Landing gear block

[pawnking]

Here is the deal.... I have had a few not so easy landings and block that holds the landing gear in is shot.:( The wall of the block broke out and has squished the foam back a 1/4'' or so. What's the fix? Do I glue the gear in? Replace the block? What is the best fix? Maybe no gear and put on a skid? Thanks in advance;)

[paulg]

Did you wrap it with string? If that os not done the wood will break.

[Raptor-018]

I would like to recommend you do a repair to the foam area by cutting a piece of foam to fit as best as possible to the crushed area, use epoxy with lots of micro balloons or foam CA.

Rebuild the gear block, and use Spiderwire fishing line to wrap it with - www.spiderwire.com - available almost everywhere. Make sure you groove the edges of the block and be generous on the wraps - this block takes all the abuse on landing. I have had excellent results with my not-so-perfect landing. Only the wire gets bent back, so I simply pull the gear and turn it around...looks fine to me, fly's great.

You really should fly with the gear - you risk prop/motormount damage...

that was my first post! I love this Egde!

[pawnking]

Paulg.... I did wrap the block. I used the dental floss. If you look at my other thread I included a thumb nail of the block after second flight. All for corners are cracked, i never landed that hard. My gear fit was real tite. Watch the video you can see my flight, not the best.. but I am trying : )

Raptor-018... Thanks for the sugestion, I have small thin wire and wished I had used it. Love the plane ... just need to get back up. I will call and see if I can get new block.

[keebler]

In the instructions of the BIPE build, I thought I did it right! But. after I had the landing gear block glued in , I was thinking I did it wrong? I put it in the way the instructions said, and got to looking at it and was wondering if I did it right? the thin section of the block is towards the tail,and I was thinking that the thick part of the block should be towards the tail? did I do it wrong? seems like on a landing the thin wood will break too easy? it's wrapped in dental floss also. It's too late to change it now anyway. will have to change it if it breaks.....:confused:
Oh yeah ! this is my first build ever...:D Thanx

[Raptor-018]

Keebler, go check out PawnKing's thread " My 1st Edge 540"

This is what I had to say about that...make sure the thick maple side is aft, and the lite-ply cap is forward:


PKing, you can repair the block by removing it and using thin CA, and wrap it with the spiderwire - see Landing Gear thread. Also, you need to reverse the block so that the solid piece of the wood side is aft - the aft side takes the brunt of the moment induced on landing - most of the abuse. So, make sure the thick part of the block is aft.

I know alot about crashing...you could say.

[keebler]

Yeah, like I said I will have to wait till it breaks, then I will turn it around..I noticed the position of it after it was glued in place!
I should have paid more attention I guess? that's what happens to some of us newbee's....:confused: I was just trying to build like the instruction's showed... Thanx..

[Jimv]

I wouldn't worry too much. Althought the block was designed to have the thick part facing back, for normal landings, the block will work fine with the thin part to the rear as long as its wrapped. Just try not to dork it.

[Flyingace451]

I fly stunt and sport kites when it's too windy to fly a plane, and I'll be flying demos for my LHS (I work there) sometime this summer, but I have found that kite string works extremely well, but about 5 years ago I was into fishing (I didn't even own a boat, I was simply a pond jumper) and any braided fishing line will work wonders. NOT monofilament line (the clear rubber-type line that can stretch), but braided line will work best. Get some rated for 20 lb test, because it's the smallest you can get in a large quantity (I use it for all kinds of purposes around the house), but it can hold much more weight than that. Very strong stuff.

Dental floss and threads like Kevlar (which you can buy pretty cheaply) are decent, but the fibers pull apart too easily in kevlar and in dental floss it stretches and breaks too easily. Which is why your landing gear block broke.:)

[keebler]

Flyingace451........

hey, cool...you answered my question before I asked it!...:confused:
I have 2500yd. of cortland fly line backing ,It is 20 lb. test. "Bright green" and was thinking of using that for the landing gear block? I'm sure you know what this is. very strong stuff huh?

[bighead93]

Can someone post a pic?

[cjdscratch]

This is what I use. It is Spiderwire braided fishing line from Walmart. It is 20lb. test, cost me $12 and has never let me down.

[bighead93]

Stupid question...what do I do with it? :confused: I am new to the airfoilz 540...I am the winner of the March drawing for the 540 kit:D and thought I would poke around the forums for some tips!

[cjdscratch]

You wrap it around the landing gear block. It is one of the steps in the instruction manual. There is even a picture in the manual and it suggests unwaxed dental floss. But I have found that if you want it bulletproof use the spiderwire braided fishing line.

You are going to love this plane. Congrats on winning the contest.

[Raptor-018]

Man, I just came back from a lunch-date with my Edge...I really abused her this time. It's clear and sunny here, with 5-10mph breezes. It's also a little cool, so my thumbs went knumb after 8 min or so. Well, I did a perfect landing and decided to do a few more. My last landing was ugly, the wind slammed her into the ground and bent the right gear-wire way back, but the wing was not touching - so I took of, of course. Not smart! The landing was, although, gentle, it snapped the prop and bent the gear back even furthur, and I now have my first scuff under the motor bay - the block held!!! - no other damage.

My block is maple side aft - wrapped generously with spiderwire, soaked in thin CA. I used a very thin film of epoxy and microballons to secure it to the fuse, then foam CA'd the cover plates over it...it's been tested to the max now.

[rosamonte]

Okay, I just joined those of you who have broken landing gear blocks. I have read all the treads on how to repair the landing gear block. My question is, how do I get the landing gear block out without busting up my plane? Thanks, Justin

[paulg]

You can peel away the side plate, and use a X-acto blade to cut throw the glue.