Don I'm not sure there is a correct way other than replacing the spar, I'm concerned about the construction methods used by the original builder, 2nd retracts are prone to failure to begin with and with a water cooled Saturn engine hanging up front it only amplifies the load on your gear. Was a weight and balance done? I guess the spar could be repaired but it won't be pretty. Ken Wiltrout Kutztown, Pa
-----Original Message----- From: krnet-bounces+kwiltrout1953=verizon....@mylist.net [mailto:krnet-bounces+kwiltrout1953=verizon....@mylist.net] On Behalf Of captl...@aol.com Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 8:55 AM To: kr...@mylist.net Subject: KR> Cracked spar It was a bad day at the airport. I bought a project that I've been working on about 6 months to get ready for inspection and was to the point that I was doing engine runs and taxiing it around the airport. It has a Saturn engine (125 HP) and retractable tricycle gear. The main gear is the stock gear mounted behind the main spar. During full power run ups I heard a pop and shortly after that a cracking noise, after which the main gear retracted about half way. The problem was the brackets that hold the spring bar to the spar broke just above where they attach at the bottom part of the spar. This allowed the top part that holds the locking mechanism to be pushed up when the gear tried to retract. This caused the spar to crack above the holes drilled to hold the brackets in the top part of the spar. The crack runs parallel along the spar the entire width inside the fuselage. Now the question for you engineer types! I'm trying to figure a way to repair it without having to completely tear the fuselage apart. I was wondering if I could glue the spar back and run doublers on each side of the spar with them continuing though the sides out to the wing attach points? I'm also going to remove the gear which I never liked and change to the Grove type mains and make it a tail dragger. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Don Ray N880DL KR2XL Waco, TX _______________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at http://www.maddyhome.com/krsrch/index.jsp to UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@mylist.net please see other KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.13/500 - Release Date: 10/26/2006
