Landing Gear Party

Since my last post I've been finishing a couple last minute details on the landing gear. I have also been cleaning and rearranging the shop. Wow...did it need it. I didn't realize how much of a mess I let it become. I needed help lifting the airplane onto a tall (34.5") workbench to install the landing gear. I figured at least four guys could do the lifting, a guy on the tail for control, and then a guy to pull the old fuselage stand out and push the new table in. Well since this was such a major milestone, and I needed help, I decided to have a "Landing Gear Party". Invite everyone over that would be interested in the plane; we lift the plane, install gear, set it back down...and then eat and talk about flying. A fun night. When it was all done I just kinda stared at the plane for a while, so cool.

A couple notes:
Remember to tape up any antenna cables hanging under the plane. I just tied them to a string and shoved them back in the hole and taped the string in place.
My left gear required a bit of sanding before it even came close to sliding in the hole.
I had one guy lifting the tail and two guys pulling down on the engine mount to compress the elastomers.

All in all it was easy work.

Estimated Accumulated Time 
Last post - March 28th -4.0hrs- Landing gear work, cleaning the plane (organizing and cleaning shop not included in time)

Here a few pictures from the night.

Standing on her own!

Landing Gear Work and Engine Mount

As I previously posted I am using the MATCO wheels and brakes instead of the stock set up. They will perform better in almost every fashion a wheel and brake can over the stock ones. So far the install has been good. At first I found the order of how all the parts are supposed to go together a little confusing. The instructions leave a lot to be desired. After I figured out that puzzle things started sliding together very easily....until the cotter pin. There is a large cotter pin that slides through the main wheel axle nut. This nut is about 1.75" wide and there are a series of holes on the top that you make line up with some holes in the axle. To make it worse the wheel blocks access to the hole so the pin has to be slightly bent and forced into the hole. It was late on a Sunday night and I was tired...a queue that I should have just stopped and went inside. But nooo... I wanted to get this last part finished. Long story short I left the shop frustrated because this stupid pin wouldn't go in....but I came back prepared...see pics below.

Oh yeah...and Kris stopped by to help me with the engine mount. Frustrating installation trying to get everything lined but it came out ok. Note for future builders: do NOT follow Van's instructions instead start drilling the center holes first and then move to the outer ones. Remember that as long as the pilot hole is fully encompassed in the larger hole you're good to drill.

Dates and Times
Mon 10 -1.0hr- tried to figure out brake install

Wed 12 -3.0hrs- alodined parts for landing gear, Kris over to help install engine mount. 

Sat 15 -4.75hrs- proto handle (more to come on this) and wheels and brakes. 

Sun 16 -3.75hrs- main landing gear work

Wed 19 -1.25hrs- landing gear work

Working on main landing gear

Starting assembling the nose gear. I need to get a force scale to finish this part up.

This is what I came back to the shop with....a MASSIVE wrench...this baby is 18" long and can turn nuts up to 2" wide....haha take that axle nut. The job was easy after I had this.

Main landing gear waiting for a couple last steps and then ready for install!

Engine mount bolted in place.

They get so much easier as they get older. She had a lot of fun hanging out with Daddy in the shop. Walking around and playing on her blanket. In this picture she is playing with sandpaper rolls...lot's of fun!

Started Landing Gear

With the cabin top riveted on and the doors on hold for now I decided it's time to work on the landing gear. I received my MATCO and Desser Tires order a while ago and can finally crack open the packaging. MATCO has come up with properly sized wheels, brakes, and axles for the RV-10 so if you remember I deleted a lot of things from the finishing kit and this order is what replaces those items, but new and improved.

MATCO Order

• • Main Wheels / Brakes:
  • •  http://www.matcomfg.com/WHLBRKWI600RV10CONFIG-idv-3814-4.html
    • Order two: WHLWI600XLT-2
  • Main Wheel Spacers
  • • http://www.matcomfg.com/SPACERSLEEVEAXLERV10-idv-3816-44.html 
    • Order two: WHLARV10SL
  • Washers for Mains
  • • http://www.matcomfg.com/WASHERA6150-idv-3203-35.html 
    • Order two: MSCTRA1.5
  • Nose Wheel:
  • • http://www.matcomfg.com/NOSEWHEEL5125-idv-2839-6.html 
    • Order one: WHLNW511.25
  • Front Axle:
  • • http://www.matcomfg.com/AXLEASSEMBLYA24125INCH-idv-3657-1.html 
    • Order one: WHLAXLE24
  • Front Axle Spacer Kit
  • • http://www.matcomfg.com/SPACERAXLE24KIT-idv-3681-44.html 
    • Order one: WHLA24SPKIT

Desser Tire Order

Dates and Times
Tues 4 -1.0 hr- Finished bucking some rivets in the upper fwd fuse
Wed 5 -1.25 hrs- Cut cowl attach hinges to length.
Sat 8 -4.25 hrs- Drilled, deburred, countersunk, prepped, and painted the hinges.
                         I painted the hinges with a high temp engine paint.
                         Put tubes in tires using tire talc.
                         Mounted tires on wheels.
Sun 9 -4.75 hrs- Prepped, primed, and painted nose fork and main wheel fairing brackets.
                          Riveted cowl attach hinges in place.
                          Installed Firewall Heatshield.
                          Started looking at installing engine mount.


The MATCO stuff was a bit confusing so put together a step by step on how to assemble everything.
Step 1: Install bearings in wheels. If final install be sure pack bearing with grease. I used an automotive bearing grease that operates to -40F and some ridiculously hot temperature.

Step 2: The collar is in place.

Step 3: U-1003 with bolts as shown in plans.

Step 4: Place MATCO assembly on bolts.

Step 5: Slide spacers into place. As I have in the past I just ordered some spacers off Mcmaster Carr instead of trying to cut three spacers the same length. These are more exact and therefore will handle the loads better.

Step 6: Place the U-1010 Bracket and bolt into place.

When the time comes to actually put all this on the aircraft it all goes in as an assembly and then the wheels slide on...it'll make sense when you do it.


NOTE: my bracket required some clearance trimming.

Also note that the hydraulic fitting will be very close to the bracket.