Nose gear play

[Janat83]

Hello Mooniacs

My airplane (68' M20C) is going for annual in June and today I was looking at my nose gear when airplane was jacked for tire repair. 

See the link below :

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iTFAV5gGAzSPFF286

For experienced people, Is this a normal play on the nose gear?

I don't have any serious shimmy issues at this time however I had very little shimmy twice in the last couple months I don't know if this is related!

Thank you in Advance 

Moustafa Janat 

 

[hammdo]

Might be better to attach photo to post…

-Don

[N201MKTurbo]

That doesn't look terrible. You need to look at the steering horn while you do that and see how its behaving. Also check the main pivot and see if it has any side to side play and any up and down play.

[Ragsf15e]

1 hour ago, Janat83 said:

Hello Mooniacs

My airplane (68' M20C) is going for annual in June and today I was looking at my nose gear when airplane was jacked for tire repair. 

See the link below :

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iTFAV5gGAzSPFF286

For experienced people, Is this a normal play on the nose gear?

I don't have any serious shimmy issues at this time however I had very little shimmy twice in the last couple months I don't know if this is related!

Thank you in Advance 

Moustafa Janat 

 

I noticed mine getting worse during taxi.  Never had any shimmy, but it would hunt while taxiing.  Like there was play in the linkage with the steering centered.  Get your head up under there with it on jacks.  Hold the linkage tight and try to move the nosewheel.  It’s pretty easy to see exactly where it’s loose.

Lasar has most of the hardware available for the nose gear.

[cliffy]

The main pivot bolt can be checked while on jacks by moving the nose wheel fwd and aft, There should be minimal play that way

If its worn, over size parts and reamers are available to fix it. 

It also has an updated torque setting to be checked each annual and it also takes a lot of grease if it hasn't been greased in a while. 

Try to turn the nose wheel left and right and see how much loose play there is  If more than a few degrees each way the linkage 

up in the top of the nose well will need new parts. 

Also look up the SB on checking the angle of caster in the nose wheel assembly by dropping a plumb bob down towards the axle.

This may keep you from taking a ride through the grass some day. 

Edited April 23, 2023 by cliffy
spell

[Fly Boomer]

1 hour ago, cliffy said:

This may keep you from taking a ride through the grass some day. 

Being a Texan, DMAX calls it "the eight-second ride".

[MikeOH]

As a data point, my F is in annual as we speak, and replacement of the nose gear steering horn bolt & bushing is a $300 problem (parts and labor).  I'm certain you could do this yourself under A&P supervision for considerably less; guess I'm lazy this year

[Fly Boomer]

12 minutes ago, MikeOH said:

As a data point, my F is in annual as we speak, and replacement of the nose gear steering horn bolt & bushing is a $300 problem (parts and labor).  I'm certain you could do this yourself under A&P supervision for considerably less; guess I'm lazy this year

$300 sounds pretty good to me.  I just got my insurance quote for another year.  At some point, I'll have to ditch the insurance.  I had hoped to get some of my money back when time to sell.  Maybe I will if I'm lucky.