SERVICE MANUAL & I.C.A. FOR THE 7000 AMPHIBIOUS FLOATS
Revision G Page 41 of 102 P/N 1004646 Doc. No. W7001-24-01
4.1 MAIN GEAR RETRACTION
DESCRIPTION
Refer to Figures 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4A, 4-4B, 4-5
and 4-6 for visual reference.
Retraction and extension of the main gear is
accomplished with a hydraulic rack and pinion
type actuator. The actuator consists of two
opposing pistons connected by a geared rack,
with a rotating pinion gear in the middle.
Hydraulic fluid is transferred from one piston
to the other using an electrically reversible
hydraulic pump located in the empennage of
the aircraft. The differential pressure build up
causes the piston to move, pushing the rack
and rotating the pinion gear and its attached
drive shaft.
Attached to each end of the drive shaft are
actuating arms that drive separate rod linkages
with adjustable rod ends. The drive shaft and
actuating arms have a keyway to prevent
slippage on the rotating drive shaft. The rod
linkages push and pull on the Main Gear Top
Arm Assembly causing it to pivot around a
fixed point. Also attached to the actuators
drive shaft is a visual gear position indicator.
This indicator consists of colored bands that
rotate with the drive shaft allowing the pilot to
visually determine the position of the main
landing gear by looking at a placard on the
deck of the float.
Since the actuator rotates through
approximately 193 degrees, the rod
linkages and the actuating arm pass an over
center point, preventing reverse driving of
the rack and pinion actuator in both the
fully extended and fully retracted positions.
The actuator rotation is adjusted by
setscrews that determine the length of
travel of the actuator pistons. Providing
an over center up-lock prevents inadvertent
main gear extension in the case of a
hydraulic failure.
As a secondary safety to ensure the
geometry remains over center with a
hydraulic failure, a spring is installed on
the actuating arm preventing motion of the
rack and pinion actuator. Since the
retraction mechanism is over center, the
weight of the landing gear and oleo, when
retracted, also prevent the retraction
mechanism from rotating past the over
center point.