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Tail wheel spring set up

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shinco(at)bright.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:14 am Post subject: Tail wheel spring set up

I have a KF2,,I have replaced the stock,1 leaf spring.It worked 

fine..but to be safe for off airport.I replaced to 3 leaf spring from 

Kitfox..BUT now the rear tail wheel does not coster around right.does 

not lock in to place.On better looking at the two different leaf 

springs,the single+ the Triple sets the angle is different.A big 

different .in them...as is now with the new set up..it is in danger of 

even ground handing it.it wants to ground loop.braking does not help 

much...Could this be the wrong set of leaf springs??does the KF2  

different ,or does all KF springs fit all KFs??may be I have the wrong 

KF springs??I can not fly this way...  What can I do??grounded in 

OHIO.....STEVE SHINABERY,,N554KF   KF2  582

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Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 2:13 am Post subject: Tail wheel spring set up

Steve,

I have a Kitfox 3 and last year, after maybe 900 landings, the single leaf broke. I replaced it with two leafs and I feel quite happy.

What kind of tailwheel do you have? The Maule? The point is: the vertical axis must be just a tiny bit tilted forward. That is the key to good tailhweel control. But I don't understand why your wheel now won't free-castor. Have you checked the unlocking mechanism?



Cheers,

Michel Verheughe

Norway

Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

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_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

helili(at)chahtatushka.ne
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 6:42 am Post subject: Tail wheel spring set up

Check rudder cable tension, tailwheel centering springs tension, and

possibly cable length.  Could be that the new leaf spring is a bit longer or

shorter than the original, or is arced differently, effectively lengthening,

or shortening the distance from rudder pedal to rudder control horn.



John Hart

KF IV

Wilburton, OK  



--

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Lynn Matteson

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 2778
Location: Grass Lake, Michigan

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 9:12 am Post subject: Tail wheel spring set up

Look at the caster angle of the new setup versus the old setup. They  

should be similar. In order for the tailwheel to caster (follow the  

plane) a projected line drawn through the centerline of the pivot  

must hit the ground ahead of the contact point of the wheel on the  

ground. It sounds like you have done this, right? If that angle is  

off, it could be that the new spring has too much arch in it...or too  

little.

I'd check with the seller of the spring.



Lynn Matteson

Kitfox IV Speedster

Jabiru 2200

Status: flying w/545 hrs





On Jul 7, 2008, at 5:14 AM, steve shinabery wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I have a KF2,,I have replaced the stock,1 leaf spring.It worked  

 fine..but to be safe for off airport.I replaced to 3 leaf spring  

 from Kitfox..BUT now the rear tail wheel does not coster around  

 right.does not lock in to place.On better looking at the two  

 different leaf springs,the single+ the Triple sets the angle is  

 different.A big different .in them...as is now with the new set  

 up..it is in danger of even ground handing it.it wants to ground  

 loop.braking does not help much...Could this be the wrong set of  

 leaf springs??does the KF2  different ,or does all KF springs fit  

 all KFs??may be I have the wrong KF springs??I can not fly this  

 way...  What can I do??grounded in OHIO.....STEVE  

 SHINABERY,,N554KF   KF2  582

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Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Guy Buchanan

Joined: 16 Jul 2006
Posts: 1204
Location: Ramona, CA

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:55 pm Post subject: Tail wheel spring set up

At 02:14 AM 7/7/2008, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Could this be the wrong set of leaf springs??does the KF2

different ,or does all KF springs fit all KFs??may be I have the 

wrong KF springs??I can not fly this way...  What can I do??


	


If the angle is the only thing different, (meaning you swapped the 

entire tailwheel assembly from one to the other,) that has to be the 

reason. The pivot should be nearly vertical, with the top slightly 

behind the bottom so the wheel doesn't shimmy. I'm guessing yours has 

the top WAY behind the bottom, so the wheel wants to flop sideways. 

That would be bad. If your pivot angle looks wrong, have a spring 

shop bend it for you to the right angle.

Guy Buchanan

San Diego, CA

K-IV/1200 w/ 582 C-box & Warp 3 blade

100% and flying thanks mostly to Bob Ducar

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_________________
Guy Buchanan
Deceased K-IV 1200
A glider pilot too.

shinco(at)bright.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 5:18 pm Post subject: Tail wheel spring set up

Guy Buchanan wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

 At 02:14 AM 7/7/2008, you wrote:

> Could this be the wrong set of leaf springs??does the KF2

> different ,or does all KF springs fit all KFs??may be I have the 

> wrong KF springs??I can not fly this way...  What can I do??

 If the angle is the only thing different, (meaning you swapped the 

 entire tailwheel assembly from one to the other,) that has to be the 

 reason. The pivot should be nearly vertical, with the top slightly 

 behind the bottom so the wheel doesn't shimmy. I'm guessing yours has 

 the top WAY behind the bottom, so the wheel wants to flop sideways. 

 That would be bad. If your pivot angle looks wrong, have a spring shop 

 bend it for you to the right angle.

 Guy Buchanan

 San Diego, CA

 K-IV/1200 w/ 582 C-box & Warp 3 blade

 100% and flying thanks mostly to Bob Ducar

 270.4.6/1538 - Release Date: 7/7/2008 7:40 AM

Thanks Guy,,every one has helped me..and these are all good ideas..today 

I am sending pictures of springs to Kitfox ..what I have..and what needs 

to be done..  but grounded 4 now in Ohio.I can not keep doing loops 

all down the way.of the run way.trying to get off the ground..all so 

looks kind of stupid..  But with all of the kitfox family and 

John+Deb at kitfox.hope to have her back in the air again..soon....STEVE 

SHINABERY N554KF   KF2   582..

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dave

Joined: 22 Sep 2006
Posts: 1382

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:28 am Post subject: Re: Tail wheel spring set up

Steve, Sounds like you have a negative castor angle like the other guys have mentioned.  Can you post a picture?   Remind me later today and I will get a photo of tailwheel on my  IV.  Better hurry -- floats going on this week I hope.

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Guest

Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 6:13 am Post subject: Tail wheel spring set up

Some will say I'm nuts but if your original 1 leaf spring is intact (no cracks), why not put it back on and keep flying until you get the problem with 3-leafer sorted out? So long as you inspect it carefully at every preflight and unload the tailwheel when trailering or storing with wings folded, you'll get hundreds of hours of safe service out of that 1-leafer.  

  

Just one aviator's thought to keep you in the air Steve. 

  

Marco Menezes N99KX  

Model 2 582-90 C-Box



--- On Mon, 7/7/08, steve shinabery <shinco(at)bright.net> wrote:

 [quote]From: steve shinabery <shinco(at)bright.net>

Subject: Re: Tail wheel spring set up

To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Monday, July 7, 2008, 9:18 PM



[quote]--> Kitfox-List message posted by: steve shinabery <shinco(at)bright.net>  Guy Buchanan wrote: > --> Kitfox-List message posted by: Guy Buchanan <bnn(at)nethere.com> > > At 02:14 AM 7/7/2008, you wrote: >> Could this be the wrong set of leaf springs??does the KF2 >> different ,or does all KF springs fit all KFs??may be I have the  >> wrong KF springs??I can not fly this way...  What can I do?? > > If the angle is the only thing different, (meaning you swapped the  > entire tailwheel assembly from one to the other,) that has to be the  > reason. The pivot should be nearly vertical, with the top slightly  > behind the bottom so the wheel doesn't shimmy. I'm guessing yours has  > the top WAY behind the bottom, so the wheel wants to flop sideways.  > That would be bad. If your pivot angle looks wrong, have a spring shop  > bend it for you to the right angle. > > > Guy Buchanan > San Diego, CA > K-IV/1200 w/ 582 C-box & Warp 3 blade > 100% and flying thanks mostly to Bob Ducar > > > > > > 270.4.6/1538 - Release Date: 7/7/2008 7:40 AM > > > Thanks Guy,,every one has helped me..and these are all good ideas..today  I am sending pictures of springs to Kitfox ..what I have..and what needs  to be done..  but grounded 4 now in Ohio.I can not keep doing loops  all down the way.of the run way.trying to get off the ground..all so  looks kind of stupid..  But with all of the kitfox family and  John+Deb at kitfox.hope to have her back in the air again..soon....STEVE  SHINABERY N554KF   KF2   582..          [quote][b]

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