gahorn wrote:The earlier gear on the 170 were interchangeable left/right and had a livelier spring rate than the later "lady leg" gear. Some owners expressed difficulty in learing to land the airplane with such lively gear, particularly wheel-landings because about the time they got the wheels on the ground it would re-bound before they got the yoke forward enough to "stick it" onto the runway. (It has been speculated that many who learned in other airplanes without spring-gear did not develop the skills to land the livelier gear....airplanes such as Aeroncas, Stinsons, Pipers had a much slower/stiffer gear....so the Cessna took some re-learning.) It is felt by some that practice is what is needed ... but that some owners prefer to "buy" their way toward more predictable landings by swapping for lady legs or the 180/185 gear which is much stiffer. And taller. And heavier. And, some say, harder on the airplane.
Those who have it often call it an "upgrade". I do not consider it an upgrade. I consider it an alteration. Depending upon why it was done will color my personal view toward the alteration.
I think the 180/185 gear can be an asset to someone who flies in the outback/boonies where greater prop-to-ground clearance is desired and/or a heavier replacement engine has been installed with a constant speed prop.... but I've not had any difficulty landing the early gear and I wouldn't personally spend any money on a later gear and certainly not a 180/185 gear on a standard airplane even if I occasionally flew out in the boonies.
Our association now owns the STC to perform this alteration.
Do I understand you correctly in that you don't believe that the narrow-ankle (170) gear are better than the earlier, interchangeable gear legs?
I did feel John's airplane easier to land with lady legs, whereas our 170 with the early gear was very springy on asphalt and not as comfortable/predictable when landing on asphalt. I felt right at home with John's airplane. My work around for our airplane was just to land on grass.
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I was hoping that Ed bought lady legs for our airplane, but was pretty disappointed when I read the 180 serial number stamped on them this afternoon. He replaced the 170 with an earlier 180, so he may have just pulled the gear from that and installed later gear on his new airplane. Sounds like they wouldn't be the best choice for an airplane that's being used for tailwheel checkouts...
He also advertised the airplane as having the P Ponk kit installed, but it was not...it was simply included with the sale. I'm beginning to wonder if the solid axles advertised were installed or simply included with the sale of the airplane as well.
Since I don't own the airplane now, I suppose it's none of my concern. I wish my wife would take my proposal of living in the hangar more seriously instead of insisting on buying a house.