1974 M20C Ranger - Nose Gear Play Noted During Annual Inspection

[FlySafe]

Hello all,

 

I recently had my 1974 M20C Ranger in for its annual inspection (a new shop, not an MSC, but some experience in make and model), and they noticed some play in the nose gear. I’ve attached a video link for reference. There’s no ground shimmer during taxi or landing, and everything feels stable, but the play caught our attention. I’ve searched through the maintenance manual but couldn’t find any specific tolerance limits regarding nose gear play.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15VBGaubPO-E5mtGMee9vACe65R7zJ1XG/view?usp=sharing

 

Has anyone else encountered this? Is this level of play typical for the M20C, or is it something that needs to be addressed? I appreciate any insights or advice.

 

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

Best,  

Kurt

[47U]

12 minutes ago, FlySafe said:

Has anyone else encountered this? Is this level of play typical for the M20C, or is it something that needs to be addressed? I appreciate any insights or advice.

Mine was way worse than that and I didn’t have any shimmy either.  I don’t think what you have is all that unusual, but someone with experience over many airframes will be along shortly.  

To address it, I’d start with the steering link.  LASAR overhauled mine, just north of one amu.  And they added a zerk so it can be lubricated.  

 

[N201MKTurbo]

That doesn't look bad. You already have the upgraded steering horn. 

You are moving the rudder linkage a little, so it isn't all slop. 

After 40 years of steering horn ownership and maintenance, I would wait till it gets real annoying while taxiing, or you are just wasting money. After it gets annoying, you can shim it up and get a few more hours out of it. When you have to shim it too often, then buy a new one. It is always the shaft the horn rotates around when it retracts. It seems it should have a steel bushing there, but they didn't ask me during the design meetings.

[FlySafe]

15 minutes ago, 47U said:

Mine was way worse than that and I didn’t have any shimmy either.  I don’t think what you have is all that unusual, but someone with experience over many airframes will be along shortly.  

To address it, I’d start with the steering link.  LASAR overhauled mine, just north of one amu.  And they added a zerk so it can be lubricated.  

 

much appreciated

[FlySafe]

12 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

That doesn't look bad. You already have the upgraded steering horn. 

You are moving the rudder linkage a little, so it isn't all slop. 

After 40 years of steering horn ownership and maintenance, I would wait till it gets real annoying while taxiing, or you are just wasting money. After it gets annoying, you can shim it up and get a few more hours out of it. When you have to shim it too often, then buy a new one. It is always the shaft the horn rotates around when it retracts. It seems it should have a steel bushing there, but they didn't ask me during the design meetings.

 You all are awsome, thank you!

[AJ88V]

https://lasar.com/stc-kits/oversize-bushing-kit-laskit122a

https://lasar.com/chassis-hardware/nose-bushing-and-bolt-kit-kit012

[N201MKTurbo]

1 hour ago, AJ88V said:

https://lasar.com/stc-kits/oversize-bushing-kit-laskit122a

https://lasar.com/chassis-hardware/nose-bushing-and-bolt-kit-kit012

Those are good fixes, but have nothing to do with the slop he is showing.

[PT20J]

I agree with Rich. Mine was taking a lot of footwork to taxi straight so I had the steering horn shimmed and a rod end replaced. It’s much better now. 

[Kelpro999]

Inspect the torque tube assembly to chassis hardware, found mine loose causing pedal/ steering free play .

[FlySafe]

6 minutes ago, Kelpro999 said:

Inspect the torque tube assembly to chassis hardware, found mine loose causing pedal/ steering free play .

thank you

[Ragsf15e]

7 hours ago, FlySafe said:

Hello all,

 

I recently had my 1974 M20C Ranger in for its annual inspection (a new shop, not an MSC, but some experience in make and model), and they noticed some play in the nose gear. I’ve attached a video link for reference. There’s no ground shimmer during taxi or landing, and everything feels stable, but the play caught our attention. I’ve searched through the maintenance manual but couldn’t find any specific tolerance limits regarding nose gear play.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15VBGaubPO-E5mtGMee9vACe65R7zJ1XG/view?usp=sharing

 

Has anyone else encountered this? Is this level of play typical for the M20C, or is it something that needs to be addressed? I appreciate any insights or advice.

 

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

Best,  

Kurt

I mean @N201MKTurbo rich answered it well, but once it’s on jacks, you can hold the nosewheel straight while wiggling the linkage to see exactly where it’s coming from.  Mine would “wander” a bit while taxiing and the new bolt/shim was back ordered (I did finally get it) so my IA shimmed it and it’s so much better.  There are lots of rod ends, bolts, shims that can affect it, so make sure it’s nailed down before throwing parts at it (or wait until it’s worse).

Now that I think about it, I think we actually held the linkage still while wiggling the nose gear (up on jacks) to see where the loose parts were.

Edited September 19, 2024 by Ragsf15e

[FlySafe]

2 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

I mean @N201MKTurbo rich answered it well, but once it’s on jacks, you can hold the nosewheel straight while wiggling the linkage to see exactly where it’s coming from.  Mine would “wander” a bit while taxiing and the new bolt/shim was back ordered (I did finally get it) so my IA shimmed it and it’s so much better.  There are lots of rod ends, bolts, shims that can affect it, so make sure it’s nailed down before throwing parts at it (or wait until it’s worse).

Now that I think about it, I think we actually held the linkage still while wiggling the nose gear (up on jacks) to see where the loose parts were.

thanks @Ragsf15e, very helpful

[EricJ]

+1 that that looks like the usual play that is fixed with shims in the horn.    I reshimmed mine last year and it tightened up nicely.    Reshimming just buys more time since it doesn't really address the shaft wear, but it keeps it working nicely for much longer.

[MB65E]

The actuating rod end threads appear like they are moving too. Make sure the jam nut on the steering link from the rudder pedals is secure. Play looks acceptable to me.

-Matt

[cliffy]

When you have it up on jacks try moving the nose  wheel fore and aft for play there also.

The main vertical bolt and bushing can get play in it also especially  if it is not lubed at every Annual AND

having the bolt and nut retightened every annual as a SB (IIRC) says to do AND  again the torque was lessened

many years ago by that SB. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FlySafe]

thank you!