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paulsmeds

Member
RV-6A, reports are the prior owner porpoised on landing and the second, smashed the front gear so hard it sheared off the bolt and ran the gear leg up into the cockpit. Logs show it repaired professionally and looks great. It also says the pilot side gear leg was replaced. Engine and prop full overhauled no sign any skin contacted the ground. In cruise it banks slightly to the right requiring a tiny bit of left aileron pressure. Today we noticed that the co-pilot side wheel is out of alignment towed outward 5 to 10 degrees. It would explain why it doesn’t push/pull out of the hanger without some effort and why it wants to roll right in flight. Flyable, landable, takes a little more effort than others I’ve flown.

My question, short of purchasing a new factory bent gear leg, is there any other way to tow in the gear to alignment? As I’m typing this, I’m pretty sure the answer is a new gear leg because if it was bent in the incident, possibly the leg strength has been compromised? Wanted to explore options before going for a new gear leg.

BentMain.jpg
 
Looking at Van's Store, it looks like a replacement gear leg is just under $900.
Or... (brainstorming)... heat it up cherry red and straighten / un twist as needed, then get it re heat treated.
I think it cost me $100 to get something heat treated 40 years ago.
And in the end, will it worry you on every landing? Will it actually be much cheaper?

Also note --- early planes the gear leg was not pre-drilled (hence two parts on the store). The builder would drill on assembly, which means a pre-drilled one will not drop in.
Currently the pre-drilled are powder coated (off white), while the undrilled are bare metal. This may help you identify which one you have. I won't guarantee that someone didn't take an undrilled one, drill it themselves, and then get it powder coated!

[Edited to add bold emphasis...]
 
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Do not heat it and try and bend it straight yourself.

The gear legs are hardened to a specific Rockwell value.
The chance of you maintaining that is slim to none if you start messing with heat application.
Langair, the company that has made all the gear legs for RVs, has also straightened a lot of bent ones.
I suggest you give them a call
 
Wow you guys are great and fast. I think I can live with it the way it is until Feb when the conditional inspection is due. I'll call up Langair and get the details and send it in during the downtime of the conditional inspection. Thanks for the guidance!
 
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