Alignment Of Nose Landing Gear - Piper Navajo Chieftain PA-31-350 Service Manual

NAVAJO CHIEFrAIN SERVICE MANUAL
1. To use the fabricated tool to check through travel of the drag link assembly, ascertain that
the gear is in the downlocked position with no hydraulic pressure on the system.
2.
Remove the cotter pins that safety the nuts that secure both upper drag links to their
attachment plates and the lower link to the gear housing.
3.
Place the tool tube through the elongated hole in the tool plate and place the tube over and
between the upper link attachment nuts.
4. Swing the plate up and against the head of the bolt that connects the upper and lower links.
The plate sleeve slides over the nut of the bolt that connects the lower link to the gear housing.
5. Look through the sight hole in the plate to ascertain that the center of the bolt is .063 to
.156 inch below the centerline on the plate.
6.
Remove the tool and reinstall the cotter pins.
j. Adjust the retraction rod (36) to provide a distinct snap-through action as the idler linkage passes
through center.
k. Adjust the idler link stop bolt (30) on the right side of the wheel well so that the linke is .220 to
.280 of an inch through center. A straightedge laid from the attachment bolt heads of the idler link and
retraction rod will give the through travel measurement.
1. Connect the downlock spring (22).
m.
Extend the actuator cylinder with hydraulic pressure from the hand pump and adjust the rod end
(33) until the attachment bolt can be freely inserted. Release pressure and extend the rod end one full turn.
NOTE
Actuator cylinder attachment bolt must remain at the top of the
attachment fitting slot during adjustment.
n. Reinstall attachment bolt and secure. Tighten rod end locknut. Figure 7-8 shows the piston rod
end with installation of locknut and lock.
NOTE
It may be necessary to partially retract gear to tighten locknut.
o. Retract gear and adjust stroke control stop (52) actuator until the uplock bearing (54) clears the
inside of the uplock hook (10) surface by .030 to .060 of an inch. Tighten locknut on stroke control stop.
(Refer to Figure 7-10.)
p. Connect landing gear doors and ascertain doors are properly adjusted.
CAUTION
Ascertain that all rod ends have sufficient thread engagement by
inserting a wire in the check hole of the rod.
7-13. ALIGNMENT OF NOSE LANDING GEAR.
a. With no load on the nose wheel, make sure no gap exists at the points where the steering arm
bushings contact the steering bellcrank, but will allow the bushings to rotate with a slight drag. Install
bushings (.438 dia., P/N 14976-12; .625 dia., P/N 14976-23; .687 dia., P/N 14976-21; .812 dia., P/N
14976-102:.750 dia., P/N 14976-13; 1.00 dia., P/N 14175-113) to obtain proper adjustment.
b. Two methods of aligning the nose landing gear are as follows:
CHALK METHOD:
1. Place the airplane on a smooth level floor that will accommodate the striking of a chalk line.
2. Place the airplane on jacks. (Refer to Jacking, Section II.)
Reissued: 9/23/80
LANDING GEAR AND BRAKE SYSTEM
2E3