Bolt-on axles

[Zzz]

In a moment of deep meditation, it occurred to me that it would be nice to have bolt-on axles for ease of alignment. This is one of the few elements of the design that I'm not excited about. Has any retrofitted their quickbuild gear for this? if I recall, there is a design/engineering change to the plans in recent years for beefing up the axle with an insert. Is that right?

The round plate is obviously not enough to bolt through, but if one were to trim the 1.5" tubing down to about 3/8" extending outward of the round plate, you could weld a new thick 3/8" donut onto it, which would be substantial enough for bolting through.

Thoughts? I've got to trim back my gear leg fairings soon in anticipation of bushwheels at a later date. Several people have advised me that now is the time to do it, hence my closer look at the gear legs.

Thanks.
Z

[marcusofcotton]

Correct on the insert, there had been some troubles. I've contemplated doing a bolt on axle on my scratch built but still undecided. Haven't designed it but had thought much along what you're thinking. I agree that shims seem easier to correct alignment than the alternatives. Haven't compared weights, might the aluminum axle actually save weight??? Matco says their's will not fail...

Mark J

[Battson]

My alignment was perfect on both sides, to within 0.05 of a degree (i.e. less than I could actually measure).

If you have a newer kit, chances are you also have the newer flange plate design that reduces the chances of fatigue cracking in the weld. But then again, the gear strengthening mod is very simple. The issue (singular I believe?) experienced that prompted this mod was on an aircraft doing very heavy duty on rough strips / off airport, without the added cushioning of bushwheels. There was also a stress-raiser in the weld, left behind accidentially by the builder.

You would be adding quite a lot of extra weld and complexity by changing to a bolted axle. That means more possible failure points. The question I would ask is, are the benefits worth the added risk of gear failure?

The landing gear is one of my favourite parts of the BH design, it performs flawlessly in the backcountry.

[Gerhard Rieger]

I am going for the bolt on axles from Matco, I have made a insert that press into the tube and it took a 2 ton press to do that and will now fit a steel fitting that will press over the insert and then weld to the landing legs as well to make it robust enough for off runway use, the Matco axles will then bolt to that and can be shimmed for alignment.

[Gerhard Rieger]

Attached is a Photo of my landing legs with disc and inner axle