Vagabond bungees

[redneck]

I've read previous threads on Vag bungees. Mine seem to be very stiff. I can observe almost no flex. I haven’t had the covers off, so I don’t know what part number they are. Don't really mind the stiff feel, but my wheels seem to be out of line. Plane wants to taxi into the weeds to the left, and looking at the gear head-on, it's apparent that the right main wheel/tire is cocked, inward at the top, outward at the bottom. The left tire/wheel appears perfectly straight up and down. I can easily lift the right wheel off the ground from the wing spar attach point and when I bounce that tire once or twice, the tire lines right back up. Next taxi is fine. But after a few taxi turns or after landing, the wheel is cocked inward again, forcing a left taxi turn. No problem on grass, but annoying on asphalt, and in a brisk left crosswind, right rudder is on the stops more than normal. I can live with it, but I’d rather correct it if possible. Any suggestions?

[d.grimm]

Redneck,
I think all Vagabond's have stiff gear, bad geometry of the
design. Sounds like new bungee time, someone said Univair
will install the bungees they sell if you send the struts.
I never put bungees on mine, but I don't think the standard
Cub tool works. Ed Brown might know of the proper tool.
Dave

[Steve Pierce]

I would make sure the struts are sliding freely. There is a tube inside of a tube that slide when you hit a bump with the bungees returning the system to full retraction. If you want to check alignment I would look at this thread.

http://www.shortwingpipers.org/forum...gear-alignment

[andya]

Aicraftspruce reference calls for 1280HD as do most other references. I was told that the proper bungee is the 1080. The 1280 HD has a 950# rating and the 1080 is 750.
Mine came with new 1280HD's and I put on 1080's, still stiff but felt I could get some "cushion" if a hard landing. I did run across the 1080 spec in writing once but have never
found it again.

[Steve Pierce]

Piper Service Memo 12 Shock Cord Rings. It shows 3/4x8 which are 1280s. Seems a bit of overkill to me.

[andya]

I guess you can't ignore the Piper gospel, but the 1280 is way to stiff. The 1080's also stiff but not as
uncomfortable taxiing across a rough taxiway.

[Steve Pierce]

Seems way overkill to me.

[Gilbert Pierce]

Vagabond bungee installation.

[Steve Pierce]

The tool before tightening.

Bungee is stretched

Second bungee stretched

[Steve Pierce]

And then a flick of the wrist and it is on. Same tool I use on the Clipper.