Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

[hisoos]

With the help of a fellow member I am trying to get the T-Craft back in the air after several years of being grounded. We are getting very close, but today upon inspecting the tailwheel several issues came to light.

First of all I am not sure what tailwheel this is. At first, we thought it was a Scott 2000, but from what I am finding, the steering lock mechanism doesn't match with other Scott 2000 stuff I am finding.

Mine is missing the cover plate and locking mechanism from the steering arm. So it just swivels. Not sure how long it has been like this. Never had any major issues, but it is mostly a grass strip ship.

There is slop in the the vertical axis as well as the horizontal axis. Upon taking it apart we found bad bearings in the solid wheel explaining the horizontal axis slop.

The vertical axis slop is still a bit of a mystery, so we think there may be more missing besides the steering lock mechanism.

On another note, I am wondering if I am not just better off with a full replacement (a lot of good things said about the 3200 on this forum).

Any help is appreciated.

[Guest]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

Its not a Scoot but rather a Maule.

Look on the Univair or Aircraft Spruce and Specialty sites for a parts listing and fix it or if that is not economical replace it.

Adding a big Scott 3200 will increase your empty weight and move your EWCG aft. I would not add a 3200.

Dave

[hisoos]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

Thanks Dave! Any more input is welcome. Especially with regards to spring setup. They are getting replaced too.

[M Towsley]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

Yup, a Maule SFSA. Certain parts can be expensive, and time consuming to get depending upon stock at the time. I have a completely functioning one on my plane and have no problems with it. Here are a couple of links:

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/lgpages/maule_sfsatw.php

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/lgpages/mauleparts.php?clickkey=1804845

[Guest]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

this could be useful

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Maule-Tail-Wheel-Taylorcraft-Experemental-Piper-Cub-Aeronca-Light-Sport-/261644051111?pt=Motors_Aviation_Parts_Gear&hash=item3ceb3362a7&vxp=mtr

[VanDy]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

That one even has the shimmy dampner on it! You guys are correct, its a Maule, Im not sure how i got it confused with a scott 2000..... Any how, looks like spruce has the parts we will need, i just needt o go verify if its a pre or post 76 model.

Thanks!

[Pearson]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

I have rebuilt my Maule tail wheel with parts I obtained directly from Maule. The good thing is it is easy to work on. From the description of your problem you posted, it sounds like you might need to replace the main bushing. In the pictures you posted the cam plate for activating the release mechanism can be seen on the right side below the arms. I can’t tell from the picture if the top part of it is still intact. If you remove the large nut and lift the steering arm off of the shaft, you will see a round piece with a notch. On the bottom of the steering arm is a lock pin that looks like a piece of key stock with a short dowel pin sticking downward. That dowel pin rotates along the top edge of the cam plate, which has a slight outward curve at each end of the steering arc. As you put in more steering, the dowel pin rides along the outward curve and pulls the lock pin out of the notch which releases the tail wheel to caster. It sounds complicated, but when you start taking it apart you can see that it is extremely simple. Just make sure your lock pin has nice sharp square edges on it. If the main axle shaft isn’t worn where it goes through the bushing, you should be able to rebuild what you have for about a hundred bucks. If your tabs that stick out on your cam are not just right, you may have to bend them outward more to get the tail wheel to unlock sooner. Or vice-versa if it is unlocking too soon. I really like this tail wheel because it is so light, and I can adjust when it unlocks.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

Parts for the Maule tailwheels have been a little hard to come by at times over the past few years. At Oshkosh Steve Krog said they were working on a STC'ed tailwheel replacement for the Cub using a non FAA PMA tailwheel from ACS. The report was they are holding up well in the training environment. He said after the Cub they would try to add other aircraft like the Taylorcraft. I know this is not much help if you are trying to get something flying now, but it could be useful information down the road.

[M Towsley]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

This helped me, lot of good info.

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/tech/maule_tailwheel.pdf

[astjp2]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

I would remove that tailwheel and gently hold it as you walk over to the trash can and throw it in as hard as possible. Get a 3200 and never worry about it failing and sending you through the brush. Tim

[astjp2]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

I would remove that tailwheel and gently hold it as you walk over to the trash can and throw it in as hard as possible. Get a 3200 and never worry about it failing and sending you through the brush. Tim

[Marv]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

Tim has the right idea.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

Naw, don't trash it, sell it to a nose dragger pilot to put on his wall to impress his friends. The ones who know what it is will laugh all the way home.

Hank

[astjp2]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

Naw, don't trash it, sell it to a nose dragger pilot to put on his wall to impress his friends. The ones who know what it is will laugh all the way home.

Hank

Hank, That's funny!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Another Tail Wheel Question (Please Help)

This is the one I want for MY WALL! But only if I got to make the scrape marks on it.

Hank