Gear downlock pins

[Bill Poynter]

I've never been very happy with the way my downlock pins engaged.  Getting them to slide home was more tedious than I liked.  Last week I decided to see what was going on.  I checked the rigging and condition of the retract mechanism and found nothing amiss.  What I did find was that although the downlock pins looked like new, I think they were the early design that Service memo #8 requested be replaced.  The nose of the pin was round like a ball bearing.  I had a pair of the taper-nosed pins similar to Paul Rule's drawing.  They completely resolved the problem.  I've attached a photo so you can compare the old and new pins.  If anyone is planning to replace their gear pins, be aware that the length of the bullet nose may need to differ in order to accomodate variations between individual Cadets.   

[Bill Poynter]

I forgot to mention that I found that the old grease was filled with grit which had to have contributed to the stiffness I was experiencing.  Since there's nothing to protect the downlocks from dirt and grit, frequent cleaning and lubrication would be a good idea.  This is especially true for those operating in a dusty environment.  The pins are easy to service.  Pulling the pin only requires removal of the cover plate and one bolt.