire to the size and shape you need but it's a great way to stiffen up your LG.
There number is 574 277 0499

Thanks but I have been told by guys who fly large scale gas airplanes that because of the two piece factory gear, using that method of piano wire would tear apart the bottom of the fuselage as all the forces would be transferred to the bottom of the plane instead of the piano wire. Do you know anything about that???

From the manufacturer:

"Composite landing gear evenly distributes landing stresses, with a flowing shape that enhances the plane's overall appearance."

The engine is heavier than the recommended 32-43 cc; hence the gear may be flexing beyond the spring limit, getting deformed.

I suggest beefing the higher portion of each half with similar flat material on the inferior surface.
Glue will be better, but rivets could work.

A new gear needs to be thicker.

You may find what you need at GraphtechRC:

http://www.graphtechrcshop.com/category.sc?categoryId=2

LLD

I am converting a seagull extra 180 to gas and it too has the 2 piece gear just like my seagull edge 540. Quick easy fix given to me by another seagull pilot was just slap a piece of solid flat aluminum against the plane between the plane and the gear the width of the fuselage and as wide as the gear. for my 180 extra 260 I used a thick 1/4 piece.

Sounds like they haven't tried it.

Adding piano wire to flat gear has been done for years. The standoffs simply make the job easier. Two piece gear often is improved with just about any method that adds support through the center. Two piece puts stress on the center of the fuselage that usually doesn't exist with one piece. The center usually isn't anywhere as strong as the sides. Two piece design usually benefits the mfg more than the modeler.

Now, it is possible that ANY gear that's bending but not injuring the fuselage will wind up hurting the fuselage when reinforced. The bending absorbs energy in the gear, just as spring loops in wire gear does. Pass that energy on and what happens then. Bottom line is that the fuselage needs to be strong enough to stand whatever forces are being created by your landings.

I'm more then sure they have never tried or seen the B&B system of wire reinforcement. If you go to the site and look at the photo of the system you will see that it in fact strengthens the center section, the only part that flexes are the legs so you don't sprang your gear. Like rock stated, this isn't something new, B&B simply make up an easier system for people that can't make up there own system to mount the wire.
I think what the guys at your club are thinking is just simply running a wire across from gear leg to gear leg? Just look at the photo on the B&B site and I'm sure the light will come on over your head.
If you don't like the system then you will have to go out and spend the money to buy yourself some new gear that you think will work. Weak gear that comes with most ARFs is usually just replaced at the buyers cost. What ever makes you happy.

I just checked the site; it is very ingenuous solution!

The streamline shape of the original gear makes it weak to extreme flexion, having less material where it needs it the most: far from the center line.

The B&B's wire places the material right where is missing, and requires no glue or rivets: much better advice than mine above!!!..........

Indeed great idea Grey Beard I will file that one away in my if I ever need catagory.

John

Hey guys. Thanks for all the great information. I will try the B&B system as that is way cheaper than the $75 custom gear from TNT. Let's hope this saves me future props!

Mike