Nippaero, your chains are possibly to tight. Best way to check is lift the tailwheel and see if the springs stretch. Chains to tight will cause increased wear on lower rudder bearing. On the 52, the chains get tighter when the wheel is off the ground. remember this is a pull pull steering. Dnippaero wrote:Finally got back around to posting a picture of the tailwheel. We disassembled everything, cleaned it thoroughly and rebuilt it. Also installed a new main spring from AS and a new tire and tube.
What tailwheel is this?
Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher
Re: What tailwheel is this?
52' C-170B N2713D Ser #25255
Doug
Doug
Re: What tailwheel is this?
One thing I didn't particularly like was the play in the tailwheel where is attaches to the main spring. The spacer on the tailwheel was a little wider than the main spring which allows it to rotate side to side a bit. Is there a different spacer available?
1952 170B
N8180A s/n 25032
N8180A s/n 25032
- Bruce Fenstermacher
- Posts: 10320
- Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am
Re: What tailwheel is this?
No, only one spacer but as these, and the springs are made to such wide tolerance, and many are worn, shimming with shim stock is not out of the question in my mind and on my aircraft. I've used steel, brass and cooper alloys for shims.
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!
Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
Re: What tailwheel is this?
So there is no confusion, there is another spacer available for the Scott 3200 tail wheel, but it's for the 1 1/4" wide main spring used on other aircraft, not the 1 1/2" wide spring used on the 170. There is only one size spacer for the 1 1/2" wide spring. It's Scott p/n 3241-3S. The spacer does wear, so changing it every so often when you change the main leaf spring helps to reduce or maybe even eliminate the play. I found that as of July last year, Air Repair had the best price on the spacer.
As far at the chains go, I found that on my '52 B model, adding shackles to the chains at the coiled spring ends allowed me to tension the chains properly. The shackles provide about a 1/2 link adjustment so that you can remove the slack as much as possible without there being any tension on the chains. without the shackles, you are limited to adjusting the chain by full link increments. Plus, the shackles make it much easier to remove the chains. (A big bonus.) I think Bruce first came up with the idea. Here are links to a couple of threads containing info about them (there are others as well):
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... t=shackles
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... t=shackles
As far at the chains go, I found that on my '52 B model, adding shackles to the chains at the coiled spring ends allowed me to tension the chains properly. The shackles provide about a 1/2 link adjustment so that you can remove the slack as much as possible without there being any tension on the chains. without the shackles, you are limited to adjusting the chain by full link increments. Plus, the shackles make it much easier to remove the chains. (A big bonus.) I think Bruce first came up with the idea. Here are links to a couple of threads containing info about them (there are others as well):
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... t=shackles
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... t=shackles
Gene Feher
Argyle (1C3), NY
'52 170B N2315D s/n 20467 C-145-2
Experimental J3 Cub Copy N7GW O-200
Argyle (1C3), NY
'52 170B N2315D s/n 20467 C-145-2
Experimental J3 Cub Copy N7GW O-200
Re: What tailwheel is this?
I found slop between the tail spring and spacer in my airplane the first time I worked on the tail wheel. I cut out a piece of a tin food can and fitted it between the two and it was the perfect thickness to provide a tighr fit.
BL
Re: What tailwheel is this?
I'm sure this has been written before but anyway; the forces put on the tail wheel assembly at landing likely will cause the attach bolt to neck (lengthen) and loose its grip. Check tightening at each annual is probably a good thing.
Jim McIntosh..
1953 C170B S/N 25656
02 K1200RS
1953 C170B S/N 25656
02 K1200RS
Re: What tailwheel is this?
blueldr wrote:I found slop between the tail spring and spacer in my airplane the first time I worked on the tail wheel. I cut out a piece of a tin food can and fitted it between the two and it was the perfect thickness to provide a tighr fit.
Hey blueldr, did you use corn or green bean cans ?
Ed Booth, 170-B and RV-7 Driver
Re: What tailwheel is this?
Ed,
If memory serves, I think it was an Oregon Purple Plum Can, They're my all time favorite!
If memory serves, I think it was an Oregon Purple Plum Can, They're my all time favorite!
BL