Angier,

If you are flying and the gear doesn't come down, opening the dump valve for a fraction of a second and then closing it, fixes the problem.

On a climb out your switch would work but the problem only occurs when there is at least a 50°F temperature raise. Why not just land and open a fitting? To see if you are going to have a problem on the ground, just open and then close the dump valve. The pump should run. If it doesn't, you will have to open a fitting to relieve the pressure. You could also install pressure gauges and just look at them.

The pressure gauges are probably the 1st extra item that should be installed.

The problem with all of the above solutions is that they can require a pilot's time at the worst possible moment.

None of the above solutions would have stopped me from having a gear up landing. At the OM, on an IFR approach, I put the gear lever down. It was very turbulent. I was busy keeping the dirty side down. At 500' I was crabbed 45°. The wind was 6kts on the ground. I just didn't notice that both switches were open.

Wolfgang's pressure switch closer would have saved my bacon.

Lorn

> From: "Greenbacks, UnLtd." <N4ZQ@VERIZON.NET>
> Date: February 17, 2012 1:07:36 PM EST
>
> Seems to me the simplest and least expensive option would be to install a momentary on switch in the cockpit to override and close the open pressure switches.
>
> Just my 2 cents.
>
> Angier Ames
> N3ZQ


--
Lorn H. 'Feathers' Olsen, MAA, ASMEL, ASES, Comm, Inst
DynaComm, Corp., 248-345-0500, mailto:lorn@dynacomm.us
LNC2, FB90/92, O-320-D1F, 1,800 hrs, N31161, Y47, SE Michigan