Nose Landing Gear Removal; Nose Landing Gear Cleaning, Inspection And Repair - Piper PA-44-180 SEMINOLE Maintenance Manual

NOSE LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY.
REMOVAL OF NOSE LANDING GEAR. (Refer to Figure 32-6.)
1. Place the airplane on jacks. (Refer to Chapter 7.)
WHENEVER THE AIRCRAFT IS PLACED ON JACKS FOR THE PURPOSE
OF MANUALLY RETRACTING THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY, INSURE
T H AT THE NOSE GEAR DOWNLOCK IS FULLY DISENGAGED BEFORE
RELEASING THE NOSE GEAR DRAG LINKS. DAMAGE COULD OCCUR
TO THE DOWN LOCK IF NOT FULLY DISENGAGED.
2. Disconnect both nose gear door actuation rods.
3. Disconnect the two gear tension springs from the spring arm that is attached to the right side of the strut
housing.
4. Retract nose gear slightly to remove the gear from its downlocked position. (See CAUTION.)
5. To remove the upper and lower drag links, the following procedure may be used:
A. Disconnect the aft end of the hydraulic cylinder from the attachment fitting by removing nut and bolt
that connects these two parts.
B. Retract the gear and disconnect the gear downlock spring from the upper drag link.
C. Remove the gear tension spring arm from the right side of the oleo housing and lower drag link by
removing the cotter pin, nut and washer from the bolt that connects the drag link to the housing. Slide
the arm and spacer washer from the bolt.
D. Remove the cotter pin, washers and nuts from the bolts that secure the upper drag link to the nose gear
support.
E. Slide the attachment bolts from the upper and lower drag links and remove the links.
6. With the lower drag link disconnected from the gear oleo housing, the housing may be removed by
removing cotter pins, nuts, washers, and bolts at the attachment points on each side of the housing at the
trunnion support.
7. The steering bellcrank may be removed by removing the nut and bolt at the steering rod, and the bolt
assembly with bushing at the bellcrank pivot point.
CLEANING, INSPECTION AND REPAIR OF NOSE LANDING GEAR.
1. Clean all parts with a suitable dry type cleaning solvent.
2. Inspect the gear components for the following unfavorable conditions:
A. Bolts, bearings and bushings for excess wear, corrosion and damage.
B. Gear housing, drag links, torque links, and tension spring arm for cracks, bends or misalignment.
C. Downlock hook for excess wear of the hook and bearing surfaces.
D. Downlock roller bearing for freedom of movement and excessive wobble.
3. Inspect the gear tension and downlock hook springs for the following:
A. Excess wear or corrosion, especially around the hook portion of the springs. A spring should be
rejected if wear or corrosion exceeds one-quarter the diameter of the spring. Clean away all corrosion
and repaint.
B. Check the gear tension springs for load tensions below minimum allowable tolerances. The minimum
allowable tension of the inner spring is 46 pounds pull at 13.75 inches and the outer is 75 pounds pull
at 13.75 inches. Measurement is taken from the inner side of each hook. If it is found that either
spring should be rejected, replace both springs.
PIPER AIRCRAFT
PA - 4 4 - 1 8 0 / 1 8 0 T
AIRPLANE MAINTENANCE MANUAL
— CAUTION —
2G18
3 2 - 2 2 - 0 2
Page 32-26
Revised: May 15, 1989