Tailwheel pictures

[Greg Bockelman]

Anyone have any pictures of their tailwheel spring and wheel they can post or send me?

[jgerard]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/main.php?g2_itemId=2489

This is of my old BC12D

[Greg Bockelman]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

Thanks. What I really need is where the spring attaches to the fuselage.

[flyguy]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

I'll be down at the hangar tomorrow. I'll see what I can do. Don't know how much a photo will show of the attach point. Adrawing might be better.
DC

[Dick Smith]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

You'll have to excuse the grunge on the tail...it's not always nice where we go. Dick

[1938BF50]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

Dick,

Does your ship pull more air thru the cabin with the rear of the fuselage covering open like your pics show. For inspections sake, I want to do the same but am also considering anything that will halp make the cabin warmer in the winter.

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

I have the exact same setup as what is shown in the pictures (maule?) with two minor differences. There is a gap betweein the springs and the frame of the airplane at that rear square bracket and your wheel assembly seems much beefier than the maul bracket I have. In the past we used a piece of leather in that square bracket, and now there is a Plastic or teflon (phenolic?) spacer in there.

I have noticed that I am getting more shimmy that ever and seems to be getting worse......

[Dick Smith]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

Mike, I think you get more flow of air with the open end like I have. I chose to do it that way for several reasons: Operating on floats involves a lot of moisture and I think the interior of the aft fuselage benefits from the drying effect of the air movement. Also switching back and forth between floats and wheel or ski ops requires easy access to the main bolt between the tailspring and fuselage. The way I did it makes it easy to remove the whole spring and tailwheel assembly quickly. The lack of fabric in the triangular area makes it easy to: 1. remove/inspect the front bolt; 2. inspect the tailpost area and the related longeron welds. Also, dry, blowing snow can find its way into the tiniest openings. If the snow gets inside the aft end of the fuselage, I can see it better through the open slot. And the way I tiedown in the winter, the snow is more apt to finds its way in from the front of the plane and could pack the dead-ended fuselage full. Anyway, that was my reasoning when I covered the plane. Many planes up here have the fuselage open in that triangular area...you will find many that have the "slot" covered with fabric, which should effectively reduce the airflow through the fuselage. It's done both ways...dealer's choice. Basically, we just dress for the cold...if there is any heat available...you just wonder if you're on fire. Lance (Matsuthunder) uses an insulated "curtain" that Velcro's in place, which is as good a way to salvage the heat as you are likely to find.
Richard, you mentioned the leather or synthetic "packing" wraparound between the clamp and the tailspring leaves...We only had a brief period to use the hangar while coming off floats...and I didn't have the proper piece of rubber...so we bolted things on and rolled back outside. Will have another shot at the hangar soon, so will make that addition. The "gap" in the middle spring is normal for this setup. The short rectangular piece of spring at the front has a round hole. Some other spring assemblies have an oval hole instead of a round hole at the forward end of a one-piece, middle spring. The oval and the "gap" both accomplish the same thing...allowing some flex and small, but critical movement. For what it's worth!! (about 4 inches of snow last night!! Ski time! Dick

[Greg Bockelman]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

You'll have to excuse the grunge on the tail...it's not always nice where we go. Dick

Thanks for the pics, Dick. That was pretty much what I was looking for.

[murphy]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

Dick,
What type of gear legs are on your plane is it a Taylorcraft gear that has been modified or after market bush gear. I have noticed other TCrafts form Alaska with your type of gear and understand the need for stronger legs and I love the way it makes a Taylorcraft look. Have a picture of yours hanging on my office wall.
Thanks,
Mike

[Dick Smith]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

Mike, the gear I use is a beefed-up Taylorcraft assembly. It was modified and approved before the current regulatory mindset came about. Dick

[Greg Bockelman]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

Mike, the gear I use is a beefed-up Taylorcraft assembly. It was modified and approved before the current regulatory mindset came about. Dick

So how does your setup differ from a stock Maule setup?

[Dick Smith]

Re: beefed gear

Greg, my gear doesn't have the shocks like the Maule system. I have the standard Taylorcraft bungee setup. The streamlined tube on the gear was replaced with the same size tubing as is used on the gear legs. The tapered axle was replaced with a straight axle. Also a brace (see arrow) was installed between the rear gear leg and the tube running between the bungee end of things and the inner end of the axle. Also installed a step to facilitate fueling.
I use 8.50-6:00 tires and heavy duty bungees. The picture of the black plane in the attached picture shows the use of Maule shocks on a Taylorcraft. The front view of a yellow Taylorcraft shows an alternative method, using the Maule shocks with a cabane arrangement(which is very handy for swaps between floats and wheel/ski gear. Dick

[N96337]

Re: Tailwheel pictures

Dick,
So do you think the Maule shocks would be any advantage? I can see where the heavier tube replacing the streamlined tube would be nice..but am having a bit of a time "justifying" the Maule shocks...
John

[Greg Bockelman]

Re: beefed gear

Greg, my gear doesn't have the shocks like the Maule system.

Thanks Dick. I guess I misunderstood the post. I thought the tailwheel spring wasn't stock.