New RV-7A nose gear

[mick]

Originally Posted by gasman

Mick, This looks great. Zooming in on the nose fork, I would like to see a stronger fork with more clearance to tire crown. I would like to see how you got the stiffness needed with only one attachment location.

Please keep us all up to date on this............. Many will be ready with check book.

For this reason I have had the fork assembly made so it can be changed if needed. Time will tell if I need to make a thicker fork and give more clearance. When I drilled the axle bolt hole I new straight away that more clearance would be nice.

The nose gear is mounted using the original gear socket to take the aircraft weight as per the original. An additional attachment is made to prevent twisting and is located at the gear socket gussets, the gussets are strengthened with 4130 and is attached with bolts. Due to the exhaust location no diagonal bracing is fitted at this time but would be possible to fit if required. At this point there appears no side wise movement of the gear leg.

My theory is that the gear, should it fail, will not cause a roll over. So it has been designed that if it should fail it would be a twisting failure of the gear leg and the aircraft will slide rather than go over. I personally would rather a new engine and prop than a new complete plane.

I will post more on the testing once I sort out the steering linkages.

Mick

[Zero4Zulu]

What about carburated engines? Will the gear clear the airbox?

[mick]

Originally Posted by Zero4Zulu

What about carburated engines? Will the gear clear the airbox?

Not sure. If some one wants to give me a picture of a carburetor set up and possible dimensions I can have a look at it.

[Sam Buchanan]

Originally Posted by mick

For this reason I have had the fork assembly made so it can be changed if needed. Time will tell if I need to make a thicker fork and give more clearance. When I drilled the axle bolt hole I new straight away that more clearance would be nice.

The nose gear is mounted using the original gear socket to take the aircraft weight as per the original. An additional attachment is made to prevent twisting and is located at the gear socket gussets, the gussets are strengthened with 4130 and is attached with bolts. Due to the exhaust location no diagonal bracing is fitted at this time but would be possible to fit if required. At this point there appears no side wise movement of the gear leg.

My theory is that the gear, should it fail, will not cause a roll over. So it has been designed that if it should fail it would be a twisting failure of the gear leg and the aircraft will slide rather than go over. I personally would rather a new engine and prop than a new complete plane.

I will post more on the testing once I sort out the steering linkages.

Mick

Looking forward to seeing how you design the fairings.

Also wondering how you check the failure mode of the gear.......

Hope it all works out nicely!

[Walt]

Great job on the new strut, it looks great!
Keep us posted on your progress.

[scsmith]

I'm really happy to see your work. As testing progresses and this looks more promising, it could be just the thing to make me decide to put an "A" on my next order form.

[AMac]

Mick,

That is the best:

Nosewheel setup,

Hangar,

RV7A,

I have ever seen

And I love your dash as well

[gasman]

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

Looking forward to seeing how you design the fairings.

Also wondering how you check the failure mode of the gear.......

Hope it all works out nicely!

I think that I would install a hitch receiver on the front of my 72 f-250 and mount the strut as if it were on the A/C. Then drive it out across the field with cameras mounted on the bumper to see how it does.

For steering, look under the hood of a Piper Warrior.

To make this a nice system, The mains should be shortened so the A/C squats like the 6A. This would make it easier to enter the A/C and allow the nose wheel to float better.

[mick]

Originally Posted by gasman

I think that I would install a hitch receiver on the front of my 72 f-250 and mount the strut as if it were on the A/C. Then drive it out across the field with cameras mounted on the bumper to see how it does.

For steering, look under the hood of a Piper Warrior.

To make this a nice system, The mains should be shortened so the A/C squats like the 6A. This would make it easier to enter the A/C and allow the nose wheel to float better.

Gasman

Whats a 72 f-250 ?, is that some sort of nose gear test rig....

All joking aside I did think of testing it from a test stand mounted to a trailer but am confident that it will perform correctly. ( Famous last words ).. I plan on filming it from a vehicle traveling beside the plane.
The steering linkage is already made and is similar to a Beech setup, I have yet to install it. Should have that part done this week. Also need to reinstall the flight controls, they still need to be painted but that's another project.
There would be no reason to shorten the mains as the nose strut can be made to give a nose high attitude and I find the RV is easy to enter if you have side steps installed.

Mick

[Danny7]

i'm pretty sure his '72 f250 is his truck, hes talking about bolting it to his trailer hitch so he can drive fast over bumps and video/ test