Date
1 - 20 of 20
Long-EZ bent main gear
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Ed Hanley
A local Reno/Stead tenant bent the right main gear of his Long-EZ on landing. While braking he felt the right gear "go mushy" and pulled off the runway and stopped. The gear was smoking, and was bent out at 45°. The plane was equipped with wheel pants, but no heat shield between brake disc and gear. Photos attached.
I know this has happened to a few other EZ's. What repairs have worked for a melted and bent gear? What repair would you recommend to this EZ owner? I'm posting this on behalf of "GI Joe" Magdaleno, who know a number of folks in this group but hasn't joined yet. Ed Hanley VEZE N45CR Reno/Stead    
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Never heard of a straightening method. Maybe someone else knows. I've repaired two that were worse. I'd cut off at the bend. Grind to a 12:1 taper. Like a chisel point. Build back up with E glass uni web to original size. You can adjust the toe in at this point. Then the plans torsional wrap. Remount the axle WITH a heat shield. Done.
On Sat, Feb 6, 2021, 9:10 PM Ed Hanley <ezeflyer@...> wrote: A local Reno/Stead tenant bent the right main gear of his Long-EZ on landing. While braking he felt the right gear "go mushy" and pulled off the runway and stopped. The gear was smoking, and was bent out at 45°. The plane was equipped with wheel pants, but no heat shield between brake disc and gear. Photos attached.
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Ed Hanley
Thanks, Keith. That makes sense. I understand the gear is made of S glass roving. But the E glass is adequate strength for repair? Ed Hanley VEZE N45CR
On Saturday, February 6, 2021, 08:37:05 PM PST, Keith Spreuer <kspreuer@...> wrote:
Never heard of a straightening method. Maybe someone else knows. I've repaired two that were worse. I'd cut off at the bend. Grind to a 12:1 taper. Like a chisel point. Build back up with E glass uni web to original size. You can adjust the toe in at this point. Then the plans torsional wrap. Remount the axle WITH a heat shield. Done. On Sat, Feb 6, 2021, 9:10 PM Ed Hanley <ezeflyer@...> wrote: A local Reno/Stead tenant bent the right main gear of his Long-EZ on landing. While braking he felt the right gear "go mushy" and pulled off the runway and stopped. The gear was smoking, and was bent out at 45°. The plane was equipped with wheel pants, but no heat shield between brake disc and gear. Photos attached.
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Charles McDougal
What happens here is the gear leg is unprotected from radiant heat from the brake disk. Over time the heat cooks the resin out of the glass and eventually you get this. I did hear of a repair on a Velocity (I think). If I remember correctly, they put the leg in a splint/jig, then injected resin back in until saturated. Seems like it should work. Ask Bill Oertel or some other super experienced EZ tech.
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Cm
On Feb 6, 2021, at 10:33 PM, Keith Spreuer <kspreuer@...> wrote:
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Henry
I’d check in with Free flight Composites. Burrall Sanders makes a metal repair fitting:
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Gear Leg Repair Fixtures — Freeflight Composites Trying to do a “splice” repair with glass would be difficult to do with an adequate taper. I’d just go the metal route. And once repaired, the legs both need heat shields.
On Saturday, February 6, 2021, 8:13 PM, Ed Hanley <ezeflyer@...> wrote:
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Phil Kriley
I would replace the gear bow if it were my plane. Phil Kriley
On Feb 6, 2021, at 11:33 PM, Keith Spreuer <kspreuer@...> wrote:
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Phil Kriley
Well, if neither side had a heat shield, then isn’t it likely the resin has been “cooked out” on the other side as well, and is an accident waiting to happen? Phil Kriley
On Feb 7, 2021, at 12:01 AM, Charles McDougal <pc12charlie@...> wrote:
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David A Froble
On 2/7/2021 1:04 AM, Phil Kriley via groups.io wrote:
Well, if neither side had a heat shield, then isn’t it likely the resinAnd most likely on every EZ that doesn't have some type of heat shield? This is a well known issue, and it's sort of crazy that every EZ hasn't already addressed it. It can be a matter of when, not if. -- David Froble Tel: 724-529-0450 Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc. E-Mail: davef@... DFE Ultralights, Inc. 170 Grimplin Road Vanderbilt, PA 15486
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Oh no you are right, I misspoke.
On Sat, Feb 6, 2021, 10:01 PM Ed Hanley <ezeflyer@...> wrote:
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skovbjerg
Second that! Likely more time efficient than messing around with getting this straightened out and sufficiently reinforced Jay Skovbjerg
On Feb 6, 2021, at 22:07, Phil Kriley via groups.io <greilich@...> wrote:
I would replace the gear bow if it were my plane. Phil Kriley
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Del Schier
Ed,
Velocitys have had the same problem and they have a fix for it. It is a CNC machined aluminum leg extender that is used by cutting off the damaged bottom and clamping it above, probably with flox. I don’t see how your wheel pants would fit on again. I saw them on a retractable Velocity gear legs.
Del Schier Cozy IV N197DL Cannon Creek Airpark 15FL
From: canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io <canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io> On Behalf Of Ed Hanley
Sent: Saturday, February 6, 2021 11:10 PM To: canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io Subject: [c-a] Long-EZ bent main gear
A local Reno/Stead tenant bent the right main gear of his Long-EZ on landing. While braking he felt the right gear "go mushy" and pulled off the runway and stopped. The gear was smoking, and was bent out at 45°. The plane was equipped with wheel pants, but no heat shield between brake disc and gear. Photos attached.
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Steve Rothert
FYI, I've got an undrilled and never mounted Long-Ez main landing gear. $400 plus shipping
Steve Rothert Colorado Springs, CO 
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gilbert_drieux
Hello,
This is exactly what I remembered seeing in this blog ..... a few years ago ..... I realize that what I had saved this link to Freeflight Composite in my "favorites" Internet.Buy (or machine yourself? ....) a "prosthesis" machined from a block of aluminum.
I am convinced that this is the best and safe solution.
Gilbert-Pierre DRIEUX
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|-------==(_)==--------| VE #1736.
o/ | \o F-PMPZ @ LFPK. Such is life und es wird immer sucher.
De : canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io <canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io> de la part de Henry via groups.io <indycanard@...>
Envoyé : dimanche 7 février 2021 06:16 À : canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io <canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io> Objet : Re: [c-a] Long-EZ bent main gear I’d check in with Free flight Composites. Burrall Sanders makes a metal repair fitting:
Gear Leg Repair Fixtures — Freeflight Composites
Trying to do a “splice” repair with glass would be difficult to do with an adequate taper. I’d just go the metal route. And once repaired, the legs both need heat shields.
On Saturday, February 6, 2021, 8:13 PM, Ed Hanley <ezeflyer@...> wrote:
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Bob Holliston
Somewhere in the C/P's I think there's something about this problem. It seems like RAF had aluminum splints that they would loan out to get people home. Anyone who doesn't have heat shields must be living in a cave. Bob, 2,000 + hours, heat shields and all nylaflow ( or is it nyloflow) brake lines, I forget).
On Sun, Feb 7, 2021 at 4:54 PM gilbert_drieux <gilbert.drieux@...> wrote:
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RAF had a steel splint. But it was just a crutch to get the plane home.
On Sun, Feb 7, 2021, 6:57 PM Bob Holliston <bob.holliston@...> wrote:
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gilbert_drieux
De : canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io <canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io> de la part de gilbert_drieux <gilbert.drieux@...>
Envoyé : lundi 8 février 2021 01:49 À : canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io <canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io> Objet : Re: [c-a] Long-EZ bent main gear
Hello,
This is exactly what I remembered seeing in this blog ..... a few years ago ..... I realize that what I had saved this link to Freeflight Composite in my "favorites" Internet.Buy (or machine yourself? ....) a "prosthesis" machined from a block of aluminum.
I am convinced that this is the best and safe solution.
Gilbert-Pierre DRIEUX
(_
|-------==(_)==--------| VE #1736.
o/ | \o F-PMPZ @ LFPK. Such is life und es wird immer sucher.
De : canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io <canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io> de la part de Henry via groups.io <indycanard@...>
Envoyé : dimanche 7 février 2021 06:16 À : canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io <canard-aviators@canardzone.groups.io> Objet : Re: [c-a] Long-EZ bent main gear I’d check in with Free flight Composites. Burrall Sanders makes a metal repair fitting:
Gear Leg Repair Fixtures — Freeflight Composites
Trying to do a “splice” repair with glass would be difficult to do with an adequate taper. I’d just go the metal route. And once repaired, the legs both need heat shields.
On Saturday, February 6, 2021, 8:13 PM, Ed Hanley <ezeflyer@...> wrote:
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Joesph
Looks expensive to me. Never seen a gear bent like that even after slamming down. Must have gotten very hot.
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On Feb 6, 2021, at 11:14 PM, Ed Hanley <ezeflyer@...> wrote:
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Joesph
So the gear is shorter by the amount of the bend when you’re finished? Your way is the only way I see without removing and replacing the gear.
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On Feb 6, 2021, at 11:37 PM, Keith Spreuer <kspreuer@...> wrote:
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No you build back the taper plus as much length as needed. It is done in two steps, half on the inside and half on the outside. You will need to make a mold to form the shape. I used plaster of paris. It is very strong. I've been flying with this repair for 17 years and not all perfect landings and high gross weights. Keith
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Good Morning Ed, We manufacture those gear out of "S" glass, and while a repair is possible, and has been done before, even by the us here at AeroComposites (Featherlite), you need to go back with the S glass, which is a pain without the equipment to wet it out and such we have here. Also, the bow is post-cured to 200 Deg F. While we do have the S-glass roving that we can sell him, and the process that Kieth has proffered is the way we would do it here, another option would be to remove the bow and we could fix it for him.... Probably still cost around a thousand dollars, Sorry! Another option is, of course, replacing the Bow We are out of stock on new LE main bows right now (They are $897) and we are about 3 weeks out on them, but We have a bow here we picked up some years ago as part of a project that we would sell for $900. It is drilled for the axles, has the wraps, etc, but the mounting tabs are still just 1/4 pilot holes and would need to be fussed with to mount to His plane. I would also fly it over to you. Let me know if I can help you. Ross
On Mon, Feb 8, 2021 at 6:47 AM Keith Spreuer <kspreuer@...> wrote:
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Thank You! Ross Burk 307-277-4642 cell
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