Acquired the Matco Axle (MHAXLE24) which is a significant approach to the Vans 'dual mushrooms' without a center section. The Matco Axle provides a solid 1.25" axle with a threaded portion on one end that is installed to establish 'pre-load' on the conical axle bearings in the Matco wheel. The Axle is then inserted into the Vans nose gear fork, and the AN6- bolt is inserted and torqued to hold the assembly in the fork. That AN6- bolt is NOT providing an load on the conical bearings but is securing the Axle mod in the fork.
An 'anti-rotation' bolt on the AXLE can be installed by drilling a 1/4" hole through one side of the fork, and a bolt secures the AXLE mod from rotating. (Tech Support call to Matco suggested that the anti-rotation bolt is optional, a properly torqued AN6- will NOT rotate.
Greased the bearings, cleaned up and omitted the anti-rotation bolt and did NOT drill the 1/4" hole. IF I HAD, it would have been drilled at the '10 o'clock' position to the Left fork axle hole, providing a location that is further from the edge of the lightening hole, and a compression section of the fork. For future consideration ---
The nose gear feels very secure and should not shimmy now. Did an extensive taxi test to confirm it was ready to fly.
