Loose nose gear door

[TheTurtle]

plane seems a little more clangy than usual the last few trips until the gear comes up.  Checked the nose gear doors and one feels looser than it used to be.  It always had some play in it but it seems like more now.  Was going to tighten it up but thought Id check in here first as I cant get the jacks until next week.

If I tighten up the slop in the door is there a chance of having issues retracting the gear?  Like I said I cant put it on jacks for another week or 2 but would like to tighten it up now.

How much play/slop is normal?  The right side is pretty solid.  Left has probably a half inch or more.

[kortopates]

You must be missing spacers on both sides of the rod bearing attaching to the nose gear door. When tech's or owners disconnect the rod end from the door for any reason, they tend to loose one or more spacers when they pull the bolt out through the nose door bracket. Unless I miss understand you, there is no tightening other than filling in the space on both sides of the bearing with spacers. For example, mine you 2 spacers back to back on each side of the bolt at the nose gear door bracket for a total of 4 spacers. And these little steel hollow spacers that go over the bolt are very pricey!

[TheTurtle]

1 minute ago, kortopates said:

You must be missing spacers on both sides of the rod bearing attaching to the nose gear door. When tech's or owners disconnect the rod end from the door for any reason, they tend to loose one or more spacers when they pull the bolt out through the nose door bracket. Unless I miss understand you, there is no tightening other than filling in the space on both sides of the bearing with spacers. For example, mine you 2 spacers back to back on each side of the bolt at the nose gear door bracket for a total of 4 spacers. And these little steel hollow spacers that go over the bolt are very pricey!

ah thats possible.  I remember the spacers you speak of.  Pretty sure I got them back on but its possible they are backwards or something.  I remember one being longer than the other.

[kortopates]

Just now, TheTurtle said:

ah thats possible.  I remember the spacers you speak of.  Pretty sure I got them back on but its possible they are backwards or something.  I remember one being longer than the other.

there should be no movement in either direction with the spacers on both sides occupying all the slack.

[Jim Peace]

Just had this on my 64c. Took it to airmods in NJ and all is well. Had the nose gear painted while it was down. Good as new was in 64. 

 

 

 

Edited July 25, 2017 by Jim Peace

[takair]

2 hours ago, TheTurtle said:

plane seems a little more clangy than usual the last few trips until the gear comes up.  Checked the nose gear doors and one feels looser than it used to be.  It always had some play in it but it seems like more now.  Was going to tighten it up but thought Id check in here first as I cant get the jacks until next week.

If I tighten up the slop in the door is there a chance of having issues retracting the gear?  Like I said I cant put it on jacks for another week or 2 but would like to tighten it up now.

How much play/slop is normal?  The right side is pretty solid.  Left has probably a half inch or more.

I would not adjust the doors without swinging the gear.  There is a chance that you get it wrong and have contact with the gear, droopy doors or preload on the doors when closed.

[TheTurtle]

took a closer look today.  The slop isnt in the spacers or the bar its the piano hinge.  Im going to put it on jacks this weekend and see if I can twist lengthen the bar to push it tighter against the hinge.

[Sean S]

There is not much you can do for a hinge except replace it. I have the same issue on mine, hinge purchased from Lasar, talk to Dan! The door will need to be removed to replace the hinge. Fortunately the hinge is screwed to the aircraft side. Unfortunately it is riveted to the door.