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jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
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 Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:38 am Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
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FireFlyer's & Kolbers
Experienced a second spring failure. Fourteen landings after the right tail
wheel spring broke the left spring failed. No ground loop this time. Both
of these springs failed in the same way. I took a photo. It can be seen
at:
http://www.thirdshift.com/jack/firefly/firefly132.html
Since all of this happened at the same time the tailwheel tire wore away, it
may not be a bad thing to replace these springs every time you replace the
tailwheel.
Jack B. Hart FF004
Winchester, IN
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d-m-hague(at)comcast.net
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| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
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At 01:50 PM 6/11/2007, Jack B. Hart wrote:
| Quote: |
Experienced a second spring failure....it may not be a bad thing to
replace these springs every time you replace the tailwheel...
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Not a surprising failure; it broke at the most highly stressed
point. Metal fatigue is an issue, especially if the tailwheel shimmies. I
went through quite a few springs when I had my T-Craft. Some of the guys
used drawbar springs like this one:
http://www.mcmaster.com/param/images/extension/safetydrawbara.gif
These last much longer. I couldn't use one like that since I couldn't fine
one that would fit, and still be soft enough to let my swivel tailwheel pop
out of the detent when necessary.
BTW, I browsed through the other pages in your "Firefly Slide Show", and
there is a lot of good information there. Is there an index page? I
couldn't find one.
-Dana
--
--
Most politicians aren't crooks, but the ones that are sure are making the
other 10 percent look bad.
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Richard Pike
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee
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| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:54 pm Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
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Make your own drawbar spring like that. A couple lengths of model airplane
piano wire bent to shape, spring from Loew's...
Richard Pike
MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
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_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0
Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing. |
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HShack(at)aol.com
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| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:10 pm Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
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In a message dated 6/11/2007 8:55:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, richard(at)bcchapel.org writes:
| Quote: | Make your own drawbar spring like that. A couple lengths of model airplane
piano wire bent to shape, spring from Loew's... |
Lowe's has them, but not in the spring dept.; they are in the "door" section. They come two in a bubble-wrap pak; used to close a screen door [?].
Howard Shackleford
FS II
SC
See what's free at AOL.com.
[quote][b]
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HShack(at)aol.com
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| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
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In a message dated 6/11/2007 10:11:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time, HShack(at)aol.com writes:
| Quote: | Lowe's has them, but not in the spring dept.; they are in the "door" section. They come two in a bubble-wrap pak; used to close a screen door [?].
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There is a bit of chain attached you'll want to remove. Don't forget to buy some of the recommended chain & "S" hooks.
Howard Shackleford
FS II
SC
See what's free at AOL.com.
[quote][b]
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slyck(at)frontiernet.net
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:59 am Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
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I use the same springs on my MkIII in combination with the TNK
breakaway wheel.
To get it all to work happily together I machined the breakaway
internals to break at a
greater angle, added a spacer to the internal spring for more
positive action, and run the yoke springs at near
full compression. I now have more positive control and can make a
good turn with no brakes.
A 3/32" dome head rivet fits perfectly inside the internal spring.
Careful taking it apart because
those tiny parts will pop out of sight.
BB
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NeilsenRM(at)comcast.net
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| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:48 am Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
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I also have the compression springs and the TNK breakaway tail wheel. I set
up my springs to be just barely tight but found that as originally
configured the tail wheel would not rotate far enough to break and go into
full swivel. I had to drill the bellcrank/arm on the tail wheel and attach
the springs closer to the pivot point. Now I have a very positive control
over the tail wheel and it will break into full swivel just as I hit full
travel on the rudder. I have never had the tail wheel break to full swivel
with this set up unexpectedly so I'm not sure what you would gain by adding
a spacer to the breakaway spring. When I was using the TNK tension springs
that came with the tail wheel it would break away in cross winds but not
since I started using the compression springs.
Rick Neilsen
Redrive VW powered MKIIIC
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planecrazzzy
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| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: Re: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
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I made my compression springs...
a couple of springs , and a little welding wire....
Gotta Fly...
Mike & "Jaz" in MN
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