SonexBuilders.net

For those of you who have had to have your gear legs straightened, where did you get it done, and about how much did it cost?

A hard landing bent the left main gear on my tri-gear sonex, and I want to see if I can get it straightened instead of having to buy (and drill) a new one.

Thanks in advance.

Ray

Ray,
I haven't had a chance to bend mine yet. If I did I would look to the EAA chapter for somebody with a hydraulic press, or use it as an excuse to go to HF and buy one. Alternatively set up some blocks, get a bottle jack, and try to jack up your garage.

I bent a leg and was fortunate to have a friend who worked where there was a 50 ton press. He said that it was scary how much force it took to get it straight again.

radfordc wrote:I bent a leg and was fortunate to have a friend who worked where there was a 50 ton press. He said that it was scary how much force it took to get it straight again.

Scary is right. it takes a lot of reverse bend to get titanium straight again and that is a lot of stored potential energy just waiting to explode if the bar happens to twist a bit under pressure and invert 180 degrees. Use Care.

David A.

I bent my 8 ton HF press trying to straighten mine. I then used a 12 ton and it worked, but just barely. Sonex N1320X.

I think we can forget my jack up the house idea!

Thanks all for the ideas, I'll try to find a machine shop or something to give me a hand with this. I've ordered another leg "just in case"

Ray