---------------------------------------------------------- Zenith701801-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 12/22/09: 1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 10:20 AM - Re: New style Nose Gear for the 701-801?? (dons701) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 10:20:19 AM PST US Subject: Zenith701801-List: Re: New style Nose Gear for the 701-801?? From: "dons701" For what it's worth, here below is the response to my request of info about the availability of the nose gear for the 701 from Custom Flight Systems. The reason for my curiosity of alternate designs of nose gear (or anything else) is that while tried and true, any design or initial concept can be improved upon in time, especially when it comes to safety improvements. When looking at the incidents involving nose gear on the 701 and others, the bending of the axle allowing tire contact and lock-up, the "fold back" of the gear tube at or near the lower bearing contact area seem to be consistent issues when sufficient hard contact or"arrivals" are made. I read about thicker axles being made, even of solid stainless if i'm not mistaken. In looking at the axle wheel assembly I can understand that due to the requirement of the tire width versus the width of the bearing hub that there is not much support to deliver the force of impact from this bearing hub suspended in the middle of the shaft, back through the wheel fork doubler, then tube and bungee. Solution? If not stonger axles, how about a support brackets added to the axle shaft spacers that would deliver some of the impact back through the fork doubler. Or both. When it comes to the nose gear tube folding back, perhaps having a much wider bearing contact area, (flange bearing ?), may help as this would spread the side (back) force to eliminate the pressure point effect of the 1/4" thick nylon lower bearing. This might eliminate the consequence of the initial denting to the side wall of the tube which weakens it's design strength, allowing the tube wall to collapse. These are just my thoughts, please pick them apart, any and all comments are welcome for the safety of our sport. Thanks in advance and Merry Ho Ho ......... Don Hi Don, We had a inquiry from a 701 owner in the past but no one has installed our nose gear on a 701 to date. The steering shaft is (OD 1-3/8 X .095 thk and 22 long) We can make some modifications if needed. A 1-7/8 X .250 thk 4130 tube cut into bushings will adapted our nose gear to the 2 tube. (PN 03-10600 McMaster Carr). We are using 4 springs with different spring rates instead of heavy and expensive hydraulic damping systems. The rebound has not been reported as an issue to date. Thank you Wade Custom Flight Systems. -------- Zenith 701 #76120 Jabiru 2200A #2456 55 hours Sensenich Wood 64-PJ-36 Prop Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=278589#278589 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message zenith701801-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Zenith701801-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/zenith701801-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/zenith701801-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.