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triumphrider
Joined: 18 Sep 2012
Posts: 25
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 Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:37 pm Post subject: Front Landing Gear Issues/Question (Tricycle Gear) Pulsar XP |
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I love the Pulsar XP. But, the tricycle landing gear is the weak link for my aircraft. I want to solve some safety concerns.
I have replaced a cracked castering nose wheel fork in the first 10 hrs of ownership. Now, while checking the front wheel tension, it appears that the fork hardware is loose at the engine mount where the shock/spring is mounted inside the cowling. When I wiggle front and back, it has a couple of inches of play. That explains the shaking on the last scary landing. The wheel tension is at 10 lbs, so it's not wheel shimmy.
A month ago, I actually lost one of the two Allan bolts on the wheel fork onto the runway (found by the FBO car) and I the wheel locked up and I couldn't clear the runway with an aircraft tight behind me on short final! I had to roll the aircraft off the runway pushing down on the tail to lift the front wheel off the ground and get FBO assistance in towing it to the ramp. My mistake for not rechecking the tightness of the front wheel bolts during preflight. The mechanic used no lock-tite on the install of the new wheel fork and I think didn't tighten fully for fear of cracking the wheel pant.
Why was this wheel pant design used?
Questions for the Pulsar XP Owners:
How does one access this to address this repair-Does it require an engine removal?
Can someone give me an idea for a replacement shock spring? I was told a 500-lb mountain bike shock (unloaded) could be modified to work. Any suggestions?
Is there a better set up for the front wheel than two Allan screws that screw into the wheel rim? Surely, there is a solid axle option-perhaps, on the larger front wheel option?
Can a modification from Tricycle Gear to Tailwheel Gear transformation be done on a completed aircraft? If so, how difficult is it? Has anyone done it? Sure seems like it would solve my problems and concerns of an off runway excursion someday.
I'm mostly on smooth, long paved runways. But, a recent mechanic find has the shop on a grass runway (Indiantown, FL).
Should I just buy the KitFox updated front landing gear (Same unit used in the KitFox Super Sport with larger diameter nose gear, HD fork and rubber shock set up)? It's pretty rich at $1500 before installation.
The A/C, built in 1997 has 860 TT, a 912 UL 80 hp and I've put about 30 Hrs on in the past three months since purchase. I had an 2005 Cessna Skylane before this, so huge change.
Bring ideas, criticisms, etc.
Thanks!
D.Phillips
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briana(at)xtra.co.nz
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:02 pm Post subject: Front Landing Gear Issues/Question (Tricycle Gear) Pulsar XP |
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Some comments relating to your questions - -
Probably need to check the brace strut that the shock spring mounts onto, and the rear engine mount, just to make sure that the mountings are secure and that there are no cracks there.
Yes, it's a bit hard to see under the engine around this area. It may be possible to undo the engine mounting bolts [leaving everything else intact] and lift the engine a couple of inches to see.
The front wheel does have a solid axle. The mounting bolts screw into this, and it can be tightened up against the fork and wheel pant [so long as the wheel pant is a good fit to the fork.]. Maybe use regular bolts here and some sort of locking tab arrangement to prevent the bolts coming loose.
I fitted a Rock Shock mountain bike shock, with 500 lb spring. Fitted centre to centre almost exactly. Works well, 500 hours and 500 landings on seal and grass. I'll send you a photo separately.
I can exceed Vne in level flight with the 912 UL, so other than improving the climb rate a smidgen and burning more fuel I don't think there are any advantages in having more power.
Many Pulsars turned out to be a little "heavy" in the left wing. I think this is due to building tolerances and not ensuring that the wing incidence was the same left and right, during the building process. Actually I think the building instructions should have included comments and suggestions on getting this right. A simple fix is a little trim tab on one aileron. Mine is on the underside of the right aileron, barely visible. Also a number have fitted roll trim systems, since with the Pulsar the trim does depend a deal on whether you have a passenger, and the fuel load.
Brian
On 31/01/2013, at 4:37 PM, triumphrider <investmentsalesconsultant(at)gmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: |
I love the Pulsar XP. But, the tricycle landing gear is the weak link for my aircraft. I want to solve some safety concerns.
I have replaced a cracked castering nose wheel fork in the first 10 hrs of ownership. Now, while checking the front wheel tension, it appears that the fork hardware is loose at the engine mount where the shock/spring is mounted inside the cowling. When I wiggle front and back, it has a couple of inches of play. That explains the shaking on the last scary landing. The wheel tension is at 10 lbs, so it's not wheel shimmy.
A month ago, I actually lost one of the two Allan bolts on the wheel fork onto the runway (found by the FBO car) and I the wheel locked up and I couldn't clear the runway with an aircraft tight behind me on short final! I had to roll the aircraft off the runway pushing down on the tail to lift the front wheel off the ground and get FBO assistance in towing it to the ramp. My mistake for not rechecking the tightness of the front wheel bolts during preflight. The mechanic used no lock-tite on the install of the new wheel fork and I think didn't tighten fully for fear of cracking the wheel pant.
Why was this wheel pant design used?
Questions for the Pulsar XP Owners:
How does one access this to address this repair-Does it require an engine removal?
Can someone give me an idea for a replacement shock spring? I was told a 500-lb mountain bike shock (unloaded) could be modified to work. Any suggestions?
Is there a better set up for the front wheel than two Allan screws that screw into the wheel rim? Surely, there is a solid axle option-perhaps, on the larger front wheel option?
Can a modification from Tricycle Gear to Tailwheel Gear transformation be done on a completed aircraft? If so, how difficult is it? Has anyone done it? Sure seems like it would solve my problems and concerns of an off runway excursion someday.
I'm mostly on smooth, long paved runways. But, a recent mechanic find has the shop on a grass runway (Indiantown, FL).
Should I just buy the KitFox updated front landing gear (Same unit used in the KitFox Super Sport with larger diameter nose gear, HD fork and rubber shock set up)? It's pretty rich at $1500 before installation.
The A/C, built in 1997 has 860 TT, a 912 UL 80 hp and I've put about 30 Hrs on in the past three months since purchase. I had an 2005 Cessna Skylane before this, so huge change.
Bring ideas, criticisms, etc.
Thanks!
D.Phillips
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=393339#393339
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triumphrider
Joined: 18 Sep 2012
Posts: 25
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:09 am Post subject: Re: Front Landing Gear Issues/Question (Tricycle Gear) Pulsa |
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Update:
I had a shop day at the hanger to figure out the slop/shimmy in the front nose gear. The bolts on the front nose gear shock were tight at both ends-I was able to get a small tightening turn out of them. It was all nose shimmy on the nose wheel fork-again. So, I devised a way to loosen the front wheel pant and cut a small window in the front of the nose wheel fork hole in the wheel pant so, you can rotate the wheel pant back and clear the nose gear fork. So, for future tightening/adjusting, I can lift the front wheel off the ground and access the nose wheel fork bolt and cotter pin without taking everything off. I can also, get better access to the tire pressure valve.
(I won't mention the part about the one wheel bolt that won't back off from the last time I had it tightened with lock-tite. : ( I'll deal with that in the future).
I cover the small access hole with my 2 inch 3M White vinyl tape with several layers and it matched the wheel pant that is white-if you don't look too closely. Functional for me.
I've heard wheel tension of 10-15 lbs. to Larry saying 27 lbs. It might be a little trickier to taxi with a tighter wheel fork adjustment, but I'll take that over shimmy anyway. And, it will inevitably loosen a bit. Much more confident in the slow speed rollouts at 40 mph or less.
Still like to find a RockShox for the Pulsar. I've been looking online for the shock and spring combination. Seems harder to find as the technology is obsolete on today's mountain bikes.
Dean Phillips
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briana(at)xtra.co.nz
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 11:36 am Post subject: Front Landing Gear Issues/Question (Tricycle Gear) Pulsar XP |
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Hi Dean,
The Rock Shock I used is quite an old model now. It has been on the plane
for 13 years and continues to work well. I was looking for a replacement
spring a little time back because mine had a little rust, but I ended up
removing the spring and refurbishing it instead. I'm pretty sure that it
would be difficult to find the same shock, but anything of the right length
with a spring about 500 lbs ought to work well.
My trim tab under the right aileron is a strip of aluminium about 5" long,
2" wide, bent down at about a 15 deg angle. It is riveted under the aileron
at the trailing edge, close to where the push rod connects, and the rear
edge is in line with the aileron trailing edge so it is largely invisible to
the casual observer.
I also have electric roll trim which works well to compensate for any
combination of passenger and fuel load.
Brian
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burghgravebp(at)mchsi.com
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| Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2013 6:41 pm Post subject: Front Landing Gear Issues/Question (Tricycle Gear) Pulsar XP |
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I'm not sure what has been used on the Pulsar, but this is the shock I
tested on the nose gear in a StarLite . . . .
http://partsforscooters.com/Welcome?search=126-33
Buzz
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