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HCRV6(at)comcast.net
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 Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 10:01 pm Post subject: Loose Taildragger Spring |
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To any and all RV tail dragger builders out there,
A friend with an RV-6 tail dragger (he is not the builder) has noticed that his tail spring seems to be slightly loose in the spring socket. When he asked me about it I told him that I have never heard of this occurring before but that I would query the list to see if anyone has experienced any problems in that area. My only guess is that the bolt may be loose enough to permit the bolt hole, bolt or both to wear. Anyone have any experience with this condition?
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Harry Crosby
RV-6 N16CX, flying - 450 hours
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Vince Frazier
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 132
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| Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 6:24 am Post subject: Loose Taildragger Spring |
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SNIP Subject: Loose Taildragger Spring
To any and all RV tail dragger builders out there,
A friend with an RV-6 tail dragger (he is not the builder) has noticed that his
tail spring seems to be slightly loose in the spring socket. When he asked me
about it I told him that I have never heard of this occurring before but that
I would query the list to see if anyone has experienced any problems in that
area. My only guess is that the bolt may be loose enough to permit the bolt
hole, bolt or both to wear. Anyone have any experience with this condition?
--
Harry Crosby
RV-6 N16CX, flying - 450 hours SNIP
From my website, here is one way to correct the problem. If you haven't drilled your bolt hole yet, consider skipping the bolt and use the tapered pin in the first place.
Vince
http://www.vincesrocket.com/landing%20gear%20and%20related%20stuff.htm
I want to pass on a little tidbit here about the bolt that holds the tailwheel spring to the tailwheel weldment. I drilled mine per Mark's instructions and found that the bolt went in too easily--this should be an interference fit (once again, my savior the "big-ass" hammer should be used to put the bolt in). I wrapped a piece of scrap aluminum around the tailwheel spring and could twist it with a pair of vise-grips. Not good! If there's any play here, the bolt can eventually fail or the hole will become elongated. I have heard of failures in these bolts on RV's . Rather than taking my chances with a larger bolt and it too not being correct, I decided to fix it with a taper pin which worked out very well. Here's the recipe:
AN386-2-9A taper pin (aircraft spruce)
AN975-3 taper pin washer (aircraft spruce)
B&S #2 taper pin reamer (http://www.mscdirect.com/MSCCatLookup2.process?MSCProdID=02054021) (1/2 the price of AC$)
12" long tap handle (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45206)
The taper pin has the advantage that if the pin ever loosens up, you can just tighten up the nut and things should be snug again. The taper pin is an odd-sized Browne & Sharpe #2 taper, so don't confuse it with other -2 tapers.
I highly advise that the final hole size should be reamed with a hand-reamer .001-.002 under-size even if you don't use a taper-pin. There are too many variables with drilling to final size with a hand drill. Bob [quote][b]
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_________________
Vince Frazier
3965 Caborn Road
Mount Vernon, IN 47620
812-464-1839 work
812-985-7309 home
F-1H Rocket, N540VF
http://vincesrocket.com/ |
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HCRV6(at)comcast.net
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| Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:02 am Post subject: Loose Taildragger Spring |
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JVanLaak(at)aol.com
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| Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject: Loose Taildragger Spring |
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I had an experience with my first RV-6 that could shed some light on this. Since I bought both of my planes already flying I missed out on a few details, but I get smarter each time.
My first -6 was beautifully built by a doctor out in California. If flew beautifully and was straight as an arrow. I did not have any problems with landing gear or the tailwheel until one landing when the plane suddenly veered hard to the right. With full left rudder and brake I was not able to stay on the very narrow runway but I did slow down enough that I did not hit anything before I stopped.
The problem turned out to be that the tailwheel spring had an undersized bolt in the forward support. Apparently the support was drilled with a 3/16" hole in it so the builder put an AN-3 bolt in it. But the hole in the spring was 1/4" and the spring had play in it that probably would have been noticeable had I put the fuselage up on a stand with the spring unloaded. But that is not a normal thing to do and I never did. On that fateful landing the small bolt sheared and the spring lay down on its side. I was very fortunate that I was able to keep it from groundlooping or hitting something hard.
BTW, in the process of making "positive" left rudder and brake inputs I also failed the left rudder pedal to the firewall. This was an early hanging pedal without the service bulletin. In fact the bulletin came out after I had repaired this damage by welding gussets on all four pedal vertical pieces. If anyone has the old pedals without the bracing called out in the service bulletin I strongly encourage you to pull them out and fix them.
Good luck.
Jim
RV-6 N79RL bought flying
Create a Home Theater Like the Pros. Watch the video on AOL Home.
[quote][b]
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HCRV6(at)comcast.net
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| Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:20 pm Post subject: Loose Taildragger Spring |
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tomvelvick
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 18
Location: Peoria, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 6:39 am Post subject: Re: Loose Taildragger Spring |
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Second Vinces comment about using a taper pin. Have known several tail draggers with loose springs including mine. Taper Pins help solve that.
Regards,
Tom Velvick
N53KT RV4
RV6a engine work.
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