Landing Gear bolts

RV8iator · #1 10-18-2007, 12:50 PM

After all the fussing and griping about how hard it is to check the torque of the gear bolts on an 8 I am just wondering how many find them to be loose when they actually get some sort of wrench on them, and after the first several condition inspections do they still loosen up yearly.
Just curious.

N908RV · #2 10-18-2007, 02:39 PM

After doing them at 10 hrs then 50, the first annual revealed no changes and only slight ones at 10 and 50 and that could be from changing to a new torque wrench.

Most of the force is actually on the big single bolt/nut anyway as the force on the outside clamps is actually directed upward towards the steel reinforcement plate and the longeron. Of course the force is directed that way in most cases - except if you side load the gear. Still, those little high strength nuts look like PAL nuts to me - I hate them. I sure would feel better with longer bolts and plain old AN365's in there...

Check 'em, you'll feel better next time you have a less than graceful arrival.

RV8iator · #3 10-18-2007, 02:55 PM

Less that graceful arrival..I can relate to that...
Mine haven't loosened since last year and I was just wondering what others find.

dan · #4 10-18-2007, 03:11 PM

My buddy Hog recently discovered loose gear bolts on his RV-8. I don't have any real details other than just that. He's not on this forum, so I could get more detail if you need it. He did mention it was a royal PITA to get to the hardware in those gear towers (I'm looking fwd to that in my own -8).

RV8iator · #5 10-18-2007, 03:13 PM

I don't need the details Dan, Thanks though. I was just wondering what was happening out in the field.

ps. how the 8 coming?

#6 10-18-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV8iator

After all the fussing and griping about how hard it is to check the torque of the gear bolts on an 8 I am just wondering how many find them to be loose when they actually get some sort of wrench on them, and after the first several condition inspections do they still loosen up yearly.
Just curious.

I just retorqued mine at the 10 hour point. I was able to get 3/4 to 1 turn on each of them.

-Geoff

captn kirk · #7 10-18-2007, 05:45 PM

one of the guys we fly with in an 8 did not check his at the 50 hr mark then jacked the plane up for his inspection using the gear The bolts checked tight (ie leverage from the gear).A few months later he lifted the plane with wing jacks and discovered loose gear bolts and was headed for a big problem. He did have to replace some of the bolts. I do not know wich ones.

RV8N · #8 10-19-2007, 07:25 AM

I haven't seen any posts from Bryan (Low Pass) recently so I'll mention what I remember about his gear.

Bryan said he checked his gear somewhere between 25 and 50 hours and found them to be extremely loose, to the point that he was very worried about damage to the bolts. He replaced all bolts and nuts.

I had some looseness in the early days (< 100 hrs) but get less than 1/4 turn on any bolts now. Usually can't move any of them.

Warning: Always check the torques at every condition inspection. Check torques multiple times during your first 25 to 50 hours.

Karl

Bubblehead · #9 10-20-2007, 08:07 PM

My RV-8 was recently purchase already flying. It was licensed in 2001 and I don't think maintenance has been attended to very well. We just torqued the bolts and each one took about a turn to come up to spec.

There's another thread on the subject here: http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...d=1#post163808

Bubblehead · #10 10-27-2007, 04:18 PM

Modified a socket that is doing the job. I'll post a picture when I find my camera! The socket is a 3/8" drive 12-point short socket that I cut 3/16" off of the "nut" side and ground a large flat off the side of the square end.

I'd like opinions on this idea I posted in the other thread:

"I tend to look for corrections to root problems rather than cobbling up 'work arounds' like modified wrenches or sockets. It seems to me that the root of the problem is the ridge that blocks access to the nuts. Another IA buddy looked at the nuts and suggested using a slightly longer bolt and two additional washers to raise the nut so it is accessable with a wrench.

Since the bolt is in shear not bending I think it's a structurally sound idea. Any comments? BTW I'm a mechanical engineer so have some good education and experience to draw on but know the value of getting opinions from other knowledgeable people."

Any comments?