Today had a failure of my RD-1B gear drive.  It couldn't have happened at a
better time, I was just taxiing off the runway at my home airport.  I just
finished flying 200 mi. to Santa Paula to help Paul with the getting of Mike
Wills airplane back into the air.  Flight home was otherwise unevenful and
beautiful.  I didn't bother taking it apart, but will do so tomorrow.  Feels
like I may have broken the sun gear pin again but will have to wait until
tomorrow to be sure.  The strange thing is that nothing particularly
stressed it.

Sorry there is not cause I can report... a little suspense until tomorrow.

--
David Leonard

Turbo Rotary RV-6 N4VY
http://N4VY.RotaryRoster.net
http://RotaryRoster.net

We had a big go around about that years ago.
I know you had that happen before. Do you remember
what changes you made?

You are on the cutting edge Dave with that high power turbo.
Michael Hart, You might need to add another pin on yours.
If necessary send it to me and I will have Jim Poole do it.

Paul Lamar


Dave,
What were your initial symptoms of gear-box failure?  When my earlier Ross
unit failed in flight there were no in-flight symptoms other than a slight
harmonic change.  The horrible truth awaited my draining of the oil out of
the PSRU.  Shiny metallic chips in the oil told the story.

Tom P.

As I recall Tom your Ross had a machining problem and consequently tooth
failure. The shear pins will give no easy warning of imminent failure. Well not
easy to implement but it could be done with some sort of optical device
that measures torsional deflection. The ultimate solution is have the input
shaft and sun gear machined out of one solid chunk material. Not cheap.
Larry Childs could do it I am sure. Jeff Doddridge too. My guess is a couple
of hundred bucks.

Here are some old pictures of Tom's gear failure.

Paul Lamar

                       

Paul,

I will send the RDB1.I would rather have Jim do it than myself.Good thing that I had it already dismounted from the engine to get the damper plate measures that you requested.I will let you know when I send it .

Michael Hart

After re-reading Tracy's site I think he is set up to do that cheaply.
http://www.rotaryaviation.com/

Let me know if that does not work out and I will get Jim Poole to do it.

Paul Lamar