Piper COMANCHE PA-24-180 Service Manual page 205

PIPER COMANCHE SERVICE MANUAL
Figure 6-4. Figure 6-5.
Clamping Rudder Pedal in Neutral Position Rudder Pedals at Neutral Angle
6-16. Alignment of Nose Landing Gear.
a. With no load on the nose wheel, make sure no gaps exist at the points where the steering arm
bushings contact the steering bellcrank but allow the bushings to rotate with a slight drag. Install bushings
(.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:
1. Chalk Line Method:
(a) Place the airplane on a hard level surface and place on jacks. (Refer to Jacking, Section II.)
(b) Install the plumb bob attachment tool on the forward edge of the lower fire wall flange, or on
the two nose gear brace tubes as shown in Figure 6-6 and attach a plumb bob to the tool. (This tool may be
fabricated from dimensions given in Figure 6-38.)
(c) Attach a plumb bob to the fuselage one-half inch to the right from center of the tail skid.
(d) Using the plumb bobs as a guide, snap a chalk line extending several feet beyond each bob.
(e) Stand in front of the nose landing gear and orient the tire with the chalk line. Sight along the
center rib of the tire. With the rudder pedals clamped in neutral position (refer to Figure 6-4), adjust the rod
ends of each nose gear steering rod to position the cockpit rudder pedals fore and aft. The centered angle of
the rudder pedals is 13 degrees aft of the vertical position ( refer to Figure 6-5) with the airplane level. Place a
bubble protractor against the pedal steering tube to check this angle. Do not attempt to make the adjustment
by means of one rod end bearing, but divide the adjustment between the bearings at each end of the steering
rod. A three-eighths inch minimum thread engagement must be held. Check by inserting a wire in the check
hole of the rod.
(f) Measure 20 degrees on each side of the chalk line, intersecting at the pivot point of the
wheel, and check nose landing gear for 20 degrees maximum right and left travel.
Revised: 8/15/98 LANDING GEAR AND BRAKES
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