Nose gear tolerances..

[Kilo42]

While inspecting the nose gear section I notice a certain amount of lateral play where the strut attaches to the airframe.  I know a certain amount is needed and mine may be just fine.  I was wondering what the actual tolerance is?  Thanks in advance..

Kilo42

[tomkat01]

I am not a flyer yet so please take what I say apropriatly.
I found that there was quite a bit of play even with new bushings.
I heard that putting longer flanged bushings that went the entire way through the casting helped. when I did this I still was not happy with
the little play left.
My soulution was to buy a tapered bering ng6 from jack whilamson.
very easy to instal and no play.
I have not flown yet but this like it will keep this from being a reocuring problem
Good luck
Tom Rodgers

[pete]

My soulution was to buy a tapered bering ng6 from jack whilamson.
very easy to instal and no play.

Hi tomkat01
                  The side play on my long ez is about 2 inches at the wheel, it dose not seem to be problem but like you I dont like it. I have been wanting to install the the tappered bearing but have been putting it of because it dose not look to be that easy to do. Any information about the dos and do nots about the installation of the replacement bearing would be appreciated.
                           Pete

[Glenn]

Hi there

There have been lots of posts on this subject.

I had a Long-Ez, which had nose leg play, when I built my current
aircraft I did the following, which has proved successful.


- - - - - - - - - - - -

A method to eliminate side play in the Nose Gear strut and NG6
Casting.

After some time in operation the standard Oilite bearings in the NG6
casting can develop side play which can affect accurate steering.

For new build aircraft a larger casting with taper roller bearings
can be obtained from Jack Whilamson and fitted. This fix requires removal of the NG6 casting on existing aircraft.

For aircraft owners who do not wish to remove the NG6 casting from
the Nose Leg the following procedure may be used.

Remove the nose gear strut and push out the NG 23 Oilite Bearings.

At a local machine shop, have the NG 23 Hole, Bored and Reamed to 0.6875" and the casting sides Spot Faced to 1.000" to clean up the faces normal to the bore.

A good machine shop should be able to achieve this at nominal cost,
without causing any damage to the nose gear leg or NG6 Casting.

The following Parts need to be obtained:

- Nose Gear Pivot Bearings

- Torrington Drawn Cup Full Complement Needle Roller Bearing,

2 Required, Part No B-810 0.500" ID. 0.6875 OD. 0.625" Wide, or
similar.

The Standard NG7 Pivot has been used without modification but for long term
operation the following should be done:

- The Nose Gear NG7 Pivot should be hardened to 58 HRC and a small
spacer made, 0.500" ID. 0.625 OD. Length to suite, to keep the
bearings positioned.

If getting the NG7 hardened is difficult it is also possible to use
the Torrington Inner Ring Part No IRA-5 with the B-88 Bearing and
machine spacers to suite.

Nose Gear Thrust Bearings and Washers:

- Torrington Thrust Roller and Cage.

2 required, Part No NTA815.

- Small Thrust washer Part No TRA 815-0.030".

- Medium Thrust Washer Part No TRB 815-0.060".

- Large Thrust Washer Part No TRC 815-0.092".

You will need to buy some of each thrust washer because it is
difficult to determine what thickness or stack you'll need until you
have several washers to use.

Assemble the parts, install the Pivot Bearings into the NG6
separated by the spacer and use the Hardened Thrust Washers each
side of the Thrust Bearings. Use additional washers to eliminate
play and centralise the Gear Leg. An `O' Ring can be used around the
Thrust Bearing as a grease seal.

The Bearings can be obtained from the following or your local
Torrington supplier.

Or From

Precision Bearing
2635 S Fairfax Ave
Culver City, CA 90232
(800)-752-3500 in CA
(800)-421-0602 outside CA
(310)-836-9319 fax

This will fix the side play problem, without having to disassemble the NG6 casting from the Strut.

Regards


Glenn

[Anonymous]

Hi there Thankyou glenn .  chuck

There have been lots of posts on this subject.

I had a Long-Ez, which had nose leg play, when I built my current
aircraft I did the following, which has proved successful.


- - - - - - - - - - - -

A method to eliminate side play in the Nose Gear strut and NG6
Casting.

After some time in operation the standard Oilite bearings in the NG6
casting can develop side play which can affect accurate steering.

For new build aircraft a larger casting with taper roller bearings
can be obtained from Jack Whilamson and fitted. This fix requires removal of the NG6 casting on existing aircraft.

For aircraft owners who do not wish to remove the NG6 casting from
the Nose Leg the following procedure may be used.

Remove the nose gear strut and push out the NG 23 Oilite Bearings.

At a local machine shop, have the NG 23 Hole, Bored and Reamed to 0.6875" and the casting sides Spot Faced to 1.000" to clean up the faces normal to the bore.

A good machine shop should be able to achieve this at nominal cost,
without causing any damage to the nose gear leg or NG6 Casting.

The following Parts need to be obtained:

- Nose Gear Pivot Bearings

- Torrington Drawn Cup Full Complement Needle Roller Bearing,

2 Required, Part No B-810 0.500" ID. 0.6875 OD. 0.625" Wide, or
similar.

The Standard NG7 Pivot has been used without modification but for long term
operation the following should be done:

- The Nose Gear NG7 Pivot should be hardened to 58 HRC and a small
spacer made, 0.500" ID. 0.625 OD. Length to suite, to keep the
bearings positioned.

If getting the NG7 hardened is difficult it is also possible to use
the Torrington Inner Ring Part No IRA-5 with the B-88 Bearing and
machine spacers to suite.

Nose Gear Thrust Bearings and Washers:

- Torrington Thrust Roller and Cage.

2 required, Part No NTA815.

- Small Thrust washer Part No TRA 815-0.030".

- Medium Thrust Washer Part No TRB 815-0.060".

- Large Thrust Washer Part No TRC 815-0.092".

You will need to buy some of each thrust washer because it is
difficult to determine what thickness or stack you'll need until you
have several washers to use.

Assemble the parts, install the Pivot Bearings into the NG6
separated by the spacer and use the Hardened Thrust Washers each
side of the Thrust Bearings. Use additional washers to eliminate
play and centralise the Gear Leg. An `O' Ring can be used around the
Thrust Bearing as a grease seal.

The Bearings can be obtained from the following or your local
Torrington supplier.

Or From

Precision Bearing
2635 S Fairfax Ave
Culver City, CA 90232
(800)-752-3500 in CA
(800)-421-0602 outside CA
(310)-836-9319 fax

This will fix the side play problem, without having to disassemble the NG6 casting from the Strut.

Regards


Glenn