Tipsy Nipper

Hi All,

I recently replaced my u/c rubbers during my Annual. I had an original "lever" type u/c tool which I used during the restoration. It worked ok but it was difficult hauling on the tool and getting the u/c bolts in. So, I have devised this tool that worked very well, with no heaving, sweating or poking holes in fabric when you slip pulling on the rubbers.
1-Suspend a/c from hangar roof or hoist by cross tube behind seat at outermost extremity. IMPORANT: the a/c will tip onto a wingtip when u/c is clear of the floor, make sure you put tressels under the wings with foam on to protect the wing.
2-Install tool and spread rubbers so there is no load on the u/c rubber A frame and remove fwd top bolt and bottom bolt on one side only.
3-Retract tool to remove load on rubbers so the old rubbers can be slipped off and new ones on.
4-Spread tool sufficiently to enable reinstallation of bolts.
5-Retract tool and remove from a/c.

Simple!

Herewith photos of the tooling and installation.[/attachment]

You cleaver clogs!
Genius!!
I WILL be copying this one.
Thanks for sharing this Neil.
Could you give me a bell on
01980 611530 , or
07969 531619....... Important breaking news.
Good for all of us in the comunity.
Had a good flight on Sat. Pushing the envelope little by little
Kind regards Pat,
ASXI

Where can I purchase a set of undercarriage rubbers? I'd like to get a set in stock, and I'll certainly copy the fitting technique!

Jim

GAVTC

Hi Jim,

Nk&C may still have some in stock, Alan did get a batch made some time ago......good luck.

One of the photos shows the old and new rubbers, you can see they are stretched in comparison to the new ones. The a/c sits higher now. But remember, always lift the tail if the a/c is going to sit for a while to take the load off of the u/c rubbers.

All the best,

Neil

Well done Neil, what a great idea I will also be manufacturing one of those.

Cheers

Stuart

I was sent an email which may be of interest to us all which I am posting with his permission:

Neil

I've attached some photos of a more practical solution. Sourced from LAS they are 2 x 1080HD bungee rings fitted in a figure of eight. No modifications required to fit them and they have stood up well for the last 2 years. I never bother lifting the tail and the bungees show no sign of wear. The only thing extra I fitted was a length of screwed rod with 2 large washers at each end inserted through the small tube that runs fore-and-aft that the rubbers rest against. This was only done to stop the bungees slipping over the end of the tube ( a pretty unlikely event unless they were really stretched ).
Hope this is of interest.


The additional bolts were fitted after this photo was taken.

All the best,
Neil

On which aircraft are these fitted? (an English permit one or another?)

Willem

Hi Willem,

I don't know the Reg', sorry.

Neil