What size for steel sheet in landing gear?

[PoconoJohn]

The plans mention "flatten" the end of the tube where it will attach to the lug that's attached to the fuselage. I can't imagine how I'll be able to flatten the end, or how it'll spread out to be 2.5" long to fit at the lug.

My plan is to cut a slit into the tube and weld in a 2.5" wide 1/4" piece of 4130. That''ll give a good weld surface area for the two lugs and eliminate my problem of flattening the end. I'm just not sure how long that piece should be; 4"? 6"? The tube will end maybe an inch or so from the lug.

Like the photo I attached.

Ideas? Thanks.

John C

[KenBickers]

John,

The picture is my landing gear assembly. I'll be happy to measure and post the dimensions of the insert.

It may be a day or two before I can make it to the hangar.

Feel free to send me a PM. We can set up a facetime phone call from the hangar to let you see any aspects of the gear that you want to have measured.

Cheers, Ken

[taildrags]

Kinda thought I recognized those turned wood 'streamline' blocks at the bungees ;o)

[PoconoJohn]

John,

The picture is my landing gear assembly. I'll be happy to measure and post the dimensions of the insert.

It may be a day or two before I can make it to the hangar.

Feel free to send me a PM. We can set up a facetime phone call from the hangar to let you see any aspects of the gear that you want to have measured.

Cheers, Ken

Sounds good Ken. Thanks!

[KenBickers]

Kinda thought I recognized those turned wood 'streamline' blocks at the bungees ;o)

Yes, that's a picture of the "Dream Catcher" gear that was originally built for Arlene Walsh and in your care for many years. I think about the history of that gear frequently.

I'm happy to share anything about it that might be helpful to another Piet builder.

Cheers, Ken

[Richard Roller]

On N34KP Ken heated the tubes and then squeezed them between aluminum blocks (with nice large radius) screwed to vise jaws. He told me there was a strip of wood set to the proper angle attached to the vise to eyeball the tube angle to. I don't know how many attempts it took. He squeezed the tubes and then cut the slots in afterwards.

[PoconoJohn]

On N34KP Ken heated the tubes and then squeezed them between aluminum blocks (with nice large radius) screwed to vise jaws. He told me there was a strip of wood set to the proper angle attached to the vise to eyeball the tube angle to. I don't know how many attempts it took. He squeezed the tubes and then cut the slots in afterwards.20201128_135954.jpg20201128_140000.jpg

Thank you for explaining how it was done and the photos!

John C