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Main Gear legs

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spcialeffects

Joined: 29 Aug 2012
Posts: 306
Location: Kent

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 3:39 am Post subject: Main Gear legs

Hi all

Looking for 2 main gear legs and sockets for a tri gear conversion, preferably new. Please PM me if you have or know of some available, many thanks

JonathanMilbank

Joined: 14 Apr 2012
Posts: 389
Location: Aberdeen area

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 7:46 am Post subject: Re: Main Gear legs

The late great Neville Eyre did my tri-gear conversion about 10 years ago, because although I had completed building my aircraft as a mono 25 years ago, I didn't want to go through the building anguish again. Furthermore he had the jig and the time, while I had neither.



Anyhow he told me that someone in England was making the legs, but he Nev had a pair ready and waiting in his workshop and furthermore they came from a Vans RV? Or at least that's what I seem to remember. Whatever the facts were, I jumped at the chance to pay him for the job to be done properly and promptly.

JonathanMilbank

Joined: 14 Apr 2012
Posts: 389
Location: Aberdeen area

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Main Gear legs

I've just been very reliably informed of the following in an email:



"The Europa tri-gear legs were made by Harmon Lang in the USA, they were a third of the price quoted in the UK. Harmon and his daughter made all the legs for VAN’s aircraft."



Whether they're still doing it, I don't know.

rehn(at)rockisland.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 1:19 pm Post subject: Main Gear legs

Good find on the legs, hopefully works out.

What about the rest of the stuff, front gear, brakes, etc. Does Europa have those? Can you source everything elsewhere?

As a long term mono driver I too have occasionally given consideration to the conversion. I’d like to import Bud also and all his knowledge and experience!

Thanks for keeping us all informed on your search.

Jerry 

Mono XS 914



Sent from my iPad



 	  Quote: 	
		   On Jun 8, 2022, at 10:31 AM, JonathanMilbank <jdmilbank(at)yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

 

 

 

 I've just been very reliably informed of the following in an email:

 

 "The Europa tri-gear legs were made by Harmon Lang in the USA, they were a third of the price quoted in the UK. Harmon and his daughter made all the legs for VAN’s aircraft."

 

 Whether they're still doing it, I don't know.

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=507156#507156

h&jeuropa

Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 645

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 2:52 am Post subject: Re: Main Gear legs

Harman Lang is still in business manufacturing gear legs for various aircraft.  I have just emailed them an inquiry to see if they can still manufacture Europa gear legs.  I'll post their reply on this thread.



Jim Butcher

rehn(at)rockisland.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 7:54 am Post subject: Main Gear legs

Jim

Has Europa discontinued the tri conversion kit? So folks that want it have to source parts themselves?

Jerry 

Mono XS 914

Considered the tri conversion 

Sent from my iPad



 	  Quote: 	
		   On Jun 9, 2022, at 3:56 AM, h&amp;jeuropa <butcher43(at)att.net> wrote:

 

 

 

 Harman Lang is still in business manufacturing gear legs for various aircraft.  I have just emailed them an inquiry to see if they can still manufacture Europa gear legs.  I'll post their reply on this thread.

 

 Jim Butcher

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=507161#507161

spcialeffects

Joined: 29 Aug 2012
Posts: 306
Location: Kent

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 9:09 am Post subject: Re: Main Gear legs

Hey Jim.

I have now found a pair of legs however it will be good information for the group to see if they are indeed still available from this other source. Do they also manufacture the sockets?



Frank

 	  h&jeuropa wrote: 	
		  Harman Lang is still in business manufacturing gear legs for various aircraft.  I have just emailed them an inquiry to see if they can still manufacture Europa gear legs.  I'll post their reply on this thread.



Jim Butcher

spcialeffects

Joined: 29 Aug 2012
Posts: 306
Location: Kent

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 9:11 am Post subject: Re: Main Gear legs

Jim,

Europa do indeed still provide the tri gear conversion with a reasonable lead time. However due to cost I decided to see if I could source the parts from individuals that had them ‘laying around’ in there workshops.



Frank



 	  rehn(at)rockisland.com wrote: 	
		  Jim

Has Europa discontinued the tri conversion kit? So folks that want it have to source parts themselves?

Jerry 

Mono XS 914

Considered the tri conversion 

Sent from my iPad



 	  Quote: 	
		   On Jun 9, 2022, at 3:56 AM, h&amp;jeuropa <butcher43> wrote:

 

 

 

 Harman Lang is still in business manufacturing gear legs for various aircraft.  I have just emailed them an inquiry to see if they can still manufacture Europa gear legs.  I'll post their reply on this thread.

 

 Jim Butcher

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=507161#507161

John Wighton

Joined: 18 May 2010
Posts: 241

Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2022 11:39 pm Post subject: Re: Main Gear legs

After David Stanbridge confirmed the factory would not be supporting the taildragger (TD) conversion we instigated our own version of the main gear legs.  I approached Harmon Lange about 18-24 months ago to make these.



Bearing in mind Europa originally paid $90 for them 20+ years ago, I was hoping that a batch purchase would be possible at a good price.



That wasn't the case, so we set about having our own legs made.  This necessitated some tooling and the need to bend and heat treat the legs.  Even material sourcing in the UK was difficult.



The simple fact is that the cost is huge unless a significant number are ordered and paid for up front.



To alleviate the major issues in manufacture and to enable some adjustability of toe-in/out and camber, we have redesigned the axle part of the leg completely.  This makes them cheaper to produce, adjustable and also provides a means of reliably jacking the aircraft.



The new gear legs are stressed and the compliance data supports the Issue 2 of Mod 11369 (Taildragger conversion), that will become a series or standard Mod.



The new gear legs will also fit trigear - thus making a replacement possible if people find their originals are distorted or have unwanted ground handling traits - due to minor misalignments during installation.



The TD installation instructions are being updated now, there are several in-build in the UK, EU and the USA.  These builds currently use existing trigear legs for the TD mains.  



We will be advertising complete kits for the TD conversion soon, as an alternate to the license and instructions only product available now.



This entire process started back in 2002, the Mod being approved in 2005 and G-MLXP being PtF airworthy since 2011.  2022 will see around 5 build/conversions with a projected 10-15 in 2023.



We are now also offering a turn-key installation service, with an aircraft currently in the bay as we speak.

_________________
John Wighton
Europa XS trigear G-IPOD

SPURPURA

Joined: 04 Apr 2015
Posts: 68
Location: KAPV

Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2022 4:57 am Post subject: Re: Main Gear legs

I had ordered a Trigear conversion kit back in September 2021. They must be still having difficulty sourcing parts. Following this thread in hopes of sourcing the nose gear and main gear myself.

_________________
N951EU - Tri-gear & 912ULS, N77EU- Mono & 914
I'D RATHER HAVE A BOTTLE IN FRONT OF ME THAN A FRONTAL LABOTAMY.

spcialeffects

Joined: 29 Aug 2012
Posts: 306
Location: Kent

Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 2:44 am Post subject: Re: Main Gear legs

Not wanting to start a new thread so though I’d ask here.

I have sourced most of the conversion parts but still need 2 Matco brake calipers and a park brake valve and also a set of springs for nose leg to landing gear frame. If you have some that are surplus to your needs please PM me.



Many thanks

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