Vince Frazier
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 132
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 Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:05 am Post subject: Screaming Eagle tailwheel |
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SNIP From: "Greg Williams" <>
Subject: Re: tailwheel problem...solved
Vince, Any difference in the lubrication schedule for yours? Seems I'm
always taking my Van's tailwheel apart for cleaning. After it gets dirt
&
dust on it after a while, it doesn't hold in the straight ahead
position.
Is there a zirk fitting for lubing it? Where would I get a wheel pant
for
it? How many hours should I get out of a stock tailwheel tire with
"novice
style landing/bounces"? Greg SNIP
Greg,
If you use my retrofit fork, the lubrication schedule doesn't change.
You still need to clean and lube it periodically. Also check the pin
and control arm for burrs or wear.
Use your scotchbrite wheel to clean up the pin as needed. I suggest
that the end of the locking pin be slightly blunt with rounded corners
as opposed to perfectly round. This allows more of the flat sides of the
pin to remain in contact with the control arm notch. You can (and
should) observe (and understand) the operation of this while you've got
the thing apart for cleaning. The pin should engage the control arm as
deeply as possible. There is too much to this topic to write here, but
fortunately it's common sense stuff if you simply observe how the
locking pin works.
If you buy a complete tailwheel unit from me you will notice that I
don't use the bronze bushings that Van's uses. And there are no useless
grease zerks installed. My sockets use an engineered plastic bushing
that requires no lubrication. More $$$ than bronze, but worth it.
HOWEVER, the steel parts must still be greased or oiled to prevent rust!
AND the locking pin must still be lubed! So, it doesn't change the need
to service the tailwheel, but it does make manufacturing easier mostly
because it doesn't require and grease zerks. BTW, IMHO, the grease
zerks aren't for greasing, they are there to lock the bronze in position
and nothing else!
Based on my Rocket, using my tailwheel products, I have cleaned and
lubed my tailwheel exactly once in the last 150+ hours (2 years). I
found no wear, and did nothing except lube it and reinstall. I'm doing a
bit of a torture test on my stuff to see what happens with minimal
maintenance. All I really was doing when I lubed it was to take it apart
for inspection!
The tailwheel tire was slightly worn, but it should last for several
hundred more hours. FWIW, I fly off turf, but almost always go
somewhere with pavement. So, 1/2 the landings are on either surface.
I would like to make a tailwheel pant and sell it... but there simply
aren't enough hours in the day! Van's tailwheel pant will fit. refer
to the website below for a photo of a tailwheelpant installation.
BTW, I have units in stock and ready to ship.
Thanks,
Vince Frazier
Screaming Eagle Graphics and Accessories, LLC
3965 Caborn Road
Mount Vernon, IN 47620
812-464-1839
http://vincesrocket.com/products.htm
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_________________
Vince Frazier
3965 Caborn Road
Mount Vernon, IN 47620
812-464-1839 work
812-985-7309 home
F-1H Rocket, N540VF
http://vincesrocket.com/ |
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