Pacer and Clipper Landing Gear Repair

[Steve Pierce]

I have been repairing Clipper landing gear for several years. I just built jigs from a new set of Univair wide Pacer gear and repaired a set. The gear can be repaired for a lot less than the price of a new gear leg even if the only part reused is the axle. I'll post some pictures tomorrow.

[Larry Huntley]

I have two Vag projects with bad mains. Can you fix them. If not ,how about a pic of your Clipper jig for ideas to build one for the Vag? Larry Huntley , PA-15 N4555H and PA-17 N4824H.

[Steve Pierce]

I can post a picture of the Cub gear jig. It is more like the Vagabond gear and less complicated than the Clipper and Pacer gear. Does anyone have a good Vagabond gear that they could loan me to build jigs off of?

[Hillbilly]

I can post a picture of the Cub gear jig. It is more like the Vagabond gear and less complicated than the Clipper and Pacer gear. Does anyone have a good Vagabond gear that they could loan me to build jigs off of?

Steve, In a previous life I was a Jig maker for a large company. I have built jigs as you describe by jigging a completed part but
the best jigs are built from a blueprint of the part, that way you don't have to rely on the part being a "perfect specimen" If you have a blueprint of the L/G in question I can build you a "dead nuts" (tolerance on the money) jig. -Hillbilly

[Steve Pierce]

It would be great to have the Vagabond landing gear drawing but I don't and don't know of a source. I did get the Clipper landing gear drawing. Here are some pictures of a Cub/Super Cub gear on top of the jig which could easily be done for a Vag.

[pistoncan]

It would be great to have the Vagabond landing gear drawing but I don't and don't know of a source. I did get the Clipper landing gear drawing. Here are some pictures of a Cub/Super Cub gear on top of the jig which could easily be done for a Vag.

Steve, Isn;t piper drawing 11554 on the cd the correct print? Gary

[Steve Pierce]

You got it Gary. I should have looked at the Vagabond CD instead of the other one.

[Hillbilly]

If i can be of any assistance Steve, just let me know.
I think the most common error in building a jig from a print is neglecting to count the material thickness from a given centerline. -Hillbilly

[Steve Pierce]

I have found it to be a lot easier to check dimensions and build the jig off the actual part rather than a print. Quicker, easier and less room for error.

On the Clipper gear the rear tube is .035" wall. The Pacer uses .049". I substituted the .049" wall tube on my Clipper gear.

[JohnW]

Less room for YOUR error, maybe! But... "That's the way we always did it" don't mean it was always right! No way to tell if there's an error built-in to your sample piece, and "not being able to bolt it up" is actually the LEAST important error on a gearleg. Whaddaya think, Hillbilly?