Tailwheel flutter (shimmy)

[Dano"T"]

In the past 2 days when I land my T-craft and start the ritualistic rudder dance...my tailwheel flutters. It makes the most annoying vibration. I checked it out many times and I can't seem to find anything wrong upon visual inspection. My plane has a Maule pneumatic steerable tailwheel. I've owned this plane for 12 years and I don't recall this ever occuring before. Have any of you ever had this happen? Any advice would be appreciated.

Dan Gervae
N44008

[Robert Lees]

Re: Tailwheel flutter

A quick search for shimmy presents this thread which has some useful tips.

Rob

[Dano"T"]

Re: Tailwheel flutter

Thanks Rob. I guess I should learn to use the search option on this site...It seems to be very helpful and avoids repetition. Thanks again, I'll check out the suggestions made tonight.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Tailwheel flutter

To be fair, Dano, it was the "flutter" term that worried me...then I read your post and realised you probably meant "shimmy".

Just terminology, I guess.

Rob

[jgerard]

Re: Tailwheel flutter

I chased a shimmy problem for quite a while before noticing that the springs were twisted to one side causing the pivot bolt to lean off center. Also the old maule 8" tw was just too worn out and would waste a new bushing real fast. I bought a new 8" tundra maule, fixed the twisted leaf springs, and no more problems.

Jason
N43643

http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/view_photo.php?set_albumName=N43643&id=tundra_tw

[Jim Hartley]

Re: Tailwheel flutter

Hey nice wheel! Beefy! How much is one of those?

jim

[jgerard]

Re: Tailwheel flutter

well Jim-

Seems like it was about $350 from wag-aero

Jason
N43643

[Dano"T"]

Re: Tailwheel flutter

Jason,

I have a simlar tailwheel on my plane...It's an 8" Maule, but it doesn't have the square blocky look like your does. I think mine is an older model or something. I think it's time to either rebuild or replace mine. I do alot of off airport stuff and those tailwheels take a little bit of a beating. They don't like paved runways either. Heck....I don't like paved runways. The beautiful thing about a Taylorcraft is the fact that we don't need no stinkin' runways.

Dan Gervae
N44008

[jgerard]

Re: Tailwheel flutter (shimmy)

the tailwheel in the pic is the "tundra" maule 8 inch. It has a bearing instead of the bushing and should last much longer. It seems to hold up fine on the 3" rock gravel bars around here. If anyone is planning on flying off airport I would highly recomend a good inspection of the tailwheel leaf springs. I just happend to be along for the ride in a c170 when the tailwheel broke off the spring and hung by one steering cable. This happened on takeoff from a ridge above a cayon.

http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/view_photo.php?set_albumName=N43643&id=DSC_0086

Jason
N43643