Zenith Doughnut Front Gear Question - Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers2024-03-29T05:30:46Zhttps://zenith.aero/forum/topics/zenith-doughnut-front-gear-question?commentId=2606393%3AComment%3A718737&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI recently spoke to Roger abo…tag:zenith.aero,2020-04-26:2606393:Comment:7187372020-04-26T16:00:37.738ZJohn Burnshttps://zenith.aero/profile/JohnBurns
<p>I recently spoke to Roger about this and he is currently using 3-M silicone paste. Here is the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon</a> link to the product, but you may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. This makes good sense as a lubricant for the pucks since silicone does not tend to degrade rubber over time the way grease can. I have used similar silicone products when rebuilding pumps.</p>
<p>I recently spoke to Roger about this and he is currently using 3-M silicone paste. Here is the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amazon</a> link to the product, but you may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. This makes good sense as a lubricant for the pucks since silicone does not tend to degrade rubber over time the way grease can. I have used similar silicone products when rebuilding pumps.</p> John is right about greasing…tag:zenith.aero,2020-04-26:2606393:Comment:7189722020-04-26T14:09:09.249ZGary Welchhttps://zenith.aero/profile/GaryWelch
<p>John is right about greasing the tube and between the spaces and donuts. I didn't do this first time around and the ground steering was horrible (worse than the bungee). I had to pull the new install apart to grease it properly and afterwards the steering was perfect.</p>
<p>John is right about greasing the tube and between the spaces and donuts. I didn't do this first time around and the ground steering was horrible (worse than the bungee). I had to pull the new install apart to grease it properly and afterwards the steering was perfect.</p> You definitely need to lubric…tag:zenith.aero,2020-04-26:2606393:Comment:7186392020-04-26T11:51:37.440ZJohn Austinhttps://zenith.aero/profile/JohnLAustin
<p>You definitely need to lubricate the stack and nose gear strut. I polished the area covered by the stack on the strut with a foam-backed abrasive disc so as to remove any roughness and scale. My spacers' i.d.'s were a tight fit so I slightly opened-up the i.d.'s with a table-top oscillating spindle sander. I attempted to open-up the rubber puck's i.d.'s with the sander, also. However, as you know, sanding rubber is not very effective and I don't think I removed much material - the pucks…</p>
<p>You definitely need to lubricate the stack and nose gear strut. I polished the area covered by the stack on the strut with a foam-backed abrasive disc so as to remove any roughness and scale. My spacers' i.d.'s were a tight fit so I slightly opened-up the i.d.'s with a table-top oscillating spindle sander. I attempted to open-up the rubber puck's i.d.'s with the sander, also. However, as you know, sanding rubber is not very effective and I don't think I removed much material - the pucks were still a tight fit (even with lubrication it'll take quite a bit of force to slide them on!), but the suspension seems very supple and compliant so I think I was trying to fix something that "wasn't broke!" I suspect that if any pucks were "too tight," they would quickly wear-in with repeated use.</p>
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<p>At the time of my installation, Roger said to lubricate the strut and between the pucks with white lithium grease, which I did. Last Fall at the Zenith fly-in, Steve said he thought silicone grease is better and would last longer.</p>
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<p>John</p> Oh my. Not any simpler than t…tag:zenith.aero,2020-04-26:2606393:Comment:7189682020-04-26T03:40:57.517ZJerold Ebkehttps://zenith.aero/profile/JeroldEbke
<p>Oh my. Not any simpler than that. I counted and yes I have only 10 spacers.</p>
<p>Thank you John. My face is a bit red at present.</p>
<p>By the way, did you apply any lubricant to main gear tube or between rubber cushions? Seems like things would tend to drag a bit with compression of cushions.</p>
<p>Oh my. Not any simpler than that. I counted and yes I have only 10 spacers.</p>
<p>Thank you John. My face is a bit red at present.</p>
<p>By the way, did you apply any lubricant to main gear tube or between rubber cushions? Seems like things would tend to drag a bit with compression of cushions.</p> Unless there has been a chang…tag:zenith.aero,2020-04-26:2606393:Comment:7186252020-04-26T02:56:53.357ZJohn Austinhttps://zenith.aero/profile/JohnLAustin
<p>Unless there has been a change in the assembly and/or it's different in the 650 vs the 750, there are ten spacers and ten pucks - there is no aluminum spacer at the top of the stack ... you start with an aluminum spacer at the <em>bottom</em> of the stack and alternate with the rubber pucks. At the top of the stack, you should end up with a rubber puck against the new upper stop and not an aluminum spacer. </p>
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<p>BTW, my original instruction sheet that I received with a very early…</p>
<p>Unless there has been a change in the assembly and/or it's different in the 650 vs the 750, there are ten spacers and ten pucks - there is no aluminum spacer at the top of the stack ... you start with an aluminum spacer at the <em>bottom</em> of the stack and alternate with the rubber pucks. At the top of the stack, you should end up with a rubber puck against the new upper stop and not an aluminum spacer. </p>
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<p>BTW, my original instruction sheet that I received with a very early rubber puck kit said you'd end up with a spacer at the top of the stack, but obviously this was incorrect since it would require 11 spacers and I received 10. I called Roger at Zenith and he verified that 10 spacers is the correct number and you do <em>not </em>have a spacer at the top of the stack.</p>
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<p>John</p>
<p>N750A</p>