Stephen N Mills wrote:
The gear is NOT "delicate" on the 177RG.

All Cessna single engine RG gear is delicate,


And two years ago I repaired
the gear saddles on our Cardinal at a cost of three hours time and $25
in materials thanks to the information on the Cardinal Flyers Online
group.

That's nice but I said replace. Buddy of mine has a C177 RG. He spends
so much more for maintenence and insurance that I do that it about makes
him cry. And because the gear isn't strong he won't land off road like
he wish he could. That switch on the nose gear that tells the plane if
the gear is down is a pis poor desgin. At one annual he spent as much
having that one stupid switch troubleshooted than I did for the whole
flat rate on my annual.