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Landing gear alignment - excessive toe out?

S

stigaro

Well Known Member
Patron
Going through my landing gear alignment on my -14A last night and it appears I have about 1.5 degrees of toe out on each side. While this seems fixable, I wonder if there is anything that I could have done to alleviate this during the build. Is this mostly a function of twist in the gear legs themselves? I don't see what I could have done differently to reduce this. What are outher builders experiences?

I will also point out that I had no room for the shims in the upper gear attachment. That upper bolt was a challenge to get in as it was and was not accepting a shim in there. But I don't think this should affect the toe.
 
Ralph Inkster said:
Page 40A-08, Step 3 talks about shims between the leg & spindle (available from Vans webstore)
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Sure, I'm aware of this, but just wondering if anything I did would have led to this. 1.5 degrees requires a couple stacked shims each side and at $35 ea, that's not a cheap fix.
 
Might want to double check your measurements using fishing line or fine thread. It wouldn’t take much to be a little off.
 
Larry KMYA said:
Might want to double check your measurements using fishing line or fine thread. It wouldn’t take much to be a little off.
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Yeah, I was thinking that too. Was going to try it with a thinner string. It is a little tricky to measure given the downward angle of the axle as well. I made a 3D printed jig to attach to the axle, but it's only 1/2" wide so the string doesn't make contact on the inner edge. I'll see if I can do better.
 
Another method is to clamp long angle iron to brake rotors, mark angle 57.3" forward from the axle center line. Measure at axle to fuselage center line, also at the 57.3" mark to center line. One inch difference is one degree toe in or toe out. Very accurate.
Note- do this with weight on the wheels, not suspended.
 
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