Gear didn't extend or retract fully

YankeeClipper · #1 08-05-25, 01:51 PM

Was flying with a CFI who has many hours in early skymasters (like mine) last weekend. Best I can recall, we'd retracted around 120 KT climbing and didn't see a yellow light. We slowed and tried to extend, and now didn't see a green, nor the gear out the windows. Not sure what the state of the nose was at that point, but we cycled once again to get our yellow, and then a green a little while later on descent.

His feeling was basically that s**t happens in older planes when operated near limits and not to worry at this point. He seems knowledgeable and risk-smart (with 100s of hours a year of paid operations in these planes) but thought it was worth checking with you all. Is this something that should be looked at? Was I maybe pushing the margin at 120 KT when first retracting? May not be relevant, but I have the gear door delete mod.

Thanks.

hharney · #2 08-05-25, 02:32 PM

Not a speed issue at those speeds you listed. Did the gear handle ever return to neutral? Have you checked fluid level? Any fluid on the belly left side under pilots feet? Were you at a steep climb?

YankeeClipper · #3 08-05-25, 02:45 PM

I wish I could climb steeply at 120 knots but alas, no. Fairly gentle. I'll confirm with my CFI but I don't think it did pop back to center the times that I did not get a light.

Will check on those items. Where is the fluid level for gear?

Will report back.

hharney · #4 08-09-25, 05:33 PM

There's a sight gauge on the left side just below the storm window but it's 99% of the time completely worthless. On the left firewall there is a pipe fitting just above the battery box that allows to fill the hydraulic tank. Fill with 5606 until it exits below from the overflow. Do this with the gear retracted on jacks. If this is done with gear extended you will overfill the tank and during the first retract it makes a big mess, ask me how I know.