Maule tailwheel

[M Towsley]

Re: Maule tailwheel

My Maule parts ordered through Aircraft Spruce were just shipped today so it appears they are catching up.

[astjp2]

Re: Maule tailwheel

Univair has a scott 3200 copy now from what I have heard. I would not waste my money or time again on another maule....Tim

[cvavon]

Re: Maule tailwheel

Univair sells a 3200 knock off that is built by AK BUSH.I have had one on 26658 for 3 years and won't look back at a maule.New Stinson has a maule and am already looking for a Scott or AK bush to replace it.

[wmfife]

Re: Maule tailwheel

When I ordered my solid Maule from AC Spruce I didn't know I did not need to order all the separate fittings used in it. So will be using those to rebuild the (worn out) 8" Maule pneumatic I took off and replaced with the 6.5" solid Maule. I am looking to offer the pneumatic for sale as even with Maule's revised /increased fork mass I am still saving a pound at the tail end.

The plane was operated off turf at a small field before I bought it but it's now at an airport that operates mostly corporate jets with a 6,000'+ runway. The overweight pneumatic did not help with directional stability but the new metal prop does. Every little bit...

[astjp2]

Re: Maule tailwheel

The tailwheel is not that much heavier and WHEN you ground loop with the maule, you will either clean out your shorts and not have any damage or you might need to be helped back to the ramp, either way, eventually, you will install the scott...or wish you had....Tim

When I ordered my solid Maule from AC Spruce I didn't know I did not need to order all the separate fittings used in it. So will be using those to rebuild the (worn out) 8" Maule pneumatic I took off and replaced with the 6.5" solid Maule. I am looking to offer the pneumatic for sale as even with Maule's revised /increased fork mass I am still saving a pound at the tail end.

The plane was operated off turf at a small field before I bought it but it's now at an airport that operates mostly corporate jets with a 6,000'+ runway. The overweight pneumatic did not help with directional stability but the new metal prop does. Every little bit...

[Stumpy]

Re: Maule tailwheel

Hmmmmm....for the last few days I've been looking at the yellow-tagged complete Maule SFS P8A 1-2 assembly sitting next to my desk, thinking about how that 8" pneumatic would complement the larger skins I have on the mains, and how I can probably live with the extra pound or two it would ad over the old Scott 2000 on "Tenacity's" rear-end now.....

But having experienced the maule shimmy on a couple of other aircraft, and having read repeated "maulings" of the Maule assembly here and elsewhere, I might just tune-up what I have and not fix what ain't broke. :-)

Just curious if anyone has any GOOD things to say about installing an 8" pneumatic Maule tw on a T-craft...

[cvavon]

Re: Maule tailwheel

Yes I have a good thing to say about a maule I was lucky I found some one that wanted them and payed me for them and got them out of my life.

[M Towsley]

Re: Maule tailwheel

Let me get this right. From my understanding a couple of you won't ever put a Maule tailwheel on your airplane ever again. It was a little confusing for me and a couple of others so I just wanted to clarify that. LOL.

So with crossed fingers I will continue to fly with my serviceable Maule for the time being.

I would certainly be interested in learning why you wouldn't use them or a particular case where you were involved in or observed a ground loop from a Maule. That would be helpful in swaying me to look at other options.

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Maule tailwheel

I didn't know people had issues with the Maule. I replaced mine a few years back...just worn out,no shimmy just loose. I Upgraded to the Maule tundra without any issues. The Lange looks like a nice unit.

[Bravo 6]

Re: Maule tailwheel

I installed a somewhat worn Maule, solid tire tailwheel a couple years ago. I was mostly looking for ease of 'backing' into hangar space (by hand ). I have had no issues at all with mine. I will admit, I usually fly off of a pretty nice grass strip and a little hard surface and not too much really of either. I found the tail wheel to be as good as the original that I replaced at a minimum plus the full swivel for short turns and ease of moving by hand around the hangar/ramp. By accident while trying to obtain a new tire I ended up with a new, new version of the Maule tailwheel and I am really happy with it. Again, I just fly the Taylorcraft for fun. Not that I haven't had some pretty good crosswinds on paved runways and no issues?

[astjp2]

Re: Maule tailwheel

My issue was with the fact that it did not wear evenly and would break free when trying to stay straight on the runway. The main pinion just did not wear right or even causing a groundloop. Tim

[N96337]

Re: Maule tailwheel

Some people swear by them and some swear AT them.... I've never had a problem with them that wasn't related to the angle and alignment of the wheel. If the parts are worn out, replace them.... Any brand will wear out over time. Springs de-arch (and usually get arched way too much when "fixed"), attach pads get misaligned, etc. There's a good article on the Short Wing Piper pages by Gil and Steve Pierce about how to PROPERLY set up a tailwheel assembly. When I have a problem, I can usually trace it back to one of the things mentioned in there.
John

[Ryan]

Re: Maule tailwheel

Have had maule on our pacer for last 30 years. We have had good stretches and bad stretches. The pacers have a heavy tail and spring arch issues, I think that is major cause for some of our shimmies over the years. When the tail wheel wore out it went fast. I would not hesitate to put one on a light tailed airplane like a taylorcraft.

[M Towsley]

Re: Maule tailwheel

Tim, it sounds like something in the set-up was the problem to cause it to wear unevenly.

I have been flying off of asphalt/concrete runways for the last three years and, (knock on wood), mine has been doing fine. I will be sure to keep an eye on it, though. Thanks for the info.

[Stumpy]

Re: Maule tailwheel

Hmmm...well THAT decision has been made for me, at least temporarily. Put the tail in the air just now to fiddle-fart around and put new leafs in the tail, and yuck! spindle on the old 2000 is sloppy...really sloppy. A guy had gone through it about two years ago too. I have another old 3-24b sitting here that feels solid but haven't really looked at it, a couple real old Maule solid tire assemblies, and the yellow-tagged 8" pneumatic. Reckon it's new leafs and the Maule for now, Unless somebody drops from the sky with something else or hits me in the head with a ball-bat for the heresy of installing the Maule. :-)

Hadn't had a shimmy, but this thing is scarey-sloppy. Had compression instead of tension springs on it too. Mebbe the angels have been right-seat... Things like that usually don't get by me.

Soooo...another question...the Maule Co. instruction sheet is saying 10 to 15 psi on the tire...shouldn't it be 3 to 4 times that? It has a near-new McCreary tire on it.

Thanks