Hey Mokied: I do not recall seeing any response to your request, so here
goes.
First of all, I would check out the entire steering system prior to
making any changes. Get someone to help you put the aircraft in a position
that will allow you to check all the components i.e. lower the tail (Using
weights carefully placed on the horizontal stabilizer or tying it down) until
the nose wheel is just about to come off the ground. Then, turning the
nose wheel slightly from side to side, check where there is any play. There
should be none in the scissors or the steering rod attach point. Try moving
the steering collar up and down - there should be no discernable movement
(you are allowed two thousands (.002 inches) of up and down movement). Inside
the airplane, after removing the cover on the floor, Check for any play in
the steering system. Try moving the control wheel back and forth while
looking at the steering mechanism. By getting the nose wheel turned all the
way
to the left, you should be able to see the rod end and possibly any play.
It is easier to tell by removing the floor board and feeling the rod end
while trying to turn the nose wheel.
Though you suspect the rod end, I think that you will find that you
may have play in one or more areas i.e. the scissors, the nose steering
collar, and/or the steering column itself. When you are checking the steering
column, look for play both fore and aft as well as up and down (there should
be none). You may find that you need a large screw driver to check for up
and down play. Obviously, the scissors is the easiest to get to and repair,
while the steering collar and the control column require more disassembly
and work to repair.
Now to answer your question about replacing the rod end under the
steering column. You will need to be able to turn the nose wheel all the way
to
the left (placing the nose tire on two pieces of aluminum with some grease
between the aluminum will work almost as well as getting the weight off
the nose wheel). I have found that by removing the control stop (on the top
of the control column) and turning the control wheel all the way to the left
you can get to the bolt that holds that rod end in place. It is difficult
to get the cotter pin out, but once it is out, you can remove the bolt and
then by removing the push rod from the steering collar you can pull it
completely out of the airplane and change the rod end. Make sure you
mark/measure how long the rod is before you remove the end, so you can put it
back
the same length as you took out.
Reversing the process should put it all back together.
The steering system has been discussed several times before, so by
checking the archives you should be able to learn more about it.
Lynn Nelsen
In a message dated 2/26/2010 4:15:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
I was wondering if anyone had any experience changing out the ball link
(ball and socket) extrusion that attaches to the pushrod that goes to the
nose wheel for steering. I am talking about the one inside the cockpit by the
yoke control. I have a little bit of shimmy when I land and I think it
will help to change that socket out.
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
