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Bent gear leg question...

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Arizona Flyer

Joined: 09 May 2013
Posts: 31
Location: Casa Grande Arizona

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:38 am Post subject: Bent gear leg question...

One of my Firestar II gear legs have a slight bow from a hard landing. It causes no problems but when the plane is sitting, the wings are not quite level. If I put a straight edge on the bowed gear leg, there is about a 1/4" gap in the center. Is it ok to straighten it with a press of some type? I think I asked Travis at Kolb once and he said no, but he might have thought it is bent quite a bit more than it really is? I'm thinking about leaving the gear leg on the plane and taking channel iron to the top side and using some blocks then taking a strong clamp to press the bow out. What do you guys think? Is it ok to bend a slight bow out of one gear leg? I think this Firestar was built in 1997, built by Gary Aman. The gear legs are light in color, looks like aluminum, but are probably stainless spring steel something like that.

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agramjak(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 12:17 pm Post subject: Bent gear leg question...

Gear legs are straightened all the time. I used a hydrolic (sp) jack and a fixture made from 2x8 and metal strapping material



Sent from my iPhone



 	  Quote: 	
		   On Mar 30, 2014, at 1:38 PM, "Arizona Flyer" <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 One of my Firestar II gear legs have a slight bow from a hard landing. It causes no problems but when the plane is sitting, the wings are not quite level. If I put a straight edge on the bowed gear leg, there is about a 1/4" gap in the center. Is it ok to straighten it with a press of some type? I think I asked Travis at Kolb once and he said no, but he might have thought it is bent quite a bit more than it really is? I'm thinking about leaving the gear leg on the plane and taking channel iron to the top side and using some blocks then taking a strong clamp to press the bow out. What do you guys think? Is it ok to bend a slight bow out of one gear leg? I think this Firestar was built in 1997, built by Gary Aman. The gear legs are light in color, looks like aluminum, but are probably stainless spring steel something like that.

 

 --------

 &quot;Life should be lived as a bold adventure, I refuse to tiptoe through life just to arrive safely at death&quot;

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=421296#421296

undoctor

Joined: 21 Oct 2008
Posts: 212
Location: Bethelhem, PA

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 1:19 pm Post subject: Bent gear leg question...

When I bought my FF I found a gear leg was bent.  I got a pipe bender 

from Harbor Freight for a little less than 100 bucks and it worked 

great.  Haven't needed to use it since so it was a pricy leg 

straightening but at least now I have it for any need it's good for.



Dave Kulp

Bethlehem, PA

FireFly 11DMK



On 3/30/2014 4:17 PM, Will Ricketts wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 Gear legs are straightened all the time. I used a hydrolic (sp) jack and a fixture made from 2x8 and metal strapping material



 Sent from my iPhone



> On Mar 30, 2014, at 1:38 PM, "Arizona Flyer" <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com> wrote:

>

> 

>

> One of my Firestar II gear legs have a slight bow from a hard landing. It causes no problems but when the plane is sitting, the wings are not quite level. If I put a straight edge on the bowed gear leg, there is about a 1/4" gap in the center. Is it ok to straighten it with a press of some type? I think I asked Travis at Kolb once and he said no, but he might have thought it is bent quite a bit more than it really is? I'm thinking about leaving the gear leg on the plane and taking channel iron to the top side and using some blocks then taking a strong clamp to press the bow out. What do you guys think? Is it ok to bend a slight bow out of one gear leg? I think this Firestar was built in 1997, built by Gary Aman. The gear legs are light in color, looks like aluminum, but are probably stainless spring steel something like that.

>

> --------

> &quot;Life should be lived as a bold adventure, I refuse to tiptoe through life just to arrive safely at death&quot;

>

>

> Read this topic online here:

>

> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=421296#421296

>

>




	




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lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 1:52 pm Post subject: Bent gear leg question...

All the normal advice seems a bit slow, so I guess I will chime in. Just turn your gear leg over and bend it back with normal flying.Larry



 On Sun, Mar 30, 2014 at 12:38 PM, Arizona Flyer <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com (heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Arizona Flyer" <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com (heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com)>

 

 One of my Firestar II gear legs have a slight bow from a hard landing. It causes no problems but when the plane is sitting, the wings are not quite level. If I put a straight edge on the bowed gear leg, there is about a 1/4" gap in the center. Is it ok to straighten it with a press of some type? I think I asked Travis at Kolb once and he said no, but he might have thought it is bent quite a bit more than it really is? I'm thinking about leaving the gear leg on the plane and taking channel iron to the top side and using some blocks then taking a strong clamp to press the bow out. What do you guys think? Is it ok to bend a slight bow out of one gear leg? I think this Firestar was built in 1997, built by Gary Aman. The gear legs are light in color, looks like aluminum, but are probably stainless spring steel something like that.

  

 --------

 "Life should be lived as a bold adventure, I refuse to tiptoe through life just to arrive safely at death"

 

 

 

 

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 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=421296#421296

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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michaelrorth

Joined: 04 Feb 2011
Posts: 65

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:04 pm Post subject: Bent gear leg question...

1. Park on a hillside.  Or....

  

 2. Bend the other leg to match.

 Michael

        From: Larry Cottrell (lcottrell1020(at)gmail.com) 

 Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 2:51 PM

 To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com (kolb-list(at)matronics.com) 

 Subject: Re: Bent gear leg  question...



   All the normal advice seems a bit slow, so I guess I will chime in.  Just turn your gear leg over and bend it back with normal flying.  Larry



 



 On Sun, Mar 30, 2014 at 12:38 PM, Arizona Flyer <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com (heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  -->    Kolb-List message posted by: "Arizona Flyer" <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com (heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com)>



One    of my Firestar II gear legs have a slight bow from a hard landing. It causes    no problems but when the plane is sitting, the wings are not quite level. If I    put a straight edge on the bowed gear leg, there is about a 1/4" gap in the    center. Is it ok to straighten it with a press of some type? I think I asked    Travis at Kolb once and he said no, but he might have thought it is bent quite    a bit more than it really is? I'm thinking about leaving the gear leg on the    plane and taking channel iron to the top side and using some blocks then    taking a strong clamp to press the bow out. What do you guys think? Is it ok    to bend a slight bow out of one gear leg? I think this Firestar was built in    1997, built by Gary Aman. The gear legs are light in color, looks like    aluminum, but are probably stainless spring steel something like    that.



--------

"Life should be lived as a bold adventure, I refuse    to tiptoe through life just to arrive safely at death"





Read    this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=421296#421296



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neilsenrm(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 2:08 pm Post subject: Bent gear leg question...

Seems like I have heard bend it back straight once maybe twice if it is a small bend but replace it after that. On my forth landing I bend mine, big time. There was no bending it back so I replaced it after one bend.  



Rick Neilsen

Redrive VW Powered MKIIIC 

On Sun, Mar 30, 2014 at 5:19 PM, David Kulp <undoctor(at)ptd.net (undoctor(at)ptd.net)> wrote:

  [quote]--> Kolb-List message posted by: David Kulp <undoctor(at)ptd.net (undoctor(at)ptd.net)>

   

 When I bought my FF I found a gear leg was bent.  I got a pipe bender from Harbor Freight for a little less than 100 bucks and it worked great.  Haven't needed to use it since so it was a pricy leg straightening but at least now I have it for any need it's good for.

   

 Dave Kulp

 Bethlehem, PA

 FireFly 11DMK

 

 On 3/30/2014 4:17 PM, Will Ricketts wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		   --> Kolb-List message posted by: Will Ricketts <agramjak(at)gmail.com (agramjak(at)gmail.com)>

 

 Gear legs are straightened all the time. I used a hydrolic (sp) jack and a fixture made from 2x8 and metal strapping material

 

 Sent from my iPhone

 

  	  Quote: 	
		   On Mar 30, 2014, at 1:38 PM, "Arizona Flyer" <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com (heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:

 

 --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Arizona Flyer" <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com (heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com)>

 

 One of my Firestar II gear legs have a slight bow from a hard landing. It causes no problems but when the plane is sitting, the wings are not quite level. If I put a straight edge on the bowed gear leg, there is about a 1/4" gap in the center. Is it ok to straighten it with a press of some type? I think I asked Travis at Kolb once and he said no, but he might have thought it is bent quite a bit more than it really is? I'm thinking about leaving the gear leg on the plane and taking channel iron to the top side and using some blocks then taking a strong clamp to press the bow out. What do you guys think? Is it ok to bend a slight bow out of one gear leg? I think this Firestar was built in 1997, built by Gary Aman. The gear legs are light in color, looks like aluminum, but are probably stainless spring steel something like that.

   

 --------

 &quot;Life should be lived as a bold adventure, I refuse to tiptoe through life just to arrive safely at death&quot;

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=421296#421296

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 	
 

 

 

 

 

 	
 

 

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zeprep251(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 4:42 am Post subject: Bent gear leg question...

Who knows what they are made of now Jeff. That was a couple owners ago. BUT I still have a set of Fiberglas

Legs with the fittings at home. Makes it ride smoothly but so flexible it would toe in when pulled backward into the trailer,making it hard to pull  so I put the aluminum ones back on. 



Sent from my iPhone



 	  Quote: 	
		   On Mar 30, 2014, at 2:38 PM, "Arizona Flyer" <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 One of my Firestar II gear legs have a slight bow from a hard landing. It causes no problems but when the plane is sitting, the wings are not quite level. If I put a straight edge on the bowed gear leg, there is about a 1/4" gap in the center. Is it ok to straighten it with a press of some type? I think I asked Travis at Kolb once and he said no, but he might have thought it is bent quite a bit more than it really is? I'm thinking about leaving the gear leg on the plane and taking channel iron to the top side and using some blocks then taking a strong clamp to press the bow out. What do you guys think? Is it ok to bend a slight bow out of one gear leg? I think this Firestar was built in 1997, built by Gary Aman. The gear legs are light in color, looks like aluminum, but are probably stainless spring steel something like that.

 

 --------

 &quot;Life should be lived as a bold adventure, I refuse to tiptoe through life just to arrive safely at death&quot;

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=421296#421296

woody

Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Posts: 22
Location: Gulf Coast

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Bent gear leg question...

I managed to bend mine too. The original legs are made out of 7075 aluminum. 

Kolb wanted $125 apiece for them. My leg bent & splayed out & it tracked badly so I went with spring steel.

When I pulled the leg I noticed that it had been replaced in the past more than once by the holes in the frame & legs. 

I built my own legs out of 4130 steel & had them heat treated. I don't expect to have to straighten them but John Hauck says it can be done.

I had about $250 in the set with welding, machining & heat treat.

rickofudall

Joined: 19 Sep 2009
Posts: 1392
Location: Udall, KS, USA

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 7:16 pm Post subject: Bent gear leg question...

If you have a bolt on axle fitting, the gear leg is 7075-T6 aluminum. If the gear leg an the axle fitting are welded the gear leg is normalized 4130 steel. Since it's bent it's unlikely that someone followed Hauck's advice and had it heat treated, and since you say it is silver, it's most likely aluminum. My friendship with Mr Hydraulic Press is pretty well documented in the archives so I'll give you the same advice Travis gave me. Wait until you stop bending gear legs and then switch from aluminum to steel because gear legs are a whole lot cheaper than fuselage weldments.

Rick Girard

On Mon, Mar 31, 2014 at 7:41 AM, Gary Aman <zeprep251(at)aol.com (zeprep251(at)aol.com)> wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  --> Kolb-List message posted by: Gary Aman <zeprep251(at)aol.com (zeprep251(at)aol.com)>

 Who knows what they are made of now Jeff. That was a couple owners ago. BUT I still have a set of Fiberglas

 Legs with the fittings at home. Makes it ride smoothly but so flexible it would toe in when pulled backward into the trailer,making it hard to pull  so I put the aluminum ones back on.

 Sent from my iPhone

 > On Mar 30, 2014, at 2:38 PM, "Arizona Flyer" <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com (heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com)> wrote:

 >

 > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Arizona Flyer" <heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com (heracesthesun(at)yahoo.com)>

 >

 > One of my Firestar II gear legs have a slight bow from a hard landing. It causes no problems but when the plane is sitting, the wings are not quite level. If I put a straight edge on the bowed gear leg, there is about a 1/4" gap in the center. Is it ok to straighten it with a press of some type? I think I asked Travis at Kolb once and he said no, but he might have thought it is bent quite a bit more than it really is? I'm thinking about leaving the gear leg on the plane and taking channel iron to the top side and using some blocks then taking a strong clamp to press the bow out. What do you guys think? Is it ok to bend a slight bow out of one gear leg? I think this Firestar was built in 1997, built by Gary Aman. The gear legs are light in color, looks like aluminum, but are probably stainless spring steel something like that.

  >

 > --------

 > &quot;Life should be lived as a bold adventure, I refuse to tiptoe through life just to arrive safely at death&quot;

 >

 >

 >

 >

 > Read this topic online here:

 >

 > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=421296#421296

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

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Arizona Flyer

Joined: 09 May 2013
Posts: 31
Location: Casa Grande Arizona

Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2014 1:12 pm Post subject: Re: Bent gear leg question...

Whoops, I forgot to thank you all for your input about my slightly bent gear leg, very helpful info thanks! Thanks also to Gary, hope you are doing well my friend

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