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SpurHntr's avatar
SpurHntr
Explorer
Sep 26, 2013

Sloppy gearbox????

While giving my new (to me) fiver a once over this weekend, sanitizing h20 system etc I noticed something when using the landing gear...
A super "sloppy" gearbox - twisted quite significantly on the post.
Lugs intact but I bet it rotates 20 degrees on there.
Looks like its Lippert.
Looks like the body of the gearbox is plastic.
Looks intact.
Retracts/extends fine.

This something to be urgently concerned about?

Despite a search, and the fact I've never tore down landing gear, I'm not certain how the system works.
Considering swapping out existing gearbox with aluminum one.

Any input appreciated.

TIA

6 Replies

  • Motor on mine is loose on its mounts by design. Moves all over the place!
  • Thanks BillB
    That makes more sense now, and makes me more relaxed about my findings.
    Appreciated.
  • SpurHntr wrote:

    Is that motor/gearbox all that's preventing landing gear collapse?
    Looks a bit "flimsy"
    Or are there internal features within the landing gear that prevent collapse, say, should the motor's shaft shear off?


    The landing gear are long screws with bevel gears at the top. The legs have captive nuts that move up/down as the screw is turned by the motor through the bevel gears. Even if the motor or cross shaft were to fall off, the legs won't collapse.
    On one occasion, we were breaking camp and only one leg would come up. Turned out that the shaft on the leg farthest from the motor had sheared off where it bolts to the cross shaft. Lucky for me, I carry a 1/2" drive cordless drill and was able to remove the cross shaft, hook the drill to what was left of the input shaft to the leg and raise it. Of course, I had to use my hydraulic jack to get the weight off the leg so the drill would have enough torque to lift it.
  • Have a single motor setup
    Motor goes through a lugged gearbox to drive the legs
    The 4 lugs straddle the post
    But twists markedly on actuation
    Not sure to what degree is normal

    Also
    Is that motor/gearbox all that's preventing landing gear collapse?
    Looks a bit "flimsy"
    Or are there internal features within the landing gear that prevent collapse, say, should the motor's shaft shear off?
  • If you are referring to the motor, I believe they all flex, at least mine does. I don't know exactly why they do but I'm assuming it is a design factor. If you are not talking about the motor & shaft, then I'm not sure. I know this isn't much of an answer but nobody else seems to have made any comments.

    Paul...