Dominator nose spring?

[scottessex]

Dang! Just broke another nose spring on the dominator.
Does anyone have an improvement over the small leaf springs?

[mark treidel]

Scott, just out of curiosity, what were you doing when it broke?
I'm sure it is the result of constant usage & wear but I was trying to compare to mine.
Do you use a runway or grass or rough field most of the time? I try to keep a spare on hand. Perhaps you can have Ernie prepare one for you of a bit thicker spring steel.

[scottessex]

I was dialing in my prop, I flew the runway about 6 times and then taxied back up to the hangar and "POP!" This is the second one that has broken, just snapped clean through.
Yes I fly off grass 99% of the time.

[panda_nzzz]

Have a look at this one. Looks good to me.
http://www.autoflight.co.nz/dominator/frontsusp-2.jpg

[Alan_Cheatham]

What process, if any, are you using to heat treat the Dominator spring?

.

[scottessex]

I wish I knew, then I'd just make a few spares. I bought them right from Ernie, and each set has failed in less than 2 years. I wish I knew more about heat treating.

[Alan_Cheatham]

To properly heat treat steel requires the right equipment capable of controlling the process, just heating the material to some shade of red and dunking in oil will do something but is not likely to do the job right. I would be interested in learning how RFD does their springs as failures appear to be a common problem.

.

[mark treidel]

Scott,
As you well know, flying off of grass works the suspension system much harder than a runway. If you got two years out of a spring, you are doing good. Unless I changed out the entire front fork assembly, I simply have to make do with keeping a spare on hand. Kinda like inner tubes, its there if you need it. I change mine out every other annual as routine precautionary maintainance. If you come up with a good solution, please let us all know.

[AirScooter]

Did it break at the weld where the tube is welded on? In the middle? Or at the bolt together point. I would place my be on right beside the weld. The springs are more than likely made out of an alloy that is formed in a soft state and when heat treated turns to spring. If it broke near the weld, I would assume that the weld hardened or turned the alloy to spring, then the whole spring was treated that area becomes to hard beside the weld and breaks. But if my theory is correct, I still do not know what the answer for a permanent fix is.

What about a bicycle mono-shock or mono-spring that is used on rear suspensions of mountain bikes. They are usually pretty short and could possibly be mounted where the leaf springs normally are.

[scottessex]

They have broken right in the middle.

[Brent_Brown]

why not use a real spring?

[MikeBoyette]

Scott Call Me 813-802-8031

[Doug Riley]

Interesting. I flew my Dom tandem off grass exclusively, doing endless student T&G's. The spring never broke; the nosewheel fork was my weak link.

[BUD ONEAL]

been flying mine off grass for at least 15 years and nary a crack.

[Doug Riley]

Bud, my Dom. was a 2-place with a light engine. Lots more weight on the nosewheel, whether flown 2-up or solo front seat. About 140 lb. on that skinny stick. I think the nosewheel load on a 1-place is about 50 lb.

Even a 2-place would do better than mine did if it had a heavy engine like a Soob, pushing the CG back.

[BUD ONEAL]

Bud, my Dom. was a 2-place with a light engine. Lots more weight on the nosewheel, whether flown 2-up or solo front seat. About 140 lb. on that skinny stick. I think the nosewheel load on a 1-place is about 50 lb.

Even a 2-place would do better than mine did if it had a heavy engine like a Soob, pushing the CG back.

I understand.