Corked Nose Wheel
Moderators: Rick, Lance Murray
- MarkA
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- First Name: Mark
- Aircraft Type: DA40
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
It's possible that I may be able to help continue this effort and likely have access to the 3D design and printing tools needed. Let me know what you find out from Bret. Thanks!
2010 DA40 XLS, N123MZ, KHIO
https://youtu.be/LuQr6mGxffg
https://youtu.be/LuQr6mGxffg
- Rick
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
Just talked to Bret. He says he has the resin and other supplies on order, and expects to have the first fin for the newer-style NLG faring ready to go in a couple of weeks. I'm the beta tester for that one, and if that all goes well, he said he will continue to make them for others that want them. I'll keep you posted here...
Roanoke, VA (KROA)
- smoss
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
After flying 2 flights recently with left crosswind takeoffs, and subsequent corked nosewheel the whole flights, I am seriously ready for a solution. How difficult is the 3D process Mark? Assuming the cost of materials is small, especially compared to fiberglass, is it possible to just "eyeball" a virtual fin, print it, then make changes based on trial and error? I am happy to help in whatever way I could.
Steve
DA40 XL
DA40 XL
- waynemcc999
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
Steve, in the meantime as we wait for a fin... I’ve found that increasing nose wheel tension to 18 pounds (as documented by several of us here) largely solves the corking problem.
Wayne
Wayne
Wayne McClelland
PPL/IR, 2008 Diamond Star DA40-XLS 40.922, KSBA
Photo logs of PilotsNPaws | Flying Doctors | Angel Flight | YouTube @GeezerGeekPilot
PPL/IR, 2008 Diamond Star DA40-XLS 40.922, KSBA
Photo logs of PilotsNPaws | Flying Doctors | Angel Flight | YouTube @GeezerGeekPilot
- briankelly327
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
So far Ive been using the procedure to tension to 18lbs which works, but it loosens up over time.
An alternative theory to fix the corked nose wheel issue is to tape two straws vertically to either side of the rear of the nose wheel fairing. This way when the nose wheel moves out to one side and encounters the rush of air not shielded why the NLG strut, it will be pushed back into place, rather than sucked into the moving air.
The theory is that the NLG strut blocks the air over the nose wheel fairing, leaving two high velocity streams on either side of the nose wheel. Each of these streams want to suck the nose wheel in, corking it to one side or the other.
Id be willing to try this myself but Im fearful of any side effects or imbalance or flutter. But Im fairly certain the rudder on the DA-42 has a similar setup, with a trim tab that looks like a T, keeping the rudder pointed straight back.
With all this said, Id love a fin for the newer style wheel fairings once Rick and Bret have completed flight testing.
An alternative theory to fix the corked nose wheel issue is to tape two straws vertically to either side of the rear of the nose wheel fairing. This way when the nose wheel moves out to one side and encounters the rush of air not shielded why the NLG strut, it will be pushed back into place, rather than sucked into the moving air.
The theory is that the NLG strut blocks the air over the nose wheel fairing, leaving two high velocity streams on either side of the nose wheel. Each of these streams want to suck the nose wheel in, corking it to one side or the other.
Id be willing to try this myself but Im fearful of any side effects or imbalance or flutter. But Im fairly certain the rudder on the DA-42 has a similar setup, with a trim tab that looks like a T, keeping the rudder pointed straight back.
With all this said, Id love a fin for the newer style wheel fairings once Rick and Bret have completed flight testing.
- smoss
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
Had another corked flight after a left crosswind takeoff... and I'm desperate to find a solution. Looking at the picture of the fin, it looks really easy to design and 3D print, but without some type of scanner, the bottom curvature would be trial and error. Using freebie tinkercad site, I created a 2 minute rough start that looks close. Tinkercad estimates commercial printing cost at $80. I cannot upload .stl files here, but PM me if you want the file to look at and play with, or try if you have a printer.
Steve
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- Rick
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
Unfortunately, I don't have anything new to report. Still no word from Bret - I'll ping him again after the holidays and see if I can at least get the model and any other information he has.
Roanoke, VA (KROA)
- MarkA
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
Rich wrote: ↑Thu Jun 13, 2019 5:14 pm Got to get a check of rudder trim and a stable airspeed assessment today. Not a bump in the air to be found, as I was flying early. Rudder trim set neutral (as recommended) plane flies with the ball centered and feet on the floor with the following conditions:
Wt: ~ 2040 lb.
CG: 96 in.
RPM: 2450
MAP (full throttle): 23.2
DA: 8000 ft.
TAS: 147 Kn.
POH number for this DA: 134 Kn.
Plus that annoying tendency for the A/P to fly with the left wing low is gone.
Now the tough stuff. Annual next month. Talked to my mechanic. He'd prefer it not be there when he does the annual, but otherwise he "knows nothing". So there's that.
Fin1.jpg
Fin2.jpg
Rich, I was thing about trying to create a fin for my 2010 XLS (newer wheel pant shape) using a 3D printer. Next time you're out at your plane, can you measure and send me the thickness of the fin and the width and length of the base plate that attaches to the wheel pant?
Thanks!
2010 DA40 XLS, N123MZ, KHIO
https://youtu.be/LuQr6mGxffg
https://youtu.be/LuQr6mGxffg
- Rich
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
Should have measurements by tomorrow night.
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5
- Rich
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Re: Corked Nose Wheel
Fin thickness: ~ 7.5 mmMarkA wrote: ↑Fri Dec 27, 2019 3:35 amRich wrote: ↑Thu Jun 13, 2019 5:14 pm Got to get a check of rudder trim and a stable airspeed assessment today. Not a bump in the air to be found, as I was flying early. Rudder trim set neutral (as recommended) plane flies with the ball centered and feet on the floor with the following conditions:
Wt: ~ 2040 lb.
CG: 96 in.
RPM: 2450
MAP (full throttle): 23.2
DA: 8000 ft.
TAS: 147 Kn.
POH number for this DA: 134 Kn.
Plus that annoying tendency for the A/P to fly with the left wing low is gone.
Now the tough stuff. Annual next month. Talked to my mechanic. He'd prefer it not be there when he does the annual, but otherwise he "knows nothing". So there's that.
Fin1.jpg
Fin2.jpg
Rich, I was thing about trying to create a fin for my 2010 XLS (newer wheel pant shape) using a 3D printer. Next time you're out at your plane, can you measure and send me the thickness of the fin and the width and length of the base plate that attaches to the wheel pant?
Thanks!
Base plate width/thickness: 25/7 mm
Length of base plate: 33 cm (330 mm)
Note that the trailing edge of the base plate lines up with the trailing edge of the fairing. There's a possibility you'll need to tweak the base plate length due to differences between my old fat-gear fairing and yours. If it's not clear from the pictures I posted, the fin is flush with the right edge of the base plate which aligns it pretty well with the fairing seam. The fastening screws are offset on the left side, lining up with the mounting holes for the fairing itself. I'm guessing getting some poster-board, using trial-and-error to figure out the contour of the fairing is in your future
2002 DA40-180: MT, PowerFlow, 530W/430W, KAP140, ext. baggage, 1090 ES out, 2646 MTOW, 40gal., Surefly, Flightstream 210, Orion 600 LED, XeVision, Aspen E5