FAREASTDRIVER - the reason you had heard about the emergency hyd lever was because it occurred to me to pull it when the nose jack split. That meant I could get the AP back on line for a hover refuel while the sandbags were filled and placed (there had been no sandbag plan until then). I think the incident happened in early '72.
SHY - yes, when the jack split the nose leg moved way forward of its normal position.