Hi,
Let’s start at the beginning. When you turn on power on the ground you’re getting a fast cycling gear unsafe indication (red unsafe light on; green gear down lights off).
This only happens on the ground; but never happens in the air.
In order for power to get to the gear up solenoid, the following has to take place when the gear is down.
1) the squat switch (on the left main landing gear) must be closed
2) the pressure switch must be closed; that happens when there’s more than 1500 psi fluid pressure in the gear fluid manifold.
Since you report that nothing is happening, I suggest the following:
A) Power won’t flow to and through the “up” solenoid unless the solenoid control circuit is completed. There are two (and
sometimes three) micro-style switches in the “up” landing gear solenoid control circuit, and they all have to be working
properly to retract the landing gear.
The two switches in every Arrow are the squat switch and the pressure switch. A low pressure (i.e., low airspeed) switch is
part of the backup landing gear extender system. Many owners have removed the backup extender system, so your airplane
may or may not have it in the solenoid control system.
B) The landing gear won’t retract until the squat switch closes. The squat switch is located on the left main gear and it
closes when the landing gear shock strut is fully extended. This switch may need
cleaning or adjusting.
C) The pressure switch is a “normally closed” switch in the gear-up solenoid
circuit. It’s only open when fluid pressure in the gear-up fluid manifold gets to
1,8OO psi. If the switch fails in the “open” position, the motor won’t turn. The pressure switch is located below the reservoir/
motor on the gear up manifold.
If your backup emergency landing gear extender system is stiil installed and operative,
there’s a slow speed switch in it that is in line with the squat switch and the pressure switch. If any one of these switches
malfunction, that will prevent the gear from coming up.
If your emergency landing gear extender has been removed in accordance with
Section I of Piper Service Bulletin 58866A, that “low speed” switch is no longer in the solenoid
control wiring-but the other two are.
Based on these facts, I suggest you look hard at the rigging, bracketry and wiring to the squat switch and the rigging and wiring at the gear extender switch, if it is still installed.
Let me know what you find.
Steve
