Tailwheel assembly

[Rex Havis]

I'm looking for some help finding a bushing for my 1940 tailwheel assembly. the following infoemation is on the stearing arms of the assembly: Heath Co. is on the top. the under side has R. or B. then H. MICH, The arm on the other side has some marking that I cannot make out. The assembly is a twin fork design. Thats all of the information I have, hope some one can help.

[M Towsley]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

Rex,

That sounds like the original type, non-swiveling tailwheel. I still have one or two around here. I took it to a local machine shop and had them make a new bushing for one of mine. Heath made the original T-Craft tailwheels, they actually had Taylor Craft cast into the two steering arms.

[1938BF50]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

I have turned new bushings for several Heath tailwheels(going on experimentals of course). More often than not, the tailpost(shaft) on the casting has the lions share of wear or eccentricity. A new bushing alone rarely fixes a worn tailwheel assby. I used to chuck up the tailpost and true it on the lathe. A bushing is then turned a few thousandths over the new shaft diameter. A well worn shaft will quickly ruin a new bushing. Mic the shaft in several places and check for excessive(maybe .020") eccentricity.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

If you really want to save the fork it can be plated back to original dimensions and eliminate the shaft wear. The first step is to put a zincate coating on the aluminum shaft, followed by copper, then nickel and finally chrome plate which will require grinding back to the final dimension. The shaft will NEVER wear out again. For a stearing shaft you could probably get more service than any of us could ever put in with the final coat in nickel and save some money, or go with an electroless nickel-nickel-chrome finish.
I am assuming your fork has an aluminum shaft. If the shaft is steel you can go directly to chrome for less money. Note that these processes are NOT flash chrome like on a car bumper. This is industrial chrome that is much heavier and requires grinding back to original dimensions and a hydrogen embrittlement relief. Find a GOOD plating shop that is familiar with aircraft work and be ready to mortgage the house! I would look at it for an original "Taylorcraft" marked fork for originality. Any other types you can probably buy a new one for less.
Hank

[1938BF50]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

Hank,

They are ductile iron or a really low grade of cast steel.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

Mike,
You can probably get them plated for much less. The other thing is cast and low strength steel is much less prone to hydrogen embrittlement. You will need a good machine shop that can grind the chrome back to the original dimension, but when you are done, you will never wear it out again.
Hank

[M Towsley]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

Or, just buy my NOS one for much cheaper if you want.

[Guest]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

Or buy this one on ebay for $10

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160616971535&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

[M Towsley]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

Or, this one that is new and not rusty. But also not $10.00...

[Guest]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

How much is the "not $10" tail fork selling for?

[M Towsley]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

Last one I had on Ebay a couple of years ago bid up to $204.50. But, I think I could be a lot more reasonable on an out-right sale if it is going on a forum members airplane and not resold. If you are interested PM me. I may have two of these, I can't remember right now. I know I have a used one, too. I wish I still had my Taylorcraft-marked one.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

Like I said up front, if you want one plated and repaired it is NOT going to be cheap! I would only do it if there was no NOS ones available and I was working on a really special plane. ANYTHING can be repaired, if you are crazy enough and have the money! Even Glacier Girl and Liberty Belle (the P-38 that is now flying and the B-17 that just burned).
Hank

[magman]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

It seems Lang has the rights to Heath?

[M Towsley]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

I don't know about Lang, but no one has new parts anymore for the Heath that I am aware of.

[Guest]

Re: Tailwheel assembly

I'm looking for some help finding a bushing for my 1940 tailwheel assembly. the following infoemation is on the stearing arms of the assembly: Heath Co. is on the top. the under side has R. or B. then H. MICH, The arm on the other side has some marking that I cannot make out. The assembly is a twin fork design. Thats all of the information I have, hope some one can help.

I have 2 NOS fork assemblies with used wheel and tire and new axles and bearings.

Also have a box of tail wheel parts. Will look tomorrow to see if any Heath parts are in it.

I moved stuff to the other garage and have to find where I put it.

Dave