nose wheel lateral movement

[airplanesfly]

i have a 1964 m20c and i noticed on the ground the other day that my nose wheel moves laterally on the spindle structure. My mechanic thinks i'm missing a washer of some sort and also mentioned potentially having to replace the entire nose wheel assembly because of wear!! my mechanic put a metal shim in the wheel and this stopped the lateral movement, but he indicated this was just a temp fix. i really don't want to buy a new wheel assembly, so i am trying to figure out if the problem can be fixed by a smaller replacement.  i was reading some other forums and thought it could be that the wheel bearings need to be replaced, But other forums also said you would feel the nose wheel pull the aircraft on touchdown... and i do not feel any pulling on touchdown. it is just freeplay in wheel laterally on the spindle. 

 

 

[carusoam]

Look for a thread that mentions the eight second ride.

It is based on what happens with wear in the nose wheel.

There are rebuild solutions from lasar.com

Sound familiar?

Best regards,

-a-

Almost forgot... Welcome aboard!

[N601RX]

Check the parts manual for pictures, there are sleeves/spacers that go over the axle and center the wheel.

[lamont337]

I replaced a lot NLG parts during my last annual, including the lower retract link and most of the bushings. While jacked, I laid on my back and applied slight pressure in all directions, the whole time looking to see where the play was. I don't think I spent more than a few hundred and as Carusoam mentioned above, Lasar is a great source for all of these parts.

 

The exploded view for these parts is much more clear in the "J" parts manual which can be downloaded for free here: http://wmflyingclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Moonparts.pdf

 

I ended up just printing the drawing, circling what I needed, and sent it along to Lasar. Zero play in the assembly now, very happy with the results. Page 99...

 

Good luck-

[Steve65E-NC]

Sounds like you are missing a hardened outer spacer ring, see parts list.  Who last had that tire off, it is easy for that ring to stick un-noticed to the bearing and then slip away and be lost.   However, I think you need to go to a mechanic who is familiar with Mooney landing gear.  You may need a bushing or some rebuilt components from Lasar, or you may not.  This mechanics reaction to slop on the axel says he is not the right one for this problem, if there is one.

[N201MKTurbo]

Part of replacing the tire is setting the bearing preload which cannot be done without the spacer. Whoever did it last time should be hung from the yard arm.

[mooniac15u]

Sounds like you are missing a hardened outer spacer ring, see parts list.  Who last had that tire off, it is easy for that ring to stick un-noticed to the bearing and then slip away and be lost.   However, I think you need to go to a mechanic who is familiar with Mooney landing gear.  You may need a bushing or some rebuilt components from Lasar, or you may not.  This mechanics reaction to slop on the axel says he is not the right one for this problem, if there is one.

 

If the wheel is moving laterally on the spindle it is most likely just a missing spacer and/or an improperly tightened axle nut.  Just call the parts department at LASAR.  They should be able to hook you up with the correct part.

 

Or, if you are Yetti, you would just machine your own.

[RobertGary1]

  However, I think you need to go to a mechanic who is familiar with Mooney landing gear.  

 

I don't think that's even necessary. Just one that can read a parts manual. Honestly I just can't image trusting a mechanic to tell me he needs to install a random spacer. You don't need to be an A&P to legally remove the wheel and check the parts yourself in reference to the manual.

 

-Robert

[Yetti]

Maybe I would make one maybe not depending on how critical the part is.  Landing gear is pretty critical. And I would guess the spacer is chromoly and I have mild steel and alum.

 

But I could provide the parts manual and drawings for later mooneys. I would go with spacer 26 is missing.

 

 

 

 

 

I think there is a really big spacer on the backside of the nose wheel could also be missing.

[airplanesfly]

i finally have an update... i cornered my mechanic this week and was able to understand that he put in an extra grease seal to the nose wheel to rid of the lateral slop. my mechanic also looked at the wheel again and told me the snap ring has worn away its pre defined groove. he indicated the groove was much bigger than he had seen in other airplane wheels and this was causing the lateral play in the wheel. so, i was told i need a new wheel due to this wear. now, is it better to get both wheel halves, or should i just get one half of the wheel (the half that has the indicated wear) and try to mate it with the old half? i haven't started looking too hard yet, but i'm thinking the part no. wheel I have currently may not be available any more. does any one know what part no. are equivalent? the current wheel is a cleveland... i was tempted to get a wheel from grove...thoughts?

[jetdriven]

I dont think Grove wheels are allowed unless under STC.  The snap ring groove should have been caught by the person who reassembled the wheel.

 

Besides the snap ring only retains the felt grease washer and the washers that go on each side of it. The bearing preload set by the tighness of the axle nut controls wheel lateral movement.  The nut and the spacer stacks up the bearing cone into the outer race.  Something doesnt smell right here.

 

A half if a wheel is nearly 2/3rds the cost of a whole wheel, eBay can come in handy here.

[Yetti]

Wheels are listed in the type data sheet.  http://www.67m20e.com/Mooney%20TCDS%202A3%20Rev%2052%20dtd%209DEC10.pdf%C2'> The outer race against the nut holds the wheel tight.... snap ring just hold the seal in.   I don't like the smell either.

[Guest]

Per the type certificate here are the nose wheel part numbers:

Goodyear Model L5NDB, Assy. No. 95206532

Cleveland Model 40-33

Cleveland Model 40-87

You will have to go to the Cleveland manual to get a break down of the wheel

Clarence

[Andy95W]

"Extra grease seal to get rid of the lateral slop"? "Worn snap ring causing the lateral play"?

Neither one of those statements makes any sense.

If possible, make friends with some folks who are involved in doing their own maintenance around your airport. I'll wager any of them will be able to understand your issue better than your mechanic. I'm a little perturbed that a fellow A&P would tell you things like that.

[airplanesfly]

update!!!  i finally got my mooney to a mooney service center (air mods in new jersey and they were awesome). they found that the felt seals were squashed, the bearings worn, as well as the races, and there was a missing spacer... the one under the nut. tada!!! nose wheel all fixed! they also had to tighten the NLG truss pivot bolt and there was also no pre-load on the gear, so we fixed that. thanks to all for the advice/help on this problem! 

[Yetti]

Exploded parts diagrams are a great thing.  Glad competent people were able to help you out

[carusoam]

Airplanesfly,

You are in my neighborhood. Had you mentioned where you were at, we could have helped you a little better.

Now I'm a bit concerned...

Somebody that 'fixed' your wheel situation the way you described, is also in my neighborhood?

When you get a chance, add some data to your avatar.

Best regards,

-a-

[Yetti]