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Grove Nose Wheel - strength concern

glider4

Well Known Member
I was ready to get one of the new Grove 59-2A nose wheels for my RV-8A when I came across the following data which gave me pause. Here's the source from Matco:

http://www.matcomfg.com/catalog/ind...info&uid=2192&pi_id=67728&clist=0,56981,67719

The Matco NW501.25 is designed for the following standards:
Static Capacity: 1420 LBS
Load Limit: 4620 LBS

The Grove 59-2A and 59-2M nose wheels have a static capacity of 800 LBS. No load limit is given.

http://www.groveaircraft.com/nosewheels.html

I installed Grove main wheels and brakes, in part, because they have higher static and load limits than the stock wheels Van's offers.

I understand that the static weight on my nose wheel is well under 800 LBS. I'm just concerned about cutting the static load strength of the nose wheel by 45% if I buy the Grove nose wheel.

To all you technical types out there, is there a need to be concerned about the strength of the Grove nose wheel? Did Van's go with the Matco nose wheel because it met their (higher) strength design requirements? Requirements the Grove wheel may not meet?

Albert Thomas
RV-8A QB
N880AT
still wiring.......
 
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well,.. what about the next item down in the catalog?? same price,.. 0.5 lb heavier,.. 1250 lb rating
 
Matco rating may be the problem

I was ready to get one of the new Grove 59-2A nose wheels for my RV-8A when I came across the following data which gave me pause. Here's the source from Matco:

http://www.matcomfg.com/catalog/ind...info&uid=2192&pi_id=67728&clist=0,56981,67719

The Matco NW501.25 is designed for the following standards:
Static Capacity: 1420 LBS
Load Limit: 4620 LBS

The Grove 59-2A and 59-2M nose wheels have a static capacity of 800 LBS. No load limit is given.

http://www.groveaircraft.com/nosewheels.html

I installed Grove main wheels and brakes, in part, because they have higher static and load limits than the stock wheels Van's offers.

I understand that the static weight on my nose wheel is well under 800 LBS. I'm just concerned about cutting the static load strength of the nose wheel by 45% if I buy the Grove nose wheel.

To all you technical types out there, is there a need to be concerned about the strength of the Grove nose wheel? Did Van's go with the Matco nose wheel because it met their (higher) strength design requirements? Requirements the Grove wheel may not meet?

Albert Thomas
RV-8A QB
N880AT
still wiring.......

Hi,

I changed mine to a Cleveland wheel, but the Grove will do just fine as well.


If the Matco wheel supplied by Van was used on a much heavier airplane, i believe that the rolling resistance problem we are all experiencing on our much lighter airplanes would not be an issue. It is my belief that a lesser rated wheel, (Grove or Cleveland) designed for a smaller airplane performes better. Kinda like you dont need a baseball bat to kill a fly. A fly swatter will do it much better.

Steve Ciha
 
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