Bent legs and Tire wear

[jrs14855]

First hoisting the airplane by the engine lift ring is a terrible idea. The crankcase simply was not designed to take that kind of load. The airplane can be hoisted by the engine mount tubes.
Likewise the oversizing of the gear mount holes is not a good idea. The accepted method of doing this is to tack weld a doubler washer made from 4130 flat stock or tubing to the front side of the gear socket. Then remove the engine mount/gear mount and repeat on the aft side. Remove the gear legs and weld the doublers all around.
There are simply no shortcuts to this procedure. No amount of over torque on the gear leg bolts is going to keep the gear from rotating if the holes are oversize and/or elongated. This can also be done entirely off the airplane on the taildraggers by mounting the engine/gear mount to a fixture that duplicates the position on the fuselage. Very small tack welds letting the mount cool between the tacks. DON'T get the gear legs hot.
Quite a few years ago Harmon had some issues with the heat treating company resulting in some gears that were softer than specified and much more likely to bend. A properly heat treated gear will take a tremendous amount of abuse without bending.

[roadrunner20]

Originally Posted by jrs14855

There are simply no shortcuts to this procedure. No amount of over torque on the gear leg bolts is going to keep the gear from rotating if the holes are oversize and/or elongated.

FWIW, the holes are not elongated. Mount & gear holes are the same size. No rotating. This process was coordinated with Vans and Langaire.

[rvbuilder2002]

Originally Posted by jrs14855

First hoisting the airplane by the engine lift ring is a terrible idea. The crankcase simply was not designed to take that kind of load. The airplane can be hoisted by the engine mount tubes.
Likewise the oversizing of the gear mount holes is not a good idea. The accepted method of doing this is to tack weld a doubler washer made from 4130 flat stock or tubing to the front side of the gear socket. Then remove the engine mount/gear mount and repeat on the aft side. Remove the gear legs and weld the doublers all around.
There are simply no shortcuts to this procedure. No amount of over torque on the gear leg bolts is going to keep the gear from rotating if the holes are oversize and/or elongated. This can also be done entirely off the airplane on the taildraggers by mounting the engine/gear mount to a fixture that duplicates the position on the fuselage. Very small tack welds letting the mount cool between the tacks. DON'T get the gear legs hot.
Quite a few years ago Harmon had some issues with the heat treating company resulting in some gears that were softer than specified and much more likely to bend. A properly heat treated gear will take a tremendous amount of abuse without bending.

Actually the process Dan used is approved and a good way to correct the problem. The only real down side is that the X or Y over sized bolts are kind of expensive, but worth it because it is usually the easiest way to resolve the problem.

I agree that you should never use the engine lifting ring to left up the entire airplane though.........