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broken tailwheel spring

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Lynn Matteson

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

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:01 am Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

I had the main leaf of my tailwheel spring break yesterday during taxi, 

just after landing on a grass runway...slightly bumpy surface. 

Fortunately I had a spare leaf that my instructor and I changed out 

rather quickly. Now I'll be looking for a replacement spring. The plane 

now has just over 158 hours on it. How are other 'fox owners finding 

the tailwheel springs holding up? Mine uses the main spring, and one 

other "booster" spring leaf. My main broke just about a half-inch 

forward of the tapered end of the booster spring leaf.



Lynn

Kitfox IV Speedster...Jabiru 2200

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

Michel

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 966
Location: Norway

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:42 am Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

On Sep 17, 2006, at 3:03 PM, Lynn Matteson wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		   I had the main leaf of my tailwheel spring break yesterday during 

 taxi, just after landing on a grass runway...


	


I am sorry to hear that, Lynn. I broke mine this summer after about 450 

hours and twice as many landings. I had only one leaf and now, I have 

two; the main one and probably what you call the "booster" one.

My main one (the only one, at the time) snapped about half way. I got a 

new one from Lowell and with the extra leaf (that I should have 

installed long before but it needed modification and ... I was lazy) it 

looks strong enough as it is.



I am surprised to see that yours broke, even with the "booster." Maybe 

it wasn't long enough. Next time I go to my plane, I'll take a photo of 

my tail spring as it is now.



Cheers,

Michel

_________________
Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200

vcmi(at)lewiston.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 7:43 am Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

Hi, I am Jerry in Lewiston Idaho and I have a Kitfox 1/2/4, ie it is a 

modified l with improvements up thru 4.  I have removed a Rotax 583 fwf and 

am installing a Jabiru 2200.  I would like info from anyone that has a 

Jabiru conversion.   On the tail wheel thing, I have had problems with 

several tail wheel airplanes over the years and it appears that in those 

that broke or came loose it could be traced to reverse caster in the way the 

pivot pin of the tail wheel slopes or angles as it sits on the ground.  I 

must caster or slope slightly rearward so the wheel tends to trail.  If this 

is not the case you get a lot of vibration, not always noticeable in the 

cockpit but nevertheless it is beating up the spring and attach point. 

Would like to hear from those with Jabiru engines.  Thanks.

---

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:02 am Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

My S-5 has 2 full springs, but the upper one has to

have a bolt slot, not simply a hole at the tailwheel

end.  This gives full redundancy, but avoids the

stress on the bolt/spring when they bend at different

radi.



Lynn, I think that the half spring only makes a stress

point on the main spring.  If there are several

different lengths of thinner helper springs, the load

is better distributed and less likely to break the

main spring.



Don't know how my double spring will work out over

time, but it seems to give me redundancy, if one

breaks.  Enough to get home and replace the broken

one?



Kurt S.  S-5



--- Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I had the main leaf of my tailwheel spring break

 yesterday during taxi, 

 just after landing on a grass runway...slightly

 bumpy surface. 

 Fortunately I had a spare leaf that my instructor

 and I changed out 

 rather quickly. Now I'll be looking for a

 replacement spring. The plane 

 now has just over 158 hours on it. How are other

 'fox owners finding 

 the tailwheel springs holding up? Mine uses the main

 spring, and one 

 other "booster" spring leaf. My main broke just

 about a half-inch 

 forward of the tapered end of the booster spring

 leaf.

 

 Lynn

 Kitfox IV Speedster...Jabiru 2200


	


__________________________________________________

jdmcbean(at)cableone.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 9:50 am Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

Lynn,

	Give us a shout we have a 3 leaf that several have used with good results.



Fly Safe !!

John & Debra McBean

www.kitfoxaircraft.com

"It's not how Fast... It's how Fun!"



--

Lynn Matteson

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

Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 3:20 pm Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

So one of the leafs has to bend at a different radius than the other, 

hence the slotted leaf. Does this bolt just get tightened to a drag fit 

then? This seems like a good idea in theory, but I'm thinking that it 

leaves the tailwheel bracket-to-main leaf a little less than tight? Any 

problems in that respect?



Lyn

On Sunday, September 17, 2006, at 12:01  PM, kurt schrader wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <smokey_bear_40220(at)yahoo.com>



 My S-5 has 2 full springs, but the upper one has to

 have a bolt slot, not simply a hole at the tailwheel

 end.  This gives full redundancy, but avoids the

 stress on the bolt/spring when they bend at different

 radi.



 Lynn, I think that the half spring only makes a stress

 point on the main spring.  If there are several

 different lengths of thinner helper springs, the load

 is better distributed and less likely to break the

 main spring.



 Don't know how my double spring will work out over

 time, but it seems to give me redundancy, if one

 breaks.  Enough to get home and replace the broken

 one?



 Kurt S.  S-5



 --- Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net> wrote:



> I had the main leaf of my tailwheel spring break

> yesterday during taxi,

> just after landing on a grass runway...slightly

> bumpy surface.

> Fortunately I had a spare leaf that my instructor

> and I changed out

> rather quickly. Now I'll be looking for a

> replacement spring. The plane

> now has just over 158 hours on it. How are other

> 'fox owners finding

> the tailwheel springs holding up? Mine uses the main

> spring, and one

> other "booster" spring leaf. My main broke just

> about a half-inch

> forward of the tapered end of the booster spring

> leaf.

>

> Lynn

> Kitfox IV Speedster...Jabiru 2200



 __________________________________________________

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:46 pm Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

So far no problems, but I am also experimenting with

rubber between the leaves and mounts for an even

softer ride.  It does allow the tailwheel to bend more

sideways when turned, but it takes up the jolts better

too.  More bending, but less shock?



Don't know if this will increase or decrease the life

of the system, but it rides nice.  Quieter too.



Kurt S.



--- Lynn Matteson <lynnmatt(at)jps.net> wrote:

 

 	  Quote: 	
		   So one of the leafs has to bend at a different

 radius than the other, 

 hence the slotted leaf. Does this bolt just get

 tightened to a drag fit 

 then? This seems like a good idea in theory, but I'm

 thinking that it 

 leaves the tailwheel bracket-to-main leaf a little

 less than tight? Any 

 problems in that respect?

 

 Lyn


	


__________________________________________________

rexjan(at)bigpond.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 3:54 pm Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

I had the main  leaf of my tailwheel spring break yesterday during taxi, 

just after landing  on a grass runway...slightly bumpy surface. 

Fortunately I had a spare leaf  that my instructor and I changed out 

rather quickly. Now I'll be looking for  a replacement spring. The plane 

now has just over 158 hours on it. How are  other 'fox owners finding 

the tailwheel springs holding up? Mine uses the  main spring, and one 

other "booster" spring leaf. My main broke just about a  half-inch 

forward of the tapered end of the booster spring  leaf.



 Hi ! Lynn,

                   sorry to hear your tailspring broke but I'm glad it was no big problem.  I  have the Grove spring on mine but I thought I heard this was no longer  available. It's spring aluminium although I don't know where the spring comes  from as it seems rock solid as far as I can determine. This part worries me  somewhat from that point of view. I have watched some steel leaf springs and to  me they look much gentler on the airframe. However I guess a broken spring can  be rather hard on things, so what is the best answer. I am not sure but I  believe the Grove spring doesn't break. [ Cross my fingers ]

                                                                                                               Rex from Australia.

   [quote][b]

janderson412(at)hotmail.c
Guest

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 4:18 pm Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

I too have the Grove tail spring. I believe the failures recorded so far 

were due to the spring chaffing on the steel mounting brk/bolts and wearing 

a depression thus causing a stress fracture. I have mounted mine in a nylon 

block to stop this, looks good so far, does have a degree of spring to it. 

Same stuff as the main legs..Picture if you wish. John





From: "Rex Shaw" <rexjan(at)bigpond.com>

Reply-To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

To: <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Re: broken tailwheel spring

Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 09:25:04 -0700

I had the main leaf of my tailwheel spring break yesterday during taxi,

just after landing on a grass runway...slightly bumpy surface.

Fortunately I had a spare leaf that my instructor and I changed out

rather quickly. Now I'll be looking for a replacement spring. The plane

now has just over 158 hours on it. How are other 'fox owners finding

the tailwheel springs holding up? Mine uses the main spring, and one

other "booster" spring leaf. My main broke just about a half-inch

forward of the tapered end of the booster spring leaf.



Hi ! Lynn,

                 sorry to hear your tailspring broke but I'm glad it was no 

big problem.  I have the Grove spring on mine but I thought I heard this was 

no longer available. It's spring aluminium although I don't know where the 

spring comes from as it seems rock solid as far as I can determine. This 

part worries me somewhat from that point of view. I have watched some steel 

leaf springs and to me they look much gentler on the airframe. However I 

guess a broken spring can be rather hard on things, so what is the best 

answer. I am not sure but I believe the Grove spring doesn't break. [ Cross 

my fingers ]

                                                                             

                                 Rex from Australia.



_________________________________________________________________

Need more speed? Get Xtra Broadband (at) 

http://jetstream.xtra.co.nz/chm/0,,202853-1000,00.html

smokey_bear_40220(at)yaho
Guest

Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:09 pm Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

I wonder if your tail is just too light for the Al

tail spring?  Did Grove make them different sizes for

light to heavy tails?  One size does not fit all here.



30 lbs on the tail is a lot different ride than 65 lbs

or more.  That is a guess at the ranges we fly with,

but I don't know.  Haven't weighed mine under load,

only empty.



I know some have seen 150 lbs with wings folded and

that is too much for flight.



Kurt S.



__________________________________________________

Lynn Matteson

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

Posted: Tue Sep 19, 2006 3:57 am Post subject: broken tailwheel spring

Hi Rex-

Yes, from what I heard the Grove TW spring has been discontinued.

I just ordered the 3-leaf spring from John McBean, and will try that  

when it arrives. My tailwheel weight was 43 pounds during the weigh-in  

at Airworthiness Certification time, with the total being 650 pounds.  

When I lift the rear with fuel aboard, it is quite a bit more than 43,  

and with 2 persons aboard, way more than that. I haven't done the math,  

but during a landing, especially during a soft field landing with the  

weight on the rear, that weight has got to be a big burden for the  

spring.



Lynn



On Tuesday, September 19, 2006, at 12:25  PM, Rex Shaw wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I had the main leaf of my tailwheel spring break yesterday during taxi,

 just after landing on a grass runway...slightly bumpy surface.

 Fortunately I had a spare leaf that my instructor and I changed out

 rather quickly. Now I'll be looking for a replacement spring. The plane

 now has just over 158 hours on it. How are other 'fox owners finding

 the tailwheel springs holding up? Mine uses the main spring, and one

 other "booster" spring leaf. My main broke just about a half-inch

 forward of the tapered end of the booster spring leaf.

 Hi ! Lynn,

                  sorry to hear your tailspring broke but I'm glad it  

 was no big problem.  I have the Grove spring on mine but I thought I  

 heard this was no longer available. It's spring aluminium although I  

 don't know where the spring comes from as it seems rock solid as far  

 as I can determine. This part worries me somewhat from that point of  

 view. I have watched some steel leaf springs and to me they look much  

 gentler on the airframe. However I guess a broken spring can be rather  

 hard on things, so what is the best answer. I am not sure but I  

 believe the Grove spring doesn't break. [ Cross my fingers ]

                                                                         

                                       Rex from Australia.

_________________
Lynn
Kitfox IV-Jabiru 2200
N369LM

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