I've just bought a second-hand prop jet (D/C F-20) to work up for my waiver, but one of the Main leg SpringAir retracts doesn't want to extend fully. It gets about 3/4 extended under the spring pressure, but needs a little assistance to fully lock down. This happens even without the air line attached and just manually closed and released. The gear is only a Robart wheel on a wire leg,so weight isn't the issue. I've tried oiling the pivot but to no effect.

Thanks in advance.

Paul

Paul,

Hard to speculate without having them in front of you.... but you may want to check the nylon spacer that goes between the frame rails at the back side of the retract unit. This spacer acts as a stop... thus has a flat ground on one side of it.

Sometimes the screws will loosen in the retract unit and the spacer will rotate slightly. If you look you will see that the spacer has a flat on it. This flat should coincide with the flat on the back side of the pivot block in the extended position.

Also, don't be afraid to grind a little with your dremel to get some burrs out or other non fitting stuff. I've taken my sanding dremel to my spring air's before in mass, to make stuff work correctly and it has done wonders! As a last effort, contact bill at retracts.com for 15 bucks or so, he'll fix what's ailing you.

A common problem for Springair type retracts is a twisted retract frame caused by non-parrallel mounting rails. Remove the retract from the wing and check it's operation. If the retract now works properly, set the retract back in the wing and note where a gap exists between the retract frame and the mounting surface of the rail. A washer or two between the frame and the rail will act like a shim and allow you to reinstall the retract without the frame twisting which will cause a bind.

John

Just pull some G's with the gear extended...that'll help 'em down!