 |
Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne
Guest
|
 Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 8:38 am Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
 |
|
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
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
d-m-hague(at)comcast.net
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
|
|
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...
|
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.
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Richard Pike
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1671
Location: Blountville, Tennessee
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 4:54 pm Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
|
|
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)
---
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
|
_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0
Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HShack(at)aol.com
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:10 pm Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
|
|
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]
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
HShack(at)aol.com
Guest
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 6:14 pm Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
|
|
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 [?].
|
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]
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
slyck(at)frontiernet.net
Guest
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:59 am Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
|
|
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
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NeilsenRM(at)comcast.net
Guest
|
| Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2007 7:48 am Post subject: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
|
|
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
---
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
planecrazzzy
Guest
|
| Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 1:25 pm Post subject: Re: FireFly Tailwheel Spring Failure |
|
|
I made my compression springs...
a couple of springs , and a little welding wire....
Gotta Fly...
Mike & "Jaz" in MN
.
.
.
.
| | - The Matronics Kolb-List Email Forum - | | | Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:
http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List |
|
| Description: |
|
| Filesize: |
57.45 KB |
| Viewed: |
375 Time(s) |
|
| Description: |
|
| Filesize: |
57.26 KB |
| Viewed: |
382 Time(s) |
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
|
Get Email Distribution Too!
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
