Robert Lamarchina wrote: > > I checked my nose wheel bolts this morning and while I have not had a > shimmy so far, noticed they were on the loose side.How do you tjghten > with respect to the safety wire, Just leave them as they are or does one > have to re-drill a new hole in the bolt? I would have tightened them, > but didn't have the two wrenches needed where I was. Also, anyone have > info on the folding wing plan-Stc? Understood it was a canadian > fellow who has the drawings. Thankyou Robert > > ---------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Robert,
Here's my 2 cents worth on your loose nose wheel bolts. I assume
you
are referring to the bolts that go through the wheel itself and hold the
two halves together. Right?
If this is correct, I think the first thing you will notice is
that the
valve stem will be protruding out at an angle, as opposed to being
straight out of the hole in the wheel. When you approach for a
landing the wheels are not turning but as they touch the ground and give
that little "chirp" they are instantly starting to turn. With me so
far? Okay, so if the wheel bolts are loose they could allow the tire to
"slip" a little on the wheel with that sudden "jerk", thereby eventually
tearing the stem from the innertube and all at once (probably just as
you touch the nosewheel to the ground at about 55 mph +/- a little bit)
you suddenly have a flat tire on the nose of your coupe. Just think what
this will do to your steering at that speed.
If it were on my coupe I would NEVER drill another hole in a bolt
as
this will weaken the bolt, especially as it will be very near the
existing hole. I would either tighten them up and re-safety them,
(depending on their condition etc which I can't see from here) or have a
local A/P look at it and either advise me what to do, or perform the
necessary repairs as needed himself. Whichever you decide to do, if it
was mine I'd get it corrected before I flew it again.
I may be wrong, but I believe the bolts in my nosewheel are not
drilled
for safetywire. I think they have the self-locking (fiber insert) nuts
on them.
As for the folding wing coupe, I heard about it quite some time
ago.
As you say, I think it was in Canada but I've never heard anything more
about it. I'll be watching the replies to you from the rest of the
'group' and see if anyone else has any information about it.
Hope this helps you a little. I never give "advice" to anyone
about
their coupe as I am NOT an A/P. I only express what I might do if the
same thing happened on my coupe. (ie: take my 2 cents worth with a
grain of salt, just consider it as 'food for thought' if you'd like to).
Bob Saville
N3396H 415C
Eugene, OR
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