Steve, I also have an early model, ser. # 285. When I replaced my donuts and installed the top spacer a couple of years ago I found the following: 1. Yes, the donut assembly does drop down when the gear is jacked up. 2. The right gear donut assembly cleared the wing panels and front spar fine. 3. The left gear donut assembly WOULD NOT clear the front spar. My IA had to remove a small amount of the bottom rear lip (in a U shape fashion) of the spar cap so the donuts and spacers would drop down fully and not hang up on the front spar. 4. Yes, you can use wood blocks and an automotive floor jack to raise the wing at the gear joint. This is not a safe practice, however, to leave it for long in this position. You can also raise the wing on your back and place a padded saw horse under it as you propose. 5. You don't have to remove wing panels, only the fairing at the wing attach point and, of course, the main gear fairings. 6. You're correct, the top bolts are hard to reach but once you get in there you'll figure it out. The results of adding the spacers are worth the hassle. The tail comes up nicely and you will have better control on take off run (can hold it on the ground longer), improves control during taxi and sticks to the ground better on landing. All in all, it's a great improvement. Let us know how it works out for you and good luck! Jim AZ, N-87112 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sunday, April 18, 1999 7:22 AM Subject: Landing Gear Spacers
>Coupers, > >There's been recent discussion concerning spacers, so now is the time for my >questions. I have Coupe serial number 510, and as such, the mains are the >welded steel structure, rather than the forged aluminum (serial number 813 >and up). The knee joint is not open for placement of a rod for jacking. Is it >OK to place the cup of an auto jack on the knee, and jack it up until the >gear is off the ground and fully extended (rubber stop to stop)? I then plan >on placing a padded saw horse under the wing at the main spar. Is this the >best place to support the wing? Can it be left supported like this, from a >structural safety point of view, for extended periods of time? This type of >landing gear has the donuts up inside the wing, and looks to be difficult to >access. Do any wing panels have to be removed? Does the assembly drop down. >out of the wing, after jacking and bolt removal? Maybe I'm making too big of >a deal about all this, but past experience proves that Murphy's law will take >control when I get a tool in my hands! > >Thanks in advance for your suggestions. > >Steve V. >N87337
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