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  #1  
Old 01-25-2010, 09:13 PM
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Noah Noah is offline
 
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Location: Rhode Island
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Default Grove Nosegear Problem?

Anybody else had a problem with their Grove nosewheel? I received my 59-2M-RV, and removed the unused (Vans-supplied) tire and tube from the Matco wheel. When I put the tube into the new wheel, the tube stem did not stick out straight, making it difficult to get the inflator onto the stem:

The stem also pushes way in when attempting to add air, so I'm not sure I could even add air without reaching between the wheel halves (bearings not installed) to steady the stem while I push the inflator valve onto the stem. This basically makes this setup unusable. So I tried to install a couple of washers and a nut, which keeps the stem from disappearing like a frightened turtle's head. Unfortunately, the valve stem cap can't be installed with the nut in place.

When the tire is inflated, the stem kicks over to the other side, again making it difficult to install the inflator valve to add some more air without scraping and damaging the paint:

Interestingly, the Grove wheel has the hole for the tube stem in the center of the wheel halves (left photo), while the Matco wheel has the hole off center (right photo):

According to Grove's website, you can "use your existing tire & tube", but I am starting to wonder... Grove says they have never heard of this problem in over 200 nosewheels sold.

Anybody else had this issue? Is the solution to scrap the Vans supplied tube? Does a replacement tube clear up these issues?
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Noah F, RV-7A

All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men? for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. -T.E. Lawrence

Last edited by Noah : 01-25-2010 at 09:21 PM.
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  #2  
Old 01-26-2010, 10:52 AM
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Default

Is it true that the nosewheel tube that Vans sells is really made for lawn tractors?
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Noah F, RV-7A

All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men? for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. -T.E. Lawrence
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  #3  
Old 01-26-2010, 11:39 AM
Rupester Rupester is offline
 
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Location: Mahomet, Illinois
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Default Interested ...

I'll be watching this thread carefully, since I 'm within weeks of ordering my Groves nosewheel.
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  #4  
Old 01-26-2010, 11:49 AM
andyrv andyrv is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Leawood, KS
Posts: 275
Default No problems here

I put mine on 15 months ago before my first flight. Didn't take long to put it and I don't recall having any issues with moving the tire/tube from my Van's nosewheel to this one. No problems in 225 hours.

Andy
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  #5  
Old 01-26-2010, 08:34 PM
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midwest rv-10 midwest rv-10 is offline
 
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Location: Pleasant Prairie,Wisconsin
Posts: 67
Default right wheel wrong tube

I have the Grove wheel on my -10 and it's nice. I think that you might have gotten a odd tube or replacement tube that's close but not exactly correct.
Get the right one now and have peace of mind. Grove should know what tube to use.

Don Orrick
N410JA
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  #6  
Old 01-27-2010, 10:44 AM
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newtech newtech is offline
 
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Location: Evansville, Indiana
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rupester View Post
I'll be watching this thread carefully, since I 'm within weeks of ordering my Groves nosewheel.
89.5 hours on mine and no problems. It just does what it is supposed to do; easy to push around on the ground, doesn't re-launch the nose wheel on touchdown and no problems with the tube I got in my -7A kit. This is one of the items I would do again.
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  #7  
Old 01-27-2010, 04:14 PM
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swisseagle swisseagle is offline
 
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Default Valve is on wrong position!

Hello!

Have a look onto the valve position. On the nose wheel tube (from Vans), the valve stem comes slightly offcenter out of the tube. This is not the case by the main wheel tubes, there the valve stem is absolut in the centerline.




If you look at the wheel halves, the valve-stem cutout is centered by the groove wheel, but not by the original Vans (Matco?) wheel.

I dont know a source where I can get tubes with the valve stem in the center?

Dominik
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  #8  
Old 02-04-2010, 07:13 PM
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RVG8tor RVG8tor is offline
 
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Location: McKinney, TX
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Default Did you find the tube?

Quote:
Originally Posted by swisseagle View Post
Hello!

Have a look onto the valve position. On the nose wheel tube (from Vans), the valve stem comes slightly offcenter out of the tube. This is not the case by the main wheel tubes, there the valve stem is absolut in the centerline.




If you look at the wheel halves, the valve-stem cutout is centered by the groove wheel, but not by the original Vans (Matco?) wheel.

I don't know a source where I can get tubes with the valve stem in the center?

Dominik
Dominic,

I was just looking at my Grove nose wheel and Van's supplied tube and I see what you mean. It seems to me that a tube with the stem centered is required to prevent a side load on the valve stem.

Did you find a tube, or are you just using the Van's tube. Thanks
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  #9  
Old 02-04-2010, 08:21 PM
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Noah Noah is offline
 
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Default

I ordered my replacement tube last night from Desser, $10.95, P/N TU 11/4.00-5. Here is a photo forwarded to me from Desser showing the stem centered in the tube:



Steve Chlavin at Desser was extremely helpful in answering several questions I had about this issue. If you have any questions, ask for Steve at Desser.
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Highest Regards,

Noah F, RV-7A

All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men? for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible. -T.E. Lawrence
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  #10  
Old 02-04-2010, 11:19 PM
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RVG8tor RVG8tor is offline
 
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Default Noah

Thanks, I will get one ordered, I know others are using the Van's tube but I don't like the off center stem. With all the issues with the nose wheel, I sure do not want to worry about landing with a flat nose wheel. Thanks for posting the info.

Cheers
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