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Blumax008(at)aol.com Guest
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 5:25 am Post subject: Tailwheel steerability |
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Hey ya'll,
My Firestar II is tough to steer using the rudder pedals & tailwheel. I use
the brakes often to get it into a turn & most times have to use them
throughout the turn especially when turning the tail into the wind.
I've got the tailwheel chains snugged up pretty tight so that shouldn't be
the problem. I've also lubricated everything in sight in the tailwheel area.
Mine has that tiny 25 cent tailwheel...which I figure is probably the reason
as it doesn't have the tread to grip the surface & actually turn. The
tailwheel slides around a turn, on pavement or grass.
Thanks for any ideas!
Wild Bill Catalina
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John Jung

Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 108 Location: Surprise, AZ, USA
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Tailwheel steerability |
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Blumax008(at)aol.com wrote: | My Firestar II is tough to steer using the rudder pedals & tailwheel. Wild Bill Catalina |
Bill,
I still use the stock tailwheel on my Firestar II and the only time I have to use the brakes for steering is to spin around a wheel (u-turn?). I do not use stock springs and that may be the difference. My springs are compression types, like found on a screen door.
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_________________ John Jung
Firestar II N6163J
Surprise, AZ |
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Russ Kinne
Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 182
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Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 2:27 pm Post subject: Tailwheel steerability |
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Wild Bill
FWIW - all the time I flew my 170, I nearly always had to tap the
brake to make a turn . Even with that big rudder! Tightening chains
wouldn't do it. Maule tailwheel. I just considered that a brake-tap
was simply the way you had to do it, and it always worked..
In a crosswind, sometimes there's just no way to keep it straight;
you have to gun it & do a circle. Once at Des Moines , they were
expecting the C-5 to come in and there were several thousand people
watching (of course!) I made a good landing but had a long taxi with
a strong crosswind. Ended up doing SEVEN circles on the taxiway. Most
embarassing. Maybe they thought it was a show, the Flying Farmer or
something. Hope so.
Tower: "What are your intentions?"
Me: "you ever fly a taildragger?"
Twr: "No"
Me: "Just be patient then, I'll get there eventually"
And I did, all ended happily. The C-5 came in & maybe they forgot
all about this spinning fool.
I wouldn't keep the chains real tight as it has to wear bearings,
bushings, shafts, whatever. Doesn't seem to work anyway, IMExperience
at least.
I doubt tread is a big factor; I've flown quite a bit with bald
tailwheels.
Good luck
On Mar 11, 2006, at 8:22 AM, Blumax008(at)aol.com wrote:
Quote: |
Hey ya'll,
My Firestar II is tough to steer using the rudder pedals &
tailwheel. I use
the brakes often to get it into a turn & most times have to use them
throughout the turn especially when turning the tail into the wind.
I've got the tailwheel chains snugged up pretty tight so that
shouldn't be
the problem. I've also lubricated everything in sight in the
tailwheel area.
Mine has that tiny 25 cent tailwheel...which I figure is probably
the reason
as it doesn't have the tread to grip the surface & actually turn. The
tailwheel slides around a turn, on pavement or grass.
Thanks for any ideas!
Wild Bill Catalina
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esteuber(at)rochester.rr. Guest
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 4:57 am Post subject: tailwheel steerability |
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Bill,
You can either lengthen the rudder arms or shorten the tailwheel steering arm. If using stiff springs you may have a problem hitting the rudder stops if you change it too much . I have a homemade tailwheel pivot that allows the steering arms to go 90 degrees ( no breakaway clutch). I use lighter springs and put them at the rudder arms and the tailwheel will go almost 90 degrees both ways. The springs will be stretched a bit in turns....makes it a bit more challenging for directional control on hard surface but well within control...but it turns better !
Toe dance ED in Western NY
Do Not Archive
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slyck(at)frontiernet.net Guest
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 5:09 am Post subject: tailwheel steerability |
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Tailwheels take a beating and need frequent care. Still better than
those
"training wheels" up front.
Another reason for limited turning ability is a bent spring/rod will
make
it want to caster forward only. Ideally the pivot hinge is straight up
and down.
-BB
On 12, Mar 2006, at 7:53 AM, Edward Steuber wrote:
Quote: |
<esteuber(at)rochester.rr.com>
Bill,
You can either lengthen the rudder arms or shorten the
tailwheel steering arm. If using stiff springs you may have a problem
hitting the rudder stops if you change it too much . I have a homemade
tailwheel pivot that allows the steering arms to go 90 degrees ( no
breakaway clutch). I use lighter springs and put them at the rudder
arms and the tailwheel will go almost 90 degrees both ways. The
springs will be stretched a bit in turns....makes it a bit more
challenging for directional control on hard surface but well within
control...but it turns better !
Toe dance ED in Western NY
Do Not Archive
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planecrazzzy Guest
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 9:32 am Post subject: Re: tailwheel steerability |
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It would be nice to see pictures......
Getting some of you guys to post pictures of your improvments , is like pulling teeth....
Gotta Fly...
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esteuber(at)rochester.rr. wrote: | Bill,
You can either lengthen the rudder arms or shorten the tailwheel steering arm. If using stiff springs you may have a problem hitting the rudder stops if you change it too much . I have a homemade tailwheel pivot that allows the steering arms to go 90 degrees ( no breakaway clutch). I use lighter springs and put them at the rudder arms and the tailwheel will go almost 90 degrees both ways. The springs will be stretched a bit in turns....makes it a bit more challenging for directional control on hard surface but well within control...but it turns better !
Toe dance ED in Western NY
Do Not Archive |
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DAquaNut(at)aol.com Guest
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Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 2:40 pm Post subject: tailwheel steerability |
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In a message dated 3/12/2006 6:58:17 A.M. Central Standard Time,
esteuber(at)rochester.rr.com writes:
I have a homemade tailwheel pivot that allows the steering arms to go 90
degrees ( no breakaway clutch). I use lighter springs and put them at the rudder
arms and the tailwheel will go almost 90 degrees both ways. The springs will
be stretched a bit in turns....makes it a bit more challenging for
directional control on hard surface but well within control...but it turns better !
Toe dance ED in Western NY
Do Not Archive
Ed,
Is there any way you could post some pictures of your home brewed tail
wheel? I have been thinking, if I knew the principal, of how the castering
tailweels, worked, I could fabricate my own. If you cant post a picture, could
ya come up with a materials list and a verbal explanation how you built it.
If anyone else has a design for a lightweight tail wheel that works better
than stock, please fess up and tell how you dun it!
Ed ( Firefly # 62)
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