When I bought my current ASH26E in '03, I found the Schleicher gear handle (standard vertical design) wanting, at least for me. Problem was, especially on retraction, pulling the handle back towards me to raise the gear, my arm strength diminished the closer my elbow got to my torso . . . just when it should be finishing its stroke and snicking into the up detent, I'd run out of oomph just as it was moving more vetically and increasing its resistance - - or something like that. Doing the little push over maneuver helped, but seemed clumsy and sometimes needed to be repeated with the gear swinging in the breeze.

I set about designing some new handles, one of which worked really well and solved the problem for me (see youtube link below for 1 minute demo). This handle installs with a large hidden set screw after sliding off the original handle. It is intended for ASH26E, 31Mi, and 30Mi Schleichers, however, the design my work well on other gliders, but the milled slot for the original handle may have to be adjusted to fit.

In this video, the glider is suspended from a sling and hoist in my hangar, no air stream to assist the wheel moving aft. The redesigned handle makes it easy, not a problem even for my old arms.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NEjytbOWbI

all the best,

bumper

Excellent design!

Bob T.

Bumper, you're making the mod available? Nice.
The ASH26 has the heaviest-feeling landing gear of any single seat glider I've flown. For many pilots, locking the gear in UP position is awkward. This mod looks similar to the handle Rex put in 26012 for me. The ease of use compared to the original was great.
While visiting the factory a while ago, noticed that even Martin Heide's personal ASH26E had a modified gear handle.
Jim
(user of QV kits and MK-something yaw strings)

On Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 7:58:03 PM UTC-7, Bob T wrote:
> Excellent design!
>
> Bob T.

Very, very nice! That looks an lot like an LS-6 gear handle. Did you
use that for inspiration or did you come up with the design yourelf?

On 7/27/2015 2:21 PM, JS wrote:
> Bumper, you're making the mod available? Nice.
> The ASH26 has the heaviest-feeling landing gear of any single seat glider I've flown. For many pilots, locking the gear in UP position is awkward. This mod looks similar to the handle Rex put in 26012 for me. The ease of use compared to the original was great.
> While visiting the factory a while ago, noticed that even Martin Heide's personal ASH26E had a modified gear handle.
> Jim
> (user of QV kits and MK-something yaw strings)
>
> On Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 7:58:03 PM UTC-7, Bob T wrote:
>> Excellent design!
>>
>> Bob T.

--
Dan Marotta

On Monday, July 27, 2015 at 1:21:12 PM UTC-7, JS wrote:
> Bumper, you're making the mod available? Nice.
> The ASH26 has the heaviest-feeling landing gear of any single seat glider I've flown. For many pilots, locking the gear in UP position is awkward. This mod looks similar to the handle Rex put in 26012 for me. The ease of use compared to the original was great.
> While visiting the factory a while ago, noticed that even Martin Heide's personal ASH26E had a modified gear handle.
> Jim

Agreed, Schleicher may build their main gear hell for stout, but as delivered, not the easiest to operate unless more buff and younger than me (g).

Yes, I made a batch of eight which I priced at $160 (includes shipping). I have two left.

I don't have CNC machines and (like pretty much everything else I do) it took twice as long to make them than expected. After first batch is gone I'll re-evaluate pricing (I really don't want to work hard for a living anymore . . . but do like sharing stuff, which unfortunately is incongruous with my mostly enjoying making the "first one" of something.

Dan,

No, I didn't know about LS's gear handle. The Bumper Gear Handle was independently inspired by my woefully inadequate upper body strength - - I guess (g).

bumper

I presume I can't see the YouTube post as I'm the wrong (or at least other)
side of the Atlantic.

KN

At 01:00 28 July 2015, bumper wrote:
>On Monday, July 27, 2015 at 1:21:12 PM UTC-7, JS wrote:
>> Bumper, you're making the mod available? Nice.
>> The ASH26 has the heaviest-feeling landing gear of any single seat
>glider=
> I've flown. For many pilots, locking the gear in UP position is awkward.
>T=
>his mod looks similar to the handle Rex put in 26012 for me. The ease of
>us=
>e compared to the original was great.
>> While visiting the factory a while ago, noticed that even Martin
Heide's
>=
>personal ASH26E had a modified gear handle.
>> Jim
>
>Agreed, Schleicher may build their main gear hell for stout, but as
>deliver=
>ed, not the easiest to operate unless more buff and younger than me (g).
>
>Yes, I made a batch of eight which I priced at $160 (includes shipping).
I
>=
>have two left.
>
>I don't have CNC machines and (like pretty much everything else I do) it
>to=
>ok twice as long to make them than expected. After first batch is gone
>I'll=
> re-evaluate pricing (I really don't want to work hard for a living
>anymore=
> . . . but do like sharing stuff, which unfortunately is incongruous with
>m=
>y mostly enjoying making the "first one" of something.
>
>Dan,
>
>No, I didn't know about LS's gear handle. The Bumper Gear Handle was
>indepe=
>ndently inspired by my woefully inadequate upper body strength - - I
>guess=
> (g).
>
>bumper
>

On Mon, 27 Jul 2015 13:21:10 -0700, JS wrote:


> The ASH26 has the heaviest-feeling landing gear of any single seat
> glider I've flown. For many pilots, locking the gear in UP position is
> awkward.

Maybe there were improvements made to the gear in later production
units. I fly one of those, and it never occurred to me that there was an
issue.

One technique I use to facilitate raising the gear is to simply generate zero G's while pulling on the gear handle. It doesn't take much of a "pushover" to make the gear weightless - it practically retracts itself. Less stress on all the mechanical parts too. You could use the same technique to help with the last 2 inches after lowering the gear... pull the gear out of detent and let it fall down at 1G (level flight). Once down, generate just enough extra positive G's to help get the gear past over-center and in place. Gravity can be your friend. Ok, maybe not.

That being said, I still like that gear handle. Great design.

-Dirk

bumber, Do you still have any of these handles? At what price? Do you have any idea if it will work on a Discus?
You can reply by private email to jdukecrna at gmail.com if you like.
Thanks,
JDuke

On Monday, August 17, 2015 at 3:12:39 PM UTC-5, wrote:
> bumber, Do you still have any of these handles? At what price? Do you have any idea if it will work on a Discus?
> You can reply by private email to jdukecrna at gmail.com if you like.
> Thanks,
> JDuke

Bumper -

I'm J. Duke's partner and the one who seemingly can never get the gear up on our Discus CS. Do you know if it will fit the Discus CS, and if it does as John asked do you still have one for sale?

Please let John or me ) know.

Thank you.

Rick

Responded privately.

Initial batch of 8 handles sold. Taking names for future batch, no deposit, no commitment. (No time either! - but being guilt driven, will find time when enough people ask.)

bumper

I've started making another (maybe the last, due to time constraints and other commitments) small batch of gear handles. Not cheap, but I believe you will be pleased with the quality and more importantly, how they perform.

$200 shipped to US - overseas at cost. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money refunded, with some grumbling. :c)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NEjytbOWbI

Note this gear handle will fit other Schleicher models, and can be custom made for some other makes too, contact me for details.

contact: bumperm "the usual little symbol" frontier "period" com

We just finished installing the Bumper Gear Handle in my ASW 22 BLeE. Although I haven't exercised it in flight, I can attest to the fit and finish---outstanding! My ship is now completely Bumperized: gear handle, yaw string, and quiet vent. All the designs are innovative, and the quality is second to none.

Dan Somers/ID
Port Matilda, Pennsylvania

>>My ship is now completely Bumperized:

I wish Bumper would design an entire ship...

Boggs

If you have trouble raising the gear the first thing to check is that the horizontal rod the handle slides on is lubed. This needs to be done at least annually.If it has old/no lube Herculian strength is required.

As Bumper suggested, a push over makes the gear "lighter" due to reduced g but the helper spring still has normal force. A wild maneuver is not required. I regularly raise the Duo gear this way on tow.

But judging from the craftmanship and functionality of the Quiet Vents and MK 5 supersonic yaw strings on my ships you won't be disappointed with this brilliant invention.

KS

I'm flattered. Thank you for the kind words.

As Karl says, to minimize friction, it's important the sliding and hinged points are properly lubricated. That would be the first step in minimizing the effort needed to operate manually retractable gear. If that doesn't improve things, time to check further, an over tight hinge or pivot bolt on some designs can add friction.

One way to check gear is with the fuselage on the trailer ramp so you can swing the gear clear of the ground. Unlock and drop the gear so it is hanging down unlocked. Now you can move the gear by pushing by hand directly on the wheel, moving it fore and aft. This provides more of "feel" than moving it with the gear handle, looking for any unusual resistance to free movement. Depending upon where the wheel is in it's arc of travel, normal resistance to movement will vary based on gravity, assist and over lock springs, and friction.

Besides proper maintenance, the effort required to cycle the gear will be affected by a number of factors including mechanical design and how that design relates to human factors and ergonomics. The bumper gear handle (BGH) is designed to improve upon the last part of that equation.

BGH history: When I got my ASH26E in 2003, I realized right away the gear handle position and orientation was sub-optimal for me. I made a number of different handles including the prototype for the BGH. And sent several of those handles to an experienced pilot for his evaluation. After testing, he allowed that he preferred the original factory handle. For me, the BGH design dramatically improved the ease of gear operation, completely eliminating all untoward effort. However, based on that evaluation, I concluded optimal gear handle design must be strongly variable based on pilot preference, and frankly, not worth pursuing as I didn't want unhappy customers and the hassle of lots of returns and refunds. I shelved the idea of offering the BGH indefinitely.

Forward 12 years, another pilot, upon seeing an old picture of my BGH, asked if I'd build one for him, I expressed my concern about one size not fitting all thing. He remained adamant, wanted to give it a try. I acquiesced and made one and it worked every bit as well as he'd hoped for, and as it did for me. Hmmm, maybe on to something after all? After all positive feedback from the first 9 customers, I guess so. Still, if you acquire one and are not pleased - or for any reason at all, you may return it undamaged for a refund, including cost of return shipping (USA only - overseas returns must be post paid).

The "standard" BGH has a milled slot to accept the ship's flattened steel tube gear handle shaft. Dimensions of the slot are 0.880" long by 0.281" wide. The handle itself is approx 6" long, 1-3/8" diameter, foam covered w/vinyl end caps. Slot is 1" from end. Location and dimensions of slot can be custom ordered to fit - contact for details.

Availability: 3 in stock, (made in batches, wait time up to 6 months, includes custom orders). Payment accepted only when ready to ship.

bumperm (ubiquitous "at" thing) frontier (dot) com

Two gear handles available. Returned unopened when buyer decided to sell his 2-place ship. Contact info in first post of this thread.

1 minute video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NEjytbOWbI

thanks,

bumper
zz
Minden