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                           Falco-List Digest Archive
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                     Total Messages Posted Sat 12/31/05: 1
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Today's Message Index:
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     1. 02:14 PM - New Year  (George Richards)
 
 
 
________________________________  Message 1  _____________________________________


Time: 02:14:38 PM PST US
From: George Richards <george@falco.co.nz>
Subject: Falco-List: New Year

Hi Guys,
Happy New Year.

Interesting read on your gear Mike.
FWIW.
My gear has been trouble free to date. Of course I haven't done nearly the
amount of flying that I should have so I can only account for about 100
retractions.. poor effort really. I also fly mainly from seal. I have used
grass a little lately but not nearly as much as our Aussie contingent.

My system has 2 gauge wire up to the panel for the main bus to ensure a good
supply then 14 gauge supplying the motor through 2 x 30A Automotive horn
relays and a 15 A CB. The relays are mounted on the forward side of frame 5.
Each relay has a MOV (Metal Oxide Varistor) across the motor contacts to
reduce reverse current damage. I prefer these to diodes.
My latching relay in the control side of the circuit does what it is
designed to do so loops aren't a problem.

I can't recall having any significant turbulence while retracting that could
produce a reasonable increase in load so can't comment on that either.

One thing I haven't done.. but definitely need to get on to is to have a
warning circuit. VERY slack I know and asking for a significant cock up. It
is on my list as the most important issue when I decide how I want to
implement it. I read your detail with interest Mike.. its on my other
computer but will read it again soon.

I also have switches on the main gear but they are only connected to lights
for gear down and they aren't on the side load strut as they should be. They
are mainly to give me an idea while the nose is the important one. I have
had a false indication with one side twice but fixed it (I hope) by bending
the switch arm a little.

Nose gear door are missing from my machine at present. The doors where
blowing shut with the engine running on the ground so I took them off until
I get time to add a better spring.

What spring system do you have on your doors Mike?

I think longer term it would be nice to come up with some sort of dust
shield for the front screw jack but for the time being mine is OK with
limited dusty field use using the standard Moly grease.

Cheers all.

George
www.falco.co.nz