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Tail Wheel spring tension

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Clem Nichols

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 88
Location: Munfordville, Ky

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject: Tail Wheel spring tension

A friend of mine is ready to begin ground-testing  of a Model IV 1050 he's recently completed.  His plane has a Maule  tail-wheel, and the way it's set up there is no tension on the springs.  I  don't know what type of tail wheel mine has, but it's obviously different, and  the springs  are taut.  He was asking me if his should be tightened,  and I couldn't answer him because I don't know.  I taxied his plane some  today the way it's set up, and didn't notice any problem at either slow or  fairly high speed (enough to get the tail wheel up).  I told him I would  pose his question to the list, and pass along your advice.   Thanks.

  

 Clem Nichols

 Model IV 1200

 Subaru EA-81

 Munfordville, Ky.

   [quote][b]

ppeerenbo(at)charter.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject: Tail Wheel spring tension

I also have the maule setup. They use compression  springs, they are handed left and right. No tension to light tension ok, but not  slopy. Too much lag. I put the homebuilder tail wheel on and love it compared to  the hard solid maule wheel. 30 bucks plus you need new bearings its the way to  go.

  

 Paul P

 Model IV Rotax 912

  

  

 [quote]   ---

andynfultz(at)bellsouth.n
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject: Tail Wheel spring tension

Paul,

  

    Did you make your new bushings or were you able to find some "off the shelf"  bushings?  I've heard enough good things about replacing the hard maule  wheel with the "Homebuilders Special" repalcement that I plan to do that before  I fly mine.  Thanks

  

 Andy  Fultz

  

 [quote]   --

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject: Tail Wheel spring tension

Clem,



I've flown both ways and for me, at least I don't seem to have a preference. 

I once put eyebolts on the tabs to straighten the spring angle, but it put a 

definite tension in the system and I didn't like the looseness that resulted 

from adding an additional chain link on both sides.  I felt the tension 

would be a potential problem as the bottom hinge is a bronze bushed rod end 

fitting, I didn't feel comfortable with that much tenison continually on it.



One other thought,  In times past some have had the springs come off the 

tabs and it is prudent to safety wire the loop to resist the spring loop 

from popping out or the hole in the tab or off the chain.



Lowell Fitt

Cameron Park, CA

Model IV-1200 R-912 UL Warp

1998 850 hrs.





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Clem Nichols

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 88
Location: Munfordville, Ky

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:37 pm Post subject: Tail Wheel spring tension

Paul:

  

 "Very interesting", to quote one of the characters  on an old TV comedy program from years ago.  Based on what you say my plane  has the Maule tail wheel, and his has something else.  I was merely quoting  him when I said he had the Maule.  (Pardon my ignorance.)  His springs  are the same on each side, and any force they exert is the result of being  stretched rather than compressed.  One end of the spring is attached to the  arm on the tail wheel, and the other to a chain which is attached to the rudder  arm.  The setup is pretty "sloppy" as you put it, but because of the  strength of the springs it will take some type of tool to stretch them enough  that he can take a link out of the chains.  In any event it certainly  appears to me that they're too loose, although as I said in my initial posting I  didn't detect any problem when taxiing the plane today.

  

 Clem Nichols

 [quote]   ---

Clem Nichols

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 88
Location: Munfordville, Ky

Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject: Tail Wheel spring tension

Lowell:



Certainly good advice re the bronze hinge and the safety wire.  Thanks.



Clem Nichols

---

Float Flyr

Joined: 19 Jul 2006
Posts: 2704
Location: Campbellton, Newfoundland

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 1:12 pm Post subject: Tail Wheel spring tension

Rowan and Martins Laugh in...A  great show.

  

 The idea of the springs on the  tail wheel is partially to remove possible shocks from the rudder pedals while  taxiing the plane.  The major reason is without the springs when ever the  wheel would bounce up it would increase the tension on the rudder horns ( as the  spring flattens the distance form the rudder horns to the tail wheel horns  increases) and without the springs eventually either the rudder horns or the  wheel horns wild have to fracture.   

 [quote]   

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_________________
Noel Loveys
Kitfox III-A
Aerocet 1100 Floats

ppeerenbo(at)charter.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 6:00 pm Post subject: Tail Wheel spring tension

I replaced the bearings number HEIM    #RF82212PP The bearing that come with the wheel have an inside 

 diameter of 5/8 maule is 1/2" diameter. These  bearings look to be factory bushed but are sealed bearings 

 the bearings that come with the wheel are not  sealed. 

  

  Paul P

 Model IV Rotax 912

 N.L. ,WI.



  

 [quote]   ---

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:22 am Post subject: Re: Tail Wheel spring tension

I find with mine, which is the experimental tail wheel, it doesn't matter if they're loose or tight, I can handle it just fine.  I think if he is low hours, than he should tighten them up, it will be a little more responsive on slow taxi.  To tighten them just take some of your stainless wire for tying up the bolts and run through a link skip a couple and go through another link and then tighten until you have them equal on both sides.

n85ae

Joined: 14 Mar 2007
Posts: 403

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Tail Wheel spring tension

I have a Maule on mine, and when the springs aren't tight it'll shimmy

like crazy.



Jeff 

Series 5, IO-240B

kitfoxmike

Joined: 05 Dec 2006
Posts: 373

Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:48 am Post subject: Re: Tail Wheel spring tension

I guess that's another good one for the experimental wheel, loose chains, real loose and NO shimmy.

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