Question on belleville main springs: I just bought a 415-C with the dual fork nose gear, and it's drooping a bit (about 68" at the tail). When I pulled the main gear cover to see if the rubber donuts were in need of replacement, I found it has bellevilles. Can anyone tell me how long the belleville stack should be (compressed or uncompressed)? It has a dual fork, and I figure I'll need to add spacers, but I don't know how you tell if the bellevilles need replacement (other than the obvious collapsed washer). There is a bit of slop when the stack is uncompressed. I assume that the belleville stack will need to be compressed to put the snap ring on similar to the donut stack? Also, can anyone tell me whether these things need lubrication during assembly (and if so, what kind)?
Thanks, Chris --- In [email protected], "kgassert" <kgass...@...> wrote: > > Ed, > > The spacers are not part of the stack. They are on top of it and add > to the height and subtract from the travel. I will have to agree that > the springs will probably not compress as much as the donuts, even > new ones, when the weight is on the gear. But I would have to see it > to believe it would be enough. It was not in my case. Are you going > to make it to the Nationals and/or OSH? > > Kevin > > --- In [email protected], "Ed Burkhead" <ed@> wrote: > > > > > > Kevin wrote: > > > I see no physical way the springs can raise the tail. There is > only > > > so much distance between where the stack sits on the strut and the > > > snap ring on the top that holds it all together. The donuts and > > > springs are the same height and fit between the same stopper and > snap > > > ring. I needed spacers on my Ercoupe that had springs. Anyone out > > > there have springs and a double fork that does not need spacers? > > > > Kevin, > > > > I'm thinking that the spacers and the Belleville springs have the > same > > effect: They make the stack taller when the stack is compressed by > the > > weight of the plane while on the ground. > > > > When the weight is off the plane, the stack expands to the limits. > > > > When the weight is on the stack, it compresses till the resistance > matches > > the weight. > > > > Apparently, good, new Belleville springs hold the compressed stack > up higher > > than do compressed donuts. > > > > Ed > > >
