This is in response to Craig's posting of 7/10/99 entitled Nose Gear Repair and Percy's reply of 7/13/
Craig.... Unfortunately Percy's advice to you is only too true. You have to remove, repair and re-install the control column to fix it. It's a big job( Oh! those bottom control rods!). Your A&P will probably know how to do it, but if not it was described in Coupe Capers a few years ago in great detail. The control column on the Alon can be removed without cutting anything. I've done it. On the Coupe a non-structual bracket must be cut and later repaired to get it out(per John Wright Sr, I haven't done it). Vertical play is adjusted with shims and side play with replacing bushings as Percy said. I've found that neglected inner shafts tend to wear egg-shaped (wear is on sides at top, and front and back at bottom}. You may find that if you replace the bushings on such a shaft you may not get all the play out. While you have the Control Column assembly out it gives an opportunity to check everything out. If it was me I'd check the weld for "metal embrittlement"(Coupe Capers), the chain and keepers, universal joints and tapered pins, etc. I'd also replace the cables and the quadrant with the improved type, if it hadn't already been done, to get rid of that old AD note. That's assuming you have a Coupe. Also with it on the bench it's a good opportunity to do a preliminary alignment job when reassembling it. You used the subject "Nose Gear Repair" but described the control column problem. If your overall concern is with your nosegear play remember that the Coupe has a nosewheel shimmy dampener, of sorts. It is your one or two hands on the yoke. Every bit of play between your hands and the nosewheel bearing(s) diminishes its effectiveness. Good Luck.....Cliff
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