Front Landing Gear Question

[Paul & Deb]

Hi All,

Suddenly we have very noisy front landing gear. I sprayed what I could get to with silicone but it's still very noisy.

I was checking around and the whole motor seems very loose. Does anyone know if I should feel it moving around? Or should it be solid?

Thanks

 

[Rgreenawalt]

Landing gear drive motor!

Hi All,

Suddenly we have very noisy front landing gear. I sprayed what I could get to with silicone but it's still very noisy.

I was checking around and the whole motor seems very loose. Does anyone know if I should feel it moving around? Or should it be solid?

Thanks

Without actually seeing what causes the noise, it would be hard to say for sure "but"!

I would say the drive motor needs to be solidly mounted to operate correctly and as quiet as it possibly can!

Just my guess.
Bob G

 

[J&G garage]

Ours has some zerk fittings on it near the top where cross shaft attaches to the vertical shafts. Have your lubed these. The Lippert tech told me to give each one about 2 pumps of grease once a year. Or more I suppose if you operate your landing gear alot.

 

[Paul & Deb]

Ours has some zerk fittings on it near the top where cross shaft attaches to the vertical shafts. Have your lubed these. The Lippert tech told me to give each one about 2 pumps of grease once a year. Or more I suppose if you operate your landing gear alot.

I didn't see them on mine and to think I left my grease gun at home.

I was hoping someone who is near their Reflection can get in their front compartment and see if the motor assembly is rock solid or moves.

 

[redram]

I will look in the morning. Don

 

[Dave and Monica]

Hey Paul...I checked mine. The gearbox is not solidly mounted onto the drive leg either though I'm not experiencing any unusual noise.

Dave

 

[Second Chance]

My gearbox is loosely mounted to the landing gear shaft housing, as well - appears to be intentional. About 10 days ago, the bolt that secures the square drive shaft for the passenger side landing gear to the output shaft of the gear box sheared off. I was able to get the remaining middle piece out of the output shaft (it had sheared off both ends and is threaded through the shaft). Fortunately, the bolt sheared off with the gear in the up position, so we were able to pull the rig to the nearest Lowe's and match up a replacement bolt and self-locking nut. We were on the road in about half an hour. My theory is that the gear for the passenger side landing strut was closer to "full-up" than the driver's side strut gear and sheared when the passenger side strut retracted full-stop before the driver's side gear hit the top.

Rob

 

[Centurion]

My 27RL has the loose motor too. I'm hoping its normal as everything works fine. I looked inside the front compartment and located the zerk fittings mentioned in the prior post. I would have never known they were there. Thanks!

 

[Paul & Deb]

Well I got a better look this morning and I did finally identify some zerk fittings. Actually there are 2 on each side. I never noticed them before because they were obviously installed before paint. Now my question is if I need to remove them and try to clean the paint out of the holes or what? Also I don't have my grease gun with me so I guess I need to buy a spare to keep in the trailer or what?

I was glad to hear others with a 'loose" motor I guess. That either means they are installed with play or it could mean there are others that have come loose. What do you think?

 

[jdmuth]

Well I got a better look this morning and I did finally identify some zerk fittings. Actually there are 2 on each side. I never noticed them before because they were obviously installed before paint. Now my question is if I need to remove them and try to clean the paint out of the holes or what? Also I don't have my grease gun with me so I guess I need to buy a spare to keep in the trailer or what?

I was glad to hear others with a 'loose" motor I guess. That either means they are installed with play or it could mean there are others that have come loose. What do you think?

On the grease zerks, you can take a metal pick and push in on the ball the holds the grease in to make sure it is free. Then go ahead and give it a squrt or two.

 

[Paul & Deb]

Stopped at an auto parts store just before we got to today's stop and picked up a small grease gun. Now at least I have a spare I can just keep in the trailer. Anyway, I followed Jeff's suggestion and used a small wire to pop the paint and ensure the ball is free then put a couple of good pumps in each side. Interestingly the DS was easy to get the grease in but the PS it just seemed to come out around the fitting. In any case, no more noise when I activate them so all is good.

Thanks for the help.

 

[jdmuth]

Depending on how much grease, or how the seals are, if it gets hard to pump, there may be enough grease in there. If you see grease coming out from the seals, stop, as it is full.
You should be able to feel it as it pressures up.

 

[WhittleBurner]

If you put in enough grease so you can see it coming out it is too much. Once that happens you have blown the boot which then allows water to get in and dilute the grease causing premature failure. When you feel or see the boot expand , stop.

 

[Paul & Deb]

Hey guys, I have no idea what "boot" or "seals" you are referring to. There is nothing like that visible in the top of the front landing gear. My guess is it's just an open gear box and the zerk fitting are just to get some grease around the sprockets. Maybe some grease around the top of the inner tubes too but I doubt there are any seals in there. I could be wrong I know.

 

[Lingerlonger]

Related to this subject.......

Although the rear stabilizer legs (on many Reflections) are essentially the same design as the front landing gear legs,
there are no grease fittings on the rear legs. I checked, and also double checked with the factory. I guess you just shoot
some silicone spray up there if they get noisy or balky.

K