Bill,

I have 1,700 hours on my plane and have never had a problem with the over-center springs.

Something else may be wrong.

On a gravity drop, a little left and right rudder should get the gear down all of the way.

Keep doing that preflight check.

Lorn

> From: Bill Kennedy <bill_kennedy_3@hotmail.com>
> Date: April 30, 2010 2:03:18 PM EDT
>
> I've just discovered that both left and right gear over-center springs on my 320 are broken. I've got just under 600 hours on the plane. Obviously they should have been on my preflight inspection checklist.
>
> I discovered the broken springs while investigating a reluctance of the left main to do a gravity drop to down and locked position. I was a good eight hours into the project when I noticed that the springs didn't look quite right.
>
> I've thought of replacing them each annual, but think a better answer is to check them each preflight. It is very easy to check visually.
>
> Has anyone else had this problem.
>
> Bill Kennedy
> N42BK
--
Lorn H. 'Feathers' Olsen, MAA, ASMEL, ASES, Comm, Inst
DynaComm, Corp., 248-345-0500, mailto:lorn@dynacomm.us
LNC2, FB90/92, O-320-D1F, 1,700 hrs, N31161, Y47, SE Michigan