Help! Making landing gear

[acerc]

Does anyone here form piano wire or know someone or someplace that does? I need gear for a custom build, another Pitts, and am not sure if I am capable.

 

[Alky6]

Thinking @Bipeguy03 is your man!

 

[acerc]

Thinking @Bipeguy03 is your man!

Thanks, maybe he will see your tag and offer some advice.

 

[Snoopy1]

Do you need the tools or are you prepared to make the tools. I made my self some tools to make piano wire into gear. If you are interested I can send some pictures and what ever other info you need.

 

[acerc]

I have no "Tools" specifically, more than willing to make whatever. My biggest concern is cold bending a large diameter wire, this will be something like 5/16, into a small radius such as 5/8". I don't know if it stresses the metal leaving it vulnerable to breaking. I have made gear with smaller wire a few time's, even did some brazing, without issue.

 

[49dimes]

I have used these before with great success...... But this is would be cool....Cant find any info on it yet......

 

[acerc]

I like the cartoonish one.....

 

[49dimes]

I like the cartoonish one.....

Me too. Looks like one of those "Best Kept Secret" tools that's a "must have" for builders.

 

[Alky6]

I have no "Tools" specifically, more than willing to make whatever. My biggest concern is cold bending a large diameter wire, this will be something like 5/16, into a small radius such as 5/8". I don't know if it stresses the metal leaving it vulnerable to breaking. I have made gear with smaller wire a few time's, even did some brazing, without issue.

If you stick to about 1.5 x the diameter in radius you should be ok. At 5/8” that is 2x. You may wish to consider some mild steel cold roll rod versus the piano wire or drill rod. Less tendency to crack in those tight bends, but you’ll have less “spring” available to you before it takes a permanent set. Probably doesn’t matter much in that application. Where is the tight radius located and how many degrees are you talking?

 

[Snoopy1]

Ok hear goes trying my best to explain this tool and how it works. Bolt is 1/2 socket head screw and the pins are 5/16 drill rod. ( you can use a drill bit or any steel). The bolt is the item that the wire is bent around that is why I used a 1/2 inch bolt because that is the correct radios up to 5/16. Bent 5/16 but never anything heavier. Top plate is just leverage to bend the wire make it as long as you which, it is made from 1 inch wide by 1/4 by the length you need. The smaller block of steel is the block that is held by the vice. When it is in the vice the pin in that block is what stops the P.W from rotating. So you put the wire between the pin and the bolt. The pin in handle is what is used to wrap the wire around bolt. So with bottom part held in the vice with the bolt through both blocks of steel when you rotate the it pivots around the bolt wrapping wire around bolt.