Bungee replacement

[Tim Eason]

I am a new twin comanche owner and it is time to change the gear bungee. Could anyone give me the gouge on how to do it and what is the best way to accomplish this. Any special tools required and if so where do I get them?

[N3322G]

Hi Tim,

Welcome to Twin Comanche ownership and the ICS Forum. There is a tools loaner programs through ICS and managed by Matt Kurke at Comanche Gear. You can navigate to it from the ICS Home Page under Members Tab and then Tool Loan Program or just click here http://comanchegear.com/ics%20tool%20loan%20program.php

BTW a study was done by a DER who also owns a Twin and I now have the bungees changed on the Twin every annual. They are relatively cheap and it lowers stress on gear components.

Hope this helps.

P.S. Just checked your location in Pathfinder and see you are close by at MWL, we keep ours at 52F. If we need to come to Century any time soon, we'll try to hook up with you. Do enjoy the BBQ at The Pit Stop.

[MULEFLY]

@Tim.... I too replace mine at each annual. There are several mfgs of special tools that make this much easier. One is Bogert Aviation.

http://bogertaviation.com/index.php?pag ... &Itemid=23

Makes changing the bungees about a 30 minute task...

Jim

[Clarence Beintema]

Tim,

Check out the tips section, chapter seven, landing gear, page 51. There is a drawing for a tool which you can make in an hour out of a good piece of hard wood. I've used this tool for 29 years and only this year had to make a new one. Others on line are pushing $300 and don't work any better.

Clarence

[Tim Eason]

Thanks to all who answered. I have ordered a tool and will attempt the change in a couple weeks.Thanks!

[Matt Bogard]

Highly recommend the Bogert tool. Very easy.

Plane on jacks, disengage landing gear motor so gear swings freely. Unlock the knuckle on the nose gear and put a 2x4 or something on the ground under the nose gear tire so it can't go down all the way and lock.
Unscrew the access panel under the wing hiding the bungee.
Move main leg to maximal bungee stretch and fit the single solid Bogie bar into the bungee. As you bring the gear up or down you can slip the bungee off the main landing gear bushing.
You can then turn the entire bungee/bar assembly counterclockwise to unscrew the outboard bushing/mount.
It will all come out of the plane then as one assembly and you can release the old bungee/mount the new bungee with the other part of the Bogie bar mounted in a good vice.
Reinstallation is just the opposite - screw in the outboard part first and then move the MLG leg to fit the bungee over its bushing.
Install the access panel with new screws and nylon washers.
Swing test the gear multiple times, reconnect the motor, drop off jacks.

Another thing to consider - with the new bungees the gear should move very easily; it should only take 2 fingers to push the gear up or down. If it's harder than that, you may need new Webco push-pull conduits.

[Kristin Winter]

While you are at it, make sure that the roller on the bungee arm freely rotates. Usually they don't, and sometimes we find the bungee laying in the bottom of the wing because it rotated off instead of the roller rotating. These are often installed incorrectly or the bolt has been tightened too much and the bushing has been mushroomed.

[Tim Eason]

Thanks to all for the information. I ended up buying a tool from Dave Clark in Arlington,Tx. The tool was a little pricey but it is a well made quality piece of equipment that looks like it will last forever. The tool came with excellent instructions with pictures and Mr. Clark was available for questions over the phone. Bungee change went as advertised. Thanks again to all who responded.