Spring loaded gear door panel

[B2C2]

The spring on the small panel attached to the forward gear door has broken on my 1969 T337D. It looks like the only way to replace this is to drill out and replace the rivets on both sides of the piano hinge that hold the panel to the door. Has anyone found another solution to this?

[hharney]

I haven't looked in the service or parts manual yet but can't the hinge pin come out to change the spring?

[B2C2]

The spring is actually captive between the hinge and the door with a small hole in the hinge where the spring end is bent 90 degrees and captured, so I don't think its possible to replace it by just removing the hinge pin. If someone has done this another way though I'd like to hear about it.

[Mark Hislop]

I had to do this a few years ago. If I remember correctly, I only had to remove the piano hinge from one side to release the hinge pin. I think it was the gear door side, but it should be apparent to you as you look at it.. Once one side of the hinge is loose, it frees up the end of the hinge pin.

[B2C2]

Well, the mechanic ended up replacing the rivets on both sides. The spring is captive on both ends so this was required. Works now though and not a very big job as it turns out.