Tail wheel shimmy.

[Peter Collin]

My year old Maule tail wheel has been shimmying for quite some time, especially
when landing on pavement. After reading about caster angle on tail wheels, I decided to order some new leaf springs, they had a little more of a bend in them, I figured that should take of the problem. Not so even at taxi it shimmied.
Then I decided to read the Maul manual again,"4. Ensure the steering springs/chains are pre-loaded approximately 1/4 inch." Oops read the manual! I could have saved my self 130 bucks. It works just fine now.
Hope this will help someone else.

Peter

[jim cooper]

Re: Tail wheel shimmy.

Same with scott 3200. Tightened the chains to "firm". No more shimmy. JC

[NY86]

Re: Tail wheel shimmy.

If you have a 3200 that shimmies, something else is going on. The 3200 has an internal shimmy dampener and shouldn't shimmy even if the chains are completely off.

[Taylor Maid]

Re: Tail wheel shimmy.

I had a bit of a tailwheel shimmy myself. Pick up your tail and see if there is some play in your tailwheel. I wound up taking out the bushing and putting a larger diameter bolt in where the tailwheel attaches to the leaf spring. This seemed to clear up my problem.

[barnstmr]

Re: Tail wheel shimmy.

A lot of folks never think about this, but you can minimize the wear and tear on your tailwheel by the way you taxi and turn. Think about ways to reduce the loads on the tailwheel, like using forward control wheel input and a little throttle blast while turning. Just some food for thought.

[Taylor Maid]

Re: Tail wheel shimmy.

I agree! If it isn't too windy out, I like to taxi almost all the way back to my hangar with my tail up in the air!

[mulwyk]

Re: Tail wheel shimmy.

In the picture are two links. The one on the left is a PMA link that came with my compression springs. The right link came from Tractor Supply (TSC), it is identical to the PMA link except 3/8" shorter and it does not have a cotter pin hole.

I found if I install those PMA links, the springs hang loose, just begging for shimmy, BUT if I use one PMA and one TSC link per side the springs are nicely snug to slightly pre-loaded.

Of course you can't use TSC links ($1.29 each) because they're not PMA'd, and if you did you'd have to drill a small hole in the barrell for a cotter pin.

[perryv1]

Re: Tail wheel shimmy.

Taylorcraft Supply Center?

[jim cooper]

Re: Tail wheel shimmy.

Yes! Very impressive. I too have seen people taxi around on mains! A pal some years back did it in a NICE supercruiser! Car popped out from behind hangar, startled him, hit brakes, prop strike, big money. I have back taxied a grass runway this way which goes into the not too bright catagory. I dont do it anymore. Things have gotten too expensive, even on these puddle jumpers! JC