Regarding the nose gear door closing "in three quick jerks", here's a FWIW
to consider.

At some time in my LNC-2's life I began having some problems with my hydro
system (frequent on-off cycling of the pump once retracted) and since it's
easier to change than rebuilding a cylinder, decided to try changing the
hi-pressure cut-off switch first. Seemed reasonable at the time as I still
had one of the original units installed, that came with the kit in '86 and
figured that maybe it was over the hill. I ordered one of the new units from
Vern and put it in and, while testing on jacks, immediately saw the jerking
mentioned during retraction. In particular, the jerking was most noticeable
for the nose wheel - both leg and door.

Since further testing showed that the problem really was a leaky right main
cylinder, I re-installed the old switch and the jerking went away. Thinking
back now, I realize that the jerking may - MAY - have been some sort of
interaction between the new switch dynamics and the leaking cylinder. I
can't remember now whether I put the old switch back before or after fixing
the leak.

As for the nose door not closing, I have seen on early 235's a problem that
seemed to stem from the open port (non-plumbed extension port) apparently
sucking some debris (mud, water, insects or whatever) into the cylinder when
the spring whacks the door open. I have no idea if later models used this
same plumbing on the nose door cylinder but back in the early ninties I
installed a home-grown filter on the open port to keep the crap out. Got the
idea after I had to dig mud out of my pitot tube opening probably put there
by a wasp or some other homeless bug. Couldn't hurt.

Dan Schaefer
LNC2        N235SP