Main gear M20c

[luv737s]

During recent formation flight, pilot noticed my left main was sagging.  Just came out of annual and checked good.  Could air loads be forcing it open?  

Mike

[cliffy]

Did YOU actually see it up on jacks with the wheels in the wells?   

[luv737s]

Yes, and I watched the gear retraction.

[cliffy]

Glad to see you back

Well if your gear was up "tight" on jacks then its nearly impossible for just one leg to hang down due to the mechanics of the system.

Could the report be that a "gear door" was hanging down and not the wheel itself?

This is a much more probable thought. 

If the gear door was not checked to see how tight it was holding closed when on jacks then it can be forced slightly open by wind (airspeed)

I see this as your most probable issue

There are two rods that control how tight the door is pulled up and they probably need adjusting AFTER verifying that the gear leg itself is up and in its normal position.

Hope this helps

[Hank]

My guess is that whoever reported the gear hanging down is unaware that the gear doors don't completely cover the wheels, and that the axle and brakes hang out in the slipstream under the wings. Surely someone has a photo of this from annual? All I have is a short video looking toward the hangar door, so it's hard to see details like this.

[hammdo]

From my C:

 

[cliffy]

1 hour ago, Hank said:

My guess is that whoever reported the gear hanging down is unaware that the gear doors don't completely cover the wheels, and that the axle and brakes hang out in the slipstream under the wings. Surely someone has a photo of this from annual? All I have is a short video looking toward the hangar door, so it's hard to see details like this.

Another very good guess

[carusoam]

Many things can make gear sag, but…

They are mechanically bolted together…

They are either all the way up and locked…

Or all the way down and locked…

If something is sagging…  expect that a tube has bent or broken to allow for that.

Simple inspection of tubes while on the ground.

 

Mooney gear is nice and simple…. No independent suspension… 

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic…

Best regards,

-a-

[cliffy]

If it was bent in flight and hanging down it would be bent on jacks also :-)

[carusoam]

Don has the cleanest Mooney on the planet….  

-a-