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  #1  
Old 12-26-2016, 03:37 PM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Default WD-630-1 Nose Wheel Fork... Cracks in the Welds

Anyone seen this before?











This is from a friends RV6-A with the updated version of the nose wheel fork. Needless to say finding this scared the poo out of him and me since I ride in this plane often.

He treats his nose wheel like it is an egg and rarely takes it off pavement. I think he has somewhere around 800+ hrs on it now.
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  #2  
Old 12-26-2016, 03:58 PM
g zero g zero is offline
 
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Default CRacks

Wow ! Good find . Curious from one of the welding pros on what caused this
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  #3  
Old 12-26-2016, 04:00 PM
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Darn, I first though there is now way this could crack but after looking at the rest of the pictures I agree it looks like the weld is cracked. Time to call Vans on Tuesday. Gonna check mine too!
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Old 12-26-2016, 05:07 PM
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Default

There was an SB on checking for cracks in nose wheel forks some time ago. However that SB is not about cracks in the weld but cracks at the bend. Not sure if this pertains to the later version, but a good idea to check anyway. Read here:

https://www.vansaircraft.com/pdf/sb96-09-1.pdf
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  #5  
Old 12-26-2016, 06:47 PM
vetterman vetterman is offline
 
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Default Cracks in the weld

What I see here is typical embrittlement of filler rod vs the base metal. It's common when the filler rod and base metal have different numbers. It's kinda like trying to weld 2024-T3. My suggestion is taking it to an experienced aluminum TIG welder and have it rewelded using 5606 filler rod with a lot of heat on a square wave machine. I would bet Rick Robbins of Robbins Wings could rewelded it and not crack again. Vetterman
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Old 12-27-2016, 07:26 AM
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He is calling Van's today to inform them. I think he is planning to purchase a new fork to get back in the air.
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---------------------------------------------------------------------
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Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
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  #7  
Old 12-27-2016, 06:44 PM
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He has a new one on the way. Van's requested he mail this one back to them for an investigation....
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---------------------------------------------------------------------
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Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
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  #8  
Old 12-27-2016, 07:46 PM
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Cracks down each side of every weld???
I do expect it to be something other than cracks.
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Old 12-27-2016, 08:31 PM
RVDan RVDan is offline
 
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Anyone run a dye check on it to see if they are actually cracks?
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  #10  
Old 12-28-2016, 05:47 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gasman View Post
Cracks down each side of every weld???
I do expect it to be something other than cracks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RVDan View Post
Anyone run a dye check on it to see if they are actually cracks?
This can be a common issue if the wrong filler rod was used. Larry commented on that above and other examples are out there on the web.

These are not traditional fatigue cracks that normally would run right down the middle.

Maybe Van's will post their results after they do their dissection....
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RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook
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