This doesn't happen every time but occasionally I can feel the rudder pedals move as the landing gear is being retracted or lowered. I am a new owner of a 59 Comanche 180.

David, in a nutshell, you should feel something in the rudder pedals everytime you cycle the gear because the nose wheel has to align itself.

I always keep a little pressure on both rudder pedals, to reduce the waggling aircraft from rudder movement in cycling the gear. More comfortable for the novice passengers!

Please plan to attend a Comanche Flyer Foundation (CFF), Comanche Pilot Proficiency Program (CPPP), when one comes up near you. You'll learn all about your gear, and a lot more, at one. The full 2 day course including flight, qualifies one for a Flight Review, (Bi-Annual), signoff, not to mention possible insurance discounts..

Actually the next scheduled is 11-12 October, in Leesburg VA. Quite a ways for you, but a nice trip in a Comanche. (-:

See CFF on this websites home page.

Best regards,
Don Nelson

David,

I second Don's recommendation to attend CPTP http://www.comanchetraining.com/
and/or CPPP http://www.comancheflyer.com/NS/cff_files/cf_ppp.htm education as soon as possible. We are personally considering a third iteration of CPTP at KLNC in Oct. That's just a bit SE of DFW. Don't know if our schedule will allow it but it is next month and closer than Virgina for you.

If you want to see why you get the positive feel in the rudder pedals, look under the nose gear forward and up, there's a little curved u-channel that the steering arms locks into - terminology may not be the exact words but it is descriptive. Also, in the Tech Tab on the home page is the maintenance and parts manuals for your aircraft. I have learned an amazing amount just by looking at the illustrations ... as I type that it makes me laugh - sort of like learning by looking at pictures. I have to say it works for me. In the maintenance manual, you also get descriptions.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Don and Pat. I really appreciate your replies. I was concerned something was wrong. Very glad to know my well maintained Comanche is just fine.
I will be interested in attending CPTP.

Regarding the comments on the CPPP coming up at Leesburg airport... I just signed up this past Friday and am really looking forward to it. I was thrilled to learn that Cliff Wilewski will be there doing a lot of the maintenance tech seminar. I live 40min from Leesburg airport so I am really looking forward to it.

- Charles

Cliff notes version, every time your gear retracts and extends, it disengages/engages the steering mechanism. You wont feel anything when the gear goes up, because the nose gear and rudder a synched, and even if there is significant deflection, there is a centering cam that straightens out the gear so it comes up into the gear well straight. Upon extension, that same gear comes out of the well straight, and as it reaches full extension, engages the steering mechanism. What you are feeling is the resistance of the nose gear steering friction as it is synched up with the current rudder peddle position. If they are exactly the same you should feel nothing, if there is a difference, you will feel a push on one or the other rudder peddles if your feet are on them, or you will feel a slight yaw if you have your feet on the floor (which you should never do anywhere but maybe in a smooth long range cruise scenario).

Zach