Hatz Biplane Association

Moving forward with the landing gear and am dealing with the axles. There is a tube that the 1 1/2" diameter axles slide into and are rosette welded in place. All the other landing gear components are then welded to it, and the, for a better term suspension tubes, pivot on it.

Trouble is, the inside diameter of the tube is too close of a tolerance to allow the axle to slide in. Is this outer tube really necessary? If a ring is welded on the axle to support the inboard wheel bearing, can't this tube be eliminated? Am I missing something here?

Wouldn't be sweating this if the axle fit into this outer tube, but since it doesn't, I am!

I cut one side of the outer tube length wise with a hack saw and then slid it into place. I then clamped it tight with worm clamps and welded the seam. Think of it as a length wise rosette weld. I also rosette welded it. I tried many times to do it the plans way, I tried heating and cooling but just ended up wasting material. I was very happy with the result.

How about turning the axles down on a lathe to fit inside the outer tube?

End the cut at the correct position to allow for correct overall length. That's the way mine are. Slide right in, no troubles.

Rick

HC85 wrote:How about turning the axles down on a lathe to fit inside the outer tube?

End the cut at the correct position to allow for correct overall length. That's the way mine are. Slide right in, no troubles.

Rick

Thanks Rick. Got a friend working on that very solution.