Top Tips for Inspecting and Caring for Your Landing Gear

Introduction

Landing gear supports your semi‑trailer whenever it is uncoupled, making thorough inspections and proper care essential to protect equipment and personnel. Malfunctioning landing gear can lead to instability, costly downtime, or even safety incidents. In this article, we share practical inspection routines, lubrication tips, and replacement criteria to keep your landing legs operating smoothly. We also highlight how Wondee Autoparts’ comprehensive landing gear series, from JOST‑type legs to connection bars and crank kits, can simplify maintenance and ensure reliable performance.

Key Components of Landing Gear Systems

A typical landing gear assembly consists of:

• Legs and Housing: The telescoping leg sections that bear load, often available as inside or outside mount configurations.
• Connection Bar and Crank: Transmits manual or hydraulic force to raise or lower legs. Includes handle, crank shaft, and gears.
• Feet: T‑type, A‑type, S‑type or R‑type foot plates that distribute load on varied surfaces.
• Support Plates and Brackets: Mounting structures that anchor the landing gear to the trailer frame.

Each part must function harmoniously under heavy load during coupling operations. Wondee Autoparts carries all major landing gear types, Holland, FUWA, JOST, and their components, ensuring you can replace or upgrade parts with minimal downtime.

Inspection Routine

Perform a landing gear inspection every 30 days or 5,000 miles to detect wear early:

1. Visual Check for Deformation: Examine legs for bending, dents, or cracks. Any distortion reduces load‑bearing capacity.
2. Gear Teeth and Crank Mechanism: Rotate the crank handle and listen for grinding noises. Inspect gear teeth for wear or missing teeth that could cause slippage.
3. Connection Bar Alignment: Ensure the bar runs parallel to the trailer frame without binding. Misalignment may indicate bent brackets.
4. Foot Plate Condition: Check for excessive wear or corrosion on foot plates. Replace if the load area is uneven.
5. Weld Integrity: Look for cracks at weld joints, especially near mounting brackets.

Document findings in a maintenance log and address any issues immediately to avoid catastrophic failures.

Lubrication and Cleaning

Proper lubrication reduces gear wear and eases the cranking process:

• Clean Moving Parts: Remove dirt, old grease, and rust with a wire brush and solvent.
• Apply Grease: Use a high‑pressure lithium grease on gear teeth, crank shaft, and slide surfaces inside gears.
• Protect Exposed Metal: After greasing, wipe off excess and coat legs and feet with a rust inhibitor.

A well‑greased landing gear operates smoothly in cold or wet conditions, minimizing operator effort.

Torque Specifications and Fastener Checks

Loose mounting bolts or over‑tightened fasteners can impair landing gear:

• Mounting Bolts: Torque to manufacturer specifications, typically between 50 and 70 ft‑lb, for JOST or Holland legs.
• Crank Handle Retainer: Ensure handle clips or fasteners are snug to prevent accidental disengagement.

Regularly re‑torque fasteners after the first 100 cycles of new or rebuilt landing legs, and again after the next 500 cycles.

Replacement Guidelines

Replace landing gear assemblies or individual components when:

• Legs show more than 5% bending relative to straight length.
• Gear teeth exhibit wear depth exceeding 0.015 inches.
• Crack propagation appears near welds or leg junctions.
• Manual effort to crank legs exceeds 50 lbf torque consistently.

Opt for complete unit replacements for heavily corroded or damaged assemblies. Wondee Autoparts offers full landing gear kits and individual parts for quick turnaround.

Conclusion

Landing gear may seem simple, but its reliability is pivotal for safe trailer operations. A disciplined inspection schedule, thorough lubrication, fastener checks, and timely replacements prevent costly disruptions. By stocking Wondee Autoparts’ landing gear series and components, fleets can maintain peak performance, protect operators, and minimize downtime every time a trailer stands alone.