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Gear Leg Fitment RV-14A

S

sloengineer

Well Known Member
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We are attempting to install the gear legs on our 14A. The main legs will not even come close to inserting into the dog bones in the fuselage. Van's profound insight was to file on it till it fits. But we aren't even close to fitting. I don't feel like I should be filing over 10 thousands off or more. Has anyone had similar issues? Resolutions?
dogbone.jpgGear outside.jpggear inside1.jpggear inside2.jpg
 
I just went through this, need to file the fwd and aft bit of the legs just a tad. Use some grease and see where it’s binding, then use a light file and take a slight amount of material off. Took a few tries, but was able to get them in.
 
sloengineer said:
We are attempting to install the gear legs on our 14A. The main legs will not even come close to inserting into the dog bones in the fuselage. Van's profound insight was to file on it till it fits. But we aren't even close to fitting. I don't feel like I should be filing over 10 thousands off or more. Has anyone had similar issues? Resolutions?
View attachment 107458View attachment 107459View attachment 107460View attachment 107461
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Plus 1 on the other comments, but I’d also say is is extremely helpful to have at least 2 very patient friends to help. Main gear legs are heavy and you need someone outside the fus to maneuver the leg and another person looking inside giving directions.
 
sloengineer said:
We are attempting to install the gear legs on our 14A. The main legs will not even come close to inserting into the dog bones in the fuselage. Van's profound insight was to file on it till it fits. But we aren't even close to fitting. I don't feel like I should be filing over 10 thousands off or more. Has anyone had similar issues? Resolutions?
View attachment 107458View attachment 107459View attachment 107460View attachment 107461
Click to expand...
I just needed to file off a bit of the powder coat then the gear slipped in with a little wiggling.
 
Yep, it’s a very tight fit. File a little, use some boelube and wiggle as you press it up. Eventually it will go. You look a lot closer to fitting than mine was originally.
 
Yes, I had to file mine as well. I used an air tool to make this a little easier. Definitely ream the hole and make sure all the bolts cleanly fit before lifting the gear.
 
One thing I’ll add, when you bolt up the U-1403 Gear Attachment Bar there’ll be a gap as in the picture. Don’t shim it or try to over torque it to close the gap. It’s meant to be there. Over time the steel on steel will wear, and those bolts should get retorqued. Plan on doing mine at every annual.
20240311_131240.jpeg
 
Yes, others have run into this on the RV-14A, and it’s usually due to powder coat, burrs, or slight alignment issues in the weldment rather than the leg itself. Before removing significant material, carefully strip coating from the gear leg and dog bones, verify alignment, and try chilling the leg or lightly warming the weldment—only minimal filing should be needed per Van's Aircraft guidance.
 
We finally got the right leg in. Ended up removing 0.023" split between the fore and aft faces. We took it very slowly, with several grind and fit iterations. Focused on keeping the faces flat and square to the sides. Final assembly with a skosh of Boelube.
 
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