M20C Steering

[Alec]

I'm a new owner to a M20C and when taxiing on the ground fairly slow, when i let off the rudder pedals, it very much steers to the left.  I have to hold right rudder to keep it straight.  On take off roll, I really have to hold right rudder a lot to keep it straight right from the get go and it gets worse as I get up to rotate speed.   Is it just the steering rod needs adjusted or is this a sign of something more?  Thanks.

[Kodiakflyer]

Suggest having a mechanic perform a grease plate check where the unloaded plane is rolled onto three sets of (2 each) approximately 1 foot square thin metal, usually tin, plates which have a thin layer of Shell 7 (or equivalent) between them (like an Oreo cookie). This allows the mechanic to observe alignment and rigging tendencies.

It's a great troubleshooting approach and could prevent unnecessary part changes.

[Ragsf15e]

Is the left brake catching?

[carusoam]

Air pressure even L/R..?

Make sure you taxi with your toes off the brakes….  

The plane will try to wander based on the crown of the surface…

 

Of course there are wear items in the nose gear…

Jack the nose off the ground, and see how stiff things are, or how loose they are….

 

There is a procedure for setting the castor(?)… in case your nose decide to dart off at high speeds…

PP thoughts only..

 

Best regards,

-a-

[Utah20Gflyer]

Is your rudder straight when the nose wheel is straight? 

[cliffy]

Jack it up and check for drag on your left main wheel    If draggy fix it. 

If no drag then look at your rudder and nose wheel alignment by stepping out in front and look toward the tail

Rudder should be aligned with the fin and the nose wheel only very slightly askew. 

There is an adjustment degree number in the Maint manual for the nose wheel setting with the rudder aligned

If its out of rig - get it rigged properly ( the ENTIRE airplane)

If the nose gear is wrong then the rest of the airplane is probably out of trim also.

Also then grab the nose wheel and see if you can very easily turn it left and right  (loose)

If it moves more than a few degrees then the steering linkage at the top of the nose wheel well needs repair

Pull the nose wheel fwd and aft to see how much play there is in the pivot bushing. You shouldn't feel any movement fore and aft.

The BIG vertical bolt through the pivot should be checked for proper torque every annual but most do not do this.

The torque spec ahs been lowered since the original manual setting. SB

Make sure the entire gear has been properly greased every 100 hrs (AD requirement)

Add grease to the NG pivot until it squeezes out.

There is a Service Bulletin on how to check the nose wheel caster by dropping a plumb bob down from the nose gear structure.

Its easy to do with the plane on jacks as you can easily level the airplane while on the jacks. 

Also one more important item LOOK very carefully at the nose wheel truss assembly where the turning nose gear touches the 

static gear truss above the nose wheel.

Look for dented tubes there

Turn the nose wheel by hand and you will see where the tubes hit

Any dent deeper than 1/32 of an inch means its unairworthy and needs to be repaired.

Grab your A&P and get to work :-)

[carusoam]

Way to go Cliffy!

I like your writing style!

 

Let’s see if @Alec has been back…?

Best regards,

-a-