Need MauleTailwheel springs

[KewFlyer]

Today the tailwheel long spring leaf broke. I would hate to buy the complete set from Spruce. Does anyone have a long leaf or a set of leaf springs for sale. The tailwheel is a Maule SP 8a
Thanks
Ralph

[jgerard]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

It's only $100.

Tail wheel springs and bolts are wear items and should be inspected and replaced more often than you think.

[KewFlyer]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

Jason;
I do agree, but the spring just snapped. After looking at the cross section of the broken piece, you can see a brown small round section that extends from the bottom side into about half the thickness of the spring. It appears that it had previously broke and rusted. It also shows two different grey color layers with the most bright and possible new on the top section. So it appears that had received several impacts over the span of the years until it finaly gave in and broke off. The break happened were the second/bottom leaf meets the long/upper leaf. It may be that thats the location where the most stress exists and is the place where the leaf pivots when bent on landing.
Now, looking back, how could someone detect and prevent such failure other than removing the springs from time to time and giving it a good inspection.
BTW, it also damaged the bottom of the rudder, so it has to be removed, reweld, new fabric and installed.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

I don't know about the rest of you guys but removal of the tail wheel and springs is on my annual list. It gives me a chance to clean out all the fine litter that ends up in that last little triangle in between the lower longerons at the very back, inspect the leaf springs, go over the tail wheel without a lot of back pain, check the lower tail wires (while the tail is up on a stand), check the steering springs, lube the tail wheel assy and check the condition of all the parts in general.
Usually I end up cleaning and doing a paint touch up on all the tail parts in the process. The BIGGEST thing is make sure you don't loose the little spacer that goes up in the tail where the bolt goes up in the fuselage. It falls out really easy and is easy to forget to replace. If you do, the spring can rock back and forth and make ground handling so bad you will think you're drunk.
Hank

As to WHY I do all this, I had my tail wheel drop into a piece of broken pavement several years ago while pulling up to my hangar. Sheared the bolts and ripped the tail wheel clear off the plane. I scraped to a stop on the spring with the tailwheel assy bouncing around hanging from the steering cables. Ruined a perfectly good pair of BVDs. Amazing thing was the whole mess only took about 2 hours to fix (excluding time to find new bolts and dry the paint and underwear).

[jgerard]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

All sharp edges should be filed smooth (rounded) to reduce stress at points of contact.

[KewFlyer]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

Tribe:
Does it make sence or... is it allowable to insert solid rubber at the point of contact of the long leaf with the small leaf.... at the point where the long leaf pivots? Thats were mine broke... I guessing after many years of stressing/pivoting on the same point. Round the contact point..Uhmm it sounds like a good advice + a rubber spacer...say 1/8"... itmay work....any advice..thanks

[Robert Lees]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

I wrote a little spiel a few months ago for the Oshkosh Forum on maintenance tips...replacing the leaf springs every so often is on the list.

How do I know to do this? The same reason as Hank's. $100 every 500 hours is cheaper than repairing and recovering the lower part of the rudder.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

There should be a piece of hard rubber between the top of the topmost leafspring and the base of the sternpost. The sternpost has some indentations to prevent that rubber from slipping.

[Dick Huish]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

When George and I returned from Oshkosh ten years ago in the L-2. When we landed he headed toward a two foot diameter Oak tree. When I asked what he was doing he said he couldn't turn the plane. We stopped with the prop chewing on the brush at the base of the tree. When we landed two of the leaves broke and the tailwhell came off. We found all the parts in the grass and found that the springs both showed old cracks. He is a well experienced pilot with over 600 hours in L-2s and has been an A&E since 1964. Dick

[KewFlyer]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

Thanks for the good advice received on this question/post.
I am adding the tailwheel removal & inspection to my Annual list, as well as to do a good inspection of the tailwheel post and tail section in general, in and out.
With that said, upon removing the spring leafs, is a visual inspection suffice to determine leaf integrity? other than doing an specific test/X-ray or? Any recomendations?
Thanks

Ralph

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Need MauleTailwheel springs

First time, I took everything apart, stripped the paint off all the parts, did a complete close inspection, and presented the whole mess to my IA to confirm everything was in good shape. Next I repainted everything, lubed all the parts and put it all back together for mounting back on the tail after the annual. We did a careful inspection of the leaf springs and fasteners (found some wear, corrosion and necking on the front bolt into the fuselage. The leaf springs looked fine on mine). That was just for the first year. Each year since I pull the assembly off the tail to look close at the bolts (that first one was scary) and a careful look at the paint condition. If the paint looks good and everything is tight that pretty much covers it. Follow on year inspections are pretty much a non event (look and lube). It really isn't much trouble to pull three bolts and the steering links for all the access it gives you in the tail area.
If your leaf springs don't show notching, corrosion or visible damage with the paint stripped off, I can't imagine X-ray is really needed. Maybe a dye penetrant if there is anything suspicious. I don't think my springs had been looked at for 20 years before I bought her. Next plane will have a LOT more inspected prior to my first flight.
Hank