RV-14A Legs

[Doug Rohrer]

I am at the point of inserting the big flat gear legs into the fuse on my -14A. The fuse is still on a rotisserie so I have fairly good access to both sides. I cannot get the gear leg to go far enough into steel bracketry inside the skin to even begin to get the first bolt inserted. I tried putting a little grease on the black coating on the gear leg, but I still cannot force it in far enough. Has anyone else had this problem? I don't want to use the big hammer solution.

 

[Doug Rohrer]

The legs have a thin layer of some kind of soft material right where it goes into the fuse brackets. I assume it is needed to avoid steel/steel contact when the gear leg flexes, but it seems that is what is jamming things up. I will call Van's tomorrow to see what they say.

 

[drone_pilot]

Let us know what you find out, Doug. I'm very close to doing the same thing.

 

[mturnerb]

Many builders have had to remove not only powdercoat but some steel: I just gradually worked the bulging part of the bend (using scotchbrite wheel - some just use files) until it fit. (My method very slow but I felt more comfortable that way and the surface stayed nice and smooth).

Covered well by "E" here:

https://rv-14a.blogspot.com/search?q=gear+leg

 

[LanceL]

Here are a couple of threads where this has been discussed by others that had the same / similar issues. I did too.

https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=163332

https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=190070

 

[Doug Rohrer]

Thanks guys. I just had to grind a little powder coat and some steel off the legs and then they could be persuaded to go in. Vans builder support says this is very common.