BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

[Acroeric]

Anyone know what dash number the bolt is that attaches the tailwheel spring to a BC12-D is? Im referencing the forward attach point. Im putting it on the gear and I seem to have forgotten that in my last order from ACS.
E

[Marv]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

I beleive it is AN6-21. The nut is AN310-6 and washer is A-633 Marv

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

I would STRONGLY recommend you take a smaller bolt (that the head will fit through the hole) and measure the length on YOUR plane to make sure the grip you order is what you really need. I have a LOT of bolts on both my planes that are NOT the right length. It's a real pain when you order a bolt, wait FOREVER for it to arrive, and then find out it is the wrong grip.
Hank

They actually make a grip gauge just for doing this, but I can never find mine when I need it and usually end up with a bent coat hanger.

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

Eric,

You probably already know this, but I wish someone had told me -- After contorting my wrist through an inspection hole back there, trying in vain to blindly catch the head of that bolt with a long extension ratchet while tightening the nut, I finally looked with an inspection mirror and noticed the clever little tab Taylorcraft welded to the tubing down in there, which holds the bolt head from rotating while one turns the nut. Just drop the bolt in place. Doh.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

Aw CRUD! I did forget about that. My forearm was cut to pieces by the edge of the the inspection hole till I wrapped it with a rag and some tape (at which point it was too large to get through the hole. My wife (the one with the skinny long arms) took one look at mine and said FERGET IT! Not sticking MY arm in there. I even tried super glue on the end of the bolt and a thin cord. Safety wire through the cotter key hole made the diameter too large.
I ended up just cutting my arm up till I got it in.
Hank

When I repainted the plane I added an inspection hole closer to the bolt. Easy as pie to change the bolt now. I pull and disassemble the tail wheel assembly for each annual now.

[Acroeric]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

Got it- the -21 worked well. . . . thanks a ton for the help! Im putting her on the gear for good later this week. . . . pretty cool milestone.
E

[jim cooper]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

other problems with tailwheel.....Scott 3200 is on my BC12D. Yesterday, taxiing, the steering arm broke on one side. Got out, took a look and then took it off. Its made out of pot metal, real cheap stuff. Called Aft. Spruce and ordered what I thought was the right arm (overnight del.) 139.00 plus frt. What arrived was wrong. It was for a J-3 or a PA11, etc. Am sending it back. It also was described as "like a scott arm" but not made by them. It was aluminum. In looking at other taylorcrafts on the field, they have flat METAL (ferrous) steering arms. What do I do? any suggestions? ( The girl at AFT SPRUCE allowed as how they no longer deal with SCOTT as they are too expensive. The one that broke was old and the spindle had been drilled several times.) I am lousy mechanic and there isn't one on the field, so I am at everyones mercy. The spindle on the new one was much bigger than the one that fits the T-Craft. JC Hank? anyone?

[Edwin Otha]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

Alaska Bushwheel make replacement parts for the Scott 3200.
EO

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

Can you post some pictures of the whole tailwheel assy to compare to the correct configuration and several shots of the broken parts?
Best solution is the right replacement part (I haven't heard of this part breaking before and suspect maybe it is an incorrect replacement part).
Next best option to repair with the right part number is to make a new part. There is NOTHING on a Taylorcraft that can't be made. Just takes some time to figure out how.
Hank

[jim cooper]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

not set up to send pictures. (Wish I could) This steering arm goes into the bottom of the T-Craft RUDDER. Builder suggests I take the one ACFT SPRUCE sent me to machine shop and have the spindle turned down from 1/2 to 5/8 and use it. OR They could probably make me one from the old one. In the meantime he's sending me an old one he has to use. I'm getting old and miss the day when the mechanic would say "Oh yea, I got several of them, no problem!" Its getting tougher every year! Thanks for your suggestions! (According to alaska tailwheel, the T-Craft is not approved for a Scott 3200 but It works so well I'm going to keep it. Spins around on a dime!)JC

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

Jim,
Can you email pictures? If not, I am not to far away in Virginia Beach and would like to see the fracture. Maybe mail regular photos or the broken parts? I am a little worried as to why the arm failed. Is it a home made part that is under strength? A defective original manufacture part? A repaired part that let go? Maybe there was some damage at the fracture origin. Worst case, is there something in the tail wheel you are using that not only makes it handle better, but puts an unacceptable load into the arm?
Too many questions with not enough answers. In the short term DON'T stick the fracture surfaces back together! It scratches the fracture surface and you can't identify the failure origination point and mode (chance are the first thing the first person did was put the parts back together, it's the nightmare of fracture analysis).
Hank

[jim cooper]

Re: BC12-D Tailwheel bolt

Hank...Am taking the one I bought from AS to the machine shop to have it turned down a bit so that it will fit. I will mail you the old one if you'd like to look at it. I was in grass, turning sharply to the right and then to the left to clear the field before I went onto the paved runway to take off. My number is 443 909 0176. Call me and I'll call you back. JC