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  #1  
Old 12-23-2011, 12:14 AM
drmax drmax is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Martinsville, IN
Posts: 470
Default 6A nose gear mod

Hello and have read through a bunch of stuff here. Has there been any latest improvements by Vans that has significantly reduced the risk of gear collapse, on the 6A? I'll keep reading, but just wanted to ask, for I have found a 6A (for sale) that the owner had decided "not" to do anything with it's original gear, which is from pre 2000 kit. I'm just really not sure if I need to worry about this or not. I live on a paved 35 X 2100 which can get some good crosswinds, but ****, not gonna let that stop me. Just looking to see if there is something I have overlooked. If there was something that was "alot" better that the original, I would most likely do the repair. Thx, DM
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  #2  
Old 12-23-2011, 02:50 AM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
Default Mine is the same

My RV-6A has an unmodified pre 2000 nose gear and it is fine. Over 600 hours flight time. I take it very easy, try to land perfectly on the mains all the time with recognition that it can be broken if I slam it on like a new pilot. The only disturbing experience I have had is when the nut on the strut is not tight enough to require a 23 lb breakout force to caster - the vibration was enough to cause me to believe that I had blown the tire.

Bob Axsom

Last edited by Bob Axsom : 12-23-2011 at 02:54 AM.
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  #3  
Old 12-23-2011, 03:28 AM
drmax drmax is offline
 
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Location: Martinsville, IN
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Axsom View Post
My RV-6A has an unmodified pre 2000 nose gear and it is fine. Over 600 hours flight time. I take it very easy, try to land perfectly on the mains all the time with recognition that it can be broken if I slam it on like a new pilot. The only disturbing experience I have had is when the nut on the strut is not tight enough to require a 23 lb breakout force to caster - the vibration was enough to cause me to believe that I had blown the tire.

Bob Axsom
Hi Bob...you ever considered doing the mod'd gear leg like others have done? A friend of mine took his old gear off, sent it out with new leg to get match drilled and whatever else and installed. He said it basically gave him a little more sense of security...but other that than, he said after all the research he has accomplished after his mod, he would not have done it. You know, I'd like to be able to think I could take this on grass strips, but I'm too much of a worry wart. I'm also eyeballing a -6, but my runway is most likely to have gusty crosswinds and don't see having any fun fearing my landings (gnd looping) all the time. Take it easy.
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  #4  
Old 12-23-2011, 03:42 AM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
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Posts: 5,685
Default No

I am perfectly happy with the nose gear on our RV-6A - no worries at all. I have landed it at a couple of grass strips with no difficulty. The absolute worst experience I have had with our plane was parking in the grass at Fond Du Lac (MUCH worse than at Wittman field) for Oshkosh. It was so rough and required extreme power to keep it moving (brute force) a long distance, through ruts, up slopes, around airplanes and up onto the paved taxi way that I was doubtful we would come through it with no damage. The most I got were some minor paint scratches on the bottom of the landing gear fairings.

Bob Axsom
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  #5  
Old 12-23-2011, 04:11 AM
drmax drmax is offline
 
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Location: Martinsville, IN
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Axsom View Post
I am perfectly happy with the nose gear on our RV-6A - no worries at all. I have landed it at a couple of grass strips with no difficulty. The absolute worst experience I have had with our plane was parking in the grass at Fond Du Lac (MUCH worse than at Wittman field) for Oshkosh. It was so rough and required extreme power to keep it moving (brute force) a long distance, through ruts, up slopes, around airplanes and up onto the paved taxi way that I was doubtful we would come through it with no damage. The most I got were some minor paint scratches on the bottom of the landing gear fairings.

Bob Axsom
Sounds like you've put 'er to the test. This is reassuing. Thx for the reply.
(oh, and guess you work nights too?
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  #6  
Old 12-23-2011, 04:40 AM
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pierre smith pierre smith is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Louisville, Ga
Posts: 7,840
Default We modded ours.

I often fly to grass strips and that's where most of the flipovers occurred...potholes and gopher holes caught the nut and lower fork.

Van came out with a simple mod and a new, 1" higher fork and you either rethreaded an added 1" to the nosegear leg, or sent it off. After threading, an inch is cut off and you now have an additional 1" of ground clearance if the tire is also properly inflated.

It's incredibly difficult to re-thread yourself, like we did, but I'd send it off next time.

Best,
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  #7  
Old 12-23-2011, 05:05 AM
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NickAir NickAir is offline
 
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Location: McMinnville, Oregon: HOME of the SPRUCE GOOSE
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Default

It would be a good idea to do the Van's mod.

Main Reasons:
1) Passenger liability, (political)
2) Re-sale. (why wait until re-sale to do the mod? Enjoy mod for you too.)


It is a simple mod if you have all machining done by a shop prior, as Pierre mentioned.
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  #8  
Old 12-23-2011, 07:15 AM
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L.Adamson L.Adamson is offline
 
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Location: KSLC
Posts: 4,021
Default

I know of several RV6A's around here, that haven't done the mod........and are still fine, after 1000+ hours. The nose gear legs were upgraded around 1998 though. These new legs could take a lot more flexing abuse.

But.................doing the mod, and raising the nut 1", and possibly adding the anti-splat mod is a good idea. It can save the prop and an engine tear down, if you happen to somehow play "bad" pilot for just one landing. Even on nice paved runways. The RV isn't as forgiving as a Piper trainer.
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  #9  
Old 12-23-2011, 07:53 AM
drmax drmax is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Martinsville, IN
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Default

would most likely have the mod accomplished and be done with it.
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  #10  
Old 12-23-2011, 08:32 AM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
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Location: Hubbard Oregon
Posts: 9,035
Default

Quote:
The nose gear legs were upgraded around 1998 though. These new legs could take a lot more flexing abuse.
Clarification -

The nose gear leg introduced in 1998 as a replacement was to correct a fatigue life issue that was discovered. It was not to make the leg stronger and able to take more abuse.
Fatigue life is for the most part based on flexing cycles (how many times it flexes up and down, not how hard the flex is. Than is why it was fully acceptable to continue using the original gear leg as long as recurring inspections were done.


The original service bulletin can be found HERE
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