What size for steel sheet in landing gear?

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PoconoJohn
Posts: 165
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:07 pm

What size for steel sheet in landing gear?

Post by 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
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KenBickers
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue Mar 07, 2017 7:00 pm

Re: What size for steel sheet in landing gear?

Post by 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
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taildrags
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Re: What size for steel sheet in landing gear?

Post by taildrags »

Kinda thought I recognized those turned wood 'streamline' blocks at the bungees ;o)
PoconoJohn
Posts: 165
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:07 pm

Re: What size for steel sheet in landing gear?

Post by PoconoJohn »

KenBickers wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 9:46 am 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!
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KenBickers
Posts: 128
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Re: What size for steel sheet in landing gear?

Post by KenBickers »

taildrags wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:35 am 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
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Richard Roller
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Location: Olathe, Ks.

Re: What size for steel sheet in landing gear?

Post by 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.
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PoconoJohn
Posts: 165
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:07 pm

Re: What size for steel sheet in landing gear?

Post by PoconoJohn »

Richard Roller wrote: Wed Mar 16, 2022 11:57 am 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
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