c) Open the retract unit to fully extend the landing gear leg.
Look straight down the gear leg to see if the axle is oriented perfectly
square with the base of retract unit. It should be very close. If it is
off a little bit, grab hold of the axle and twist it into alignment.
d) Temporarily remove the entire retract unit from the wing.
Use a felt-tip pen to mark the location of the axle boss on the
landing gear wire. Also, mark the side of the leg where the set
screw is engaging the wire -- this mark will be used as a guide for
grinding a flat spot on the wire in the next step.
e) Temporarily remove the axle from the landing gear leg.
Carefully grind a flat spot on the gear leg where the set screw
engages. Put the axle back on the gear leg and double check to
see that the axle stays in correct alignment with the retract unit
when the set screw is tightened.
If not, regrind the flat spot
slightly to correct the angle.
f) Once the flat spot is satisfactory, permanently re-install the
axle onto the gear leg, using Locktite
®
thread locker in the joint and
on the set screw to keep them secure in flight.
g) Repeat steps a) through f) for the right retract unit.
❑
3) Four stamped metal retainer washers are provided for
mounting the main wheels on the axles. (They may not look like
your favorite wheel collars, but they really do work. Once installed,
they won't come off!)
a) Lay one of the retracts on a sturdy bench with the axle boss
resting flat on the bench and the axle itself pointing straight up in
the air. Push one of the wheel retainer washers onto the axle, with
the domed side oriented as shown. It takes a hard push to get the
washer started onto the axle. We do it by pushing firmly down on
the washer using a thumb on each side. Push it all the way down
against the axle boss -- this washer acts as a spacer to keep the
wheel from rubbing against the gear leg.
mounting hole locations onto the plywood mount. Set the retract
unit aside and drill 1/16" dia. pilot holes at the four locations. Screw
the retract unit in place with four T3 x 14 mm P/H Sheet Metal
Screws.
f) Repeat steps a) through e) for the right retract unit.
❑
2) Back to the left retract unit:
a) Locate the axle and install the socket-head set screw part
way in.
b) Set one of the main wheels in the wheel well. Install the
axle onto the wire gear leg and into the wheel at the same time.
Center the wheel in the wheel well, and then, tighten the set screw
with a 2.5 mm hex driver or allen wrench -- don't overtighten the
set screw at this point -- just snug enough to hold the axle from
coming off.
Note: If the wheel is too tight on the axle to rotate freely, drill out
the hole in the wheel with a 4 mm or #20 drill bit.
10