Weight comparison......

[CptKelly]

What is the weight difference between a Maule tailwheel, and a Scott 3200? I have thought about going to a Scott on our Champ if there is not a huge weight difference.

Thanks,

Mike

[Paul Agaliotis]

The Scott (Avox) is two pounds heavier in actual weight. The arm is almost four inches further aft than the Maule.
Paul

[joea]

Mike,

Lets be up front in the beginning. I have a Scott 3200 on my plane, and have had one on every Aeronca I ever owned. That started early on when I almost ground looped the plane in a strong crosswind and was "that" close to catching a wingtip or ripping out a landing gear. Replaced the old Maule with a 3200 and life was good again and much more controllable. Was it expensive? Yes, but then so are wing spars or landing gear fittings.

Easiest way is to say that the Scott 3200 and Maule pneumatic are about the same brand new out of the box. The Maule is MUCH more fussy to set-up correctly, but once set-up correctly will work just as good (more or less) as the 3200.

The Scott 3200 out of the box works very well. It is the industry standard tailwheel. It continues to work well for 10-20 years. Keep it clean inside and keep fresh grease in there and it continues to do its job. All the parts needed to eventually overhaul it are available but there is not much that wears out inside these tailwheels.

The Maule is from what I have heard a 3-400 hour tailwheel. You can overhaul them but by the time you take the time to pull it apart, clean and inspect and then buy the new parts, you might as well buy a new one and get it over with.

Lets muddy the waters a bit. Alaskan Bushwheel. Go here and look at the second and third tailwheels on the page. http://www.akbushwheel.com/CompleteTail ... embly.html This is a very good direct copy of the Scott 3200 tailwheel and is legal on our airplanes. New its 1/3rd the cost of the Scott and from the reports out there is just as good.

Lets see what the other reports are here but if I were you I would try to find a used Scott 3200 or new AK Bushwheel copy. For me in a Chief I am not really concerned about the small increase of weight in the back. A Champ might be a bit different so work it out and check the difference.

[CptKelly]

Wow, thanks for all the response. I didn't know Bushwheels made tailwheels, and before I'd buy a new Scott 3200, I sure would buy a Bushwheel 3200.
I just talked to a buddy who lives in Florida, and he says to go with a "Lang" tailwheel since my Maule units do not seem to work properly.
My buddy owns a Champ and a PA-12. He says the Lang units are a lot lighter than either the Maule or Scott, and that the Lang was original equipment on many Champs. I reckon I'll be calling Aircraft Spruce today to see it they stil sell the Lang.

Thanks again,

Mike

[Nathan K. Hammond]

The Alaska Bush Wheel (ABW) tailwheel is a direct copy of the Scott 3200, and the parts are interchangeable. If you're looking for a softer ride and want the best available, an ABW3200 is the way to go.

I put a Lang on my dads J3 and have been impressed by its performance. It rides very similarly to the old Scott 2000, but its locking mechanism is far superior. It will not come unlocked unless you go full travel on the rudder, unlike a worn out Scott 2000 that has a hard time staying locked.

Maule tailwheels have a love/hate relation ship. If you get a good one from the factory and its setup correctly, then it's one of the best going. But, they have a tendency to be out of whack from the factory and replacement parts are hit and miss with quality. We ran a solid Maule for the longest time and never had a problem except uneven wear on the rubber tire, but that was easily fixed. Then we broke the main casting one day, and it never worked good again. We went though 3 assemblies before a good one was found, but even still it gave us fits. Hence the switch to a Lang.


ABW 3200 - 7 lbs
Lang - 6 lbs
Solid Maule - 6 lbs
Pneumatic Maule 7 lbs

nkh

[stknrdr]

Per my wife's CFI who has beaucoup K's of hour in T/W aircraft (instructing, owning, banner towing, multi yrs in Forest Service and AG t/w planes, previous Chief, Pitts, Citabria, Pawnee, etc. owner and currently owns a 7AC w/ Maule tailwheel):

These opinions are his, not mine, as he has the experience and I don't.

1. The Maule T/W is a piece of %!#*! He's just waiting for some discretionary income to replace it.

2. He did a pre-buy for me on a 7AC Conv to O-200 and turned it down primarily because of the Maule t/w. (There were other reasons, but that was a "You're going to have to replace this, right now!").

3. The CFI is also an A/P (for years) and is serious about maint. He also likes grass strips and flys in and out of them (his strip is grass) weekly. He has lost Maule springs on very smooth grass strips doing T&G's w/ students and gotten a very rude surprise at the next landing.

4. The first thing he did to tame the Maule t/w problem was to remove the pneumatic wheel and replace it w/ hard rubber.

5. He ferried a new Maule aircraft (42 hrs on the tach) last Sat for a new owner. The tailwheel was totally out of rig, springs hanging loose and generally Foxtrot/Uniform. Upon arrival it went immediately to the local FBO A/P for a fix, before the CFI would fly it again. Query: (assuming no monkey busness by owner in 42 hrs) If they can't even get it rigged right before they roll it out the door at the factory, what's the deal here?

Again, these are not my opinions, but the local CFI who has a whole bunch of t/w time in various t/w a/c.

FWIW[/b]

[Mnflyer]

"The Maule T/W is a piece of %!#*! He's just waiting for some discretionary income to replace it."
The Maule is about the lowest priced approved tailwheel available when in airworthy condition works as well as any tailwheel made, they do wear the bushing out in much shorter times than others thus require a more watchful Eye and maint.

." The CFI is also an A/P (for years) and is serious about maint. He also likes grass strips and flys in and out of them (his strip is grass) weekly. He has lost Maule springs on very smooth grass strips doing T&G's w/ students and gotten a very rude surprise at the next landing. "

This goes back to maint. the springs don't just off of a Maule tailwheel anymore then they would a Scott. The steering springs are basically attached the same on all tailwheels.

"The first thing he did to tame the Maule t/w problem was to remove the pneumatic wheel and replace it w/ hard rubber"

Some folks like the solid tire over the pneumatic, perhaps when the tailwheel was changed the solid tire one was in better condition?

5." He ferried a new Maule aircraft (42 hrs on the tach) last Sat for a new owner. The tailwheel was totally out of rig, springs hanging loose and generally Foxtrot/Uniform. Upon arrival it went immediately to the local FBO A/P for a fix, before the CFI would fly it again. Query: (assuming no monkey busness by owner in 42 hrs) If they can't even get it rigged right before they roll it out the door at the factory, what's the deal here?"

Here again not much of a preflight if the pilot didn't notice the tailwheel was out of rig and the springs were loose. Perhaps the seller removed the new(42hr) tailwheel and stuck on a wore out one as he was selling the plane?
Maule make a very good airplane and I don't care how much one dislikes their tailwheels they work good for more than 42 hrs and Maule would not send a new plane out in that condition.