Tailwheels

[MikeB]

OK guys......How about a little discussion on tail wheels? I presently have a older Maule, one that the "drag" can be adjusted on the side. Everything is fairly tight but, on occasion it will unlock, when I'm making a sharp turn on the runway;. Never has on landing, but it's always on my mind. So anyway, I've been looking at new tail wheels, Scott, Maule, Lange etc.
What's the consensus of the group as to the best tailwheel for the money (considering none of them are cheap, the Scott 3200 is way over $1000 now). As my tailwheel is pretty tight, I could probably just replace the upper parts as necessary, but would like to know what some of the options are other than making an unexpected trip to the boonies, especially since I have the lovely Good Year brakes .

Thanks.....Mike.

[Don Eide]

Mike,

I sure like my Scott 3200 tailwheel on my Champ. I see Spruce has them for $896 plus shipping. At that price I'd really have to think two or three times before I'd buy one.

On the L-4 I just finished, we put on a Maule SFSA solid tailwheel, Spruce price $229.95, which so far is working great. Many years ago I also use this SFSA on a short coupled high landing speed homebuilt for over 300 hours and never had any problems with it.

I guess it's your choice. How much money do you have to spend?

[MikeB]

That's interesting.......I think the Spruce website listed them for over $1000 for a 3200. That would be my choice......but.....$$$$?? Wag Aero is around $899. How much do I have to spend? Well, just sold the Cherokee so should plenty, but I hate to spend it all for a tailwheel (You know us tight Norwegians!!) .

[Paul Agaliotis]

It,s been my experence with the Lang and the Maule that work equally well for about 500hrs. Then you start replacing parts and put up with the problems, play in neutral position, hard to lock/unlock, shimmy and so on. The Scott tail wheels are a good tail wheel but suffer from the same problems as above at about 1000hrs. Plus the price will take your breath away, even on the replacement parts. I,m starting to use a tail wheel made by Aviation Products of Ojai,Ca. It works very well, reasonably priced ($250) but unapproved. Paul

[Don Eide]

Mike,

I was looking in Spruces brand new catalog that I just picked up at Oshkosh and found the price of $896. I just looked it up on there web site and they are listing it for $1281. WOW
I just looked up Wags price on the web and it's the same in there book $899.50. Guess If I wanted one I'd buy it from Wag.

[joea]

Have put a Scott 3200 on every Aeronca I owned. Expensive but cheaper than wingtip or landing gear tubing repairs.

JoeA

[jerrymjr]

Scott was really raising the price, until Avox got a hold of the 3200.
Now its really gone up! hehe

Wags price is low. I 'think' OEM is around $875.

We are looking into options already. Its quickly getting priced right off the airplane. But then again, AK Bushwheel has their 3200 clone approved and it costs more yet! Time may change that.

[Tim Juhl]

Mike,
I've been running the same older style Maule since 1985 without trouble. I've never had it unlock when it shouldn't, although if I try to make too sharp a taxi turn it may release. I don't know what all the fuss about Maule vs Scott is about. I suppose if a tailwheel ever let go on me I have some definite opinions too.

A friend of mine who just restored a Taylorcraft installed the Maule Tundra tailwheel ( SFS-P8B-1-2 ) and is really happy with it's performance. Seems to handle the rough strips and the pavement with ease. Price is good too.

Tim

[Ron Babos]

Tim: We have four Champs on the field and all of them are equipped with Maules. No problems with any of them. One had to be rebuilt, as it had a gazillion hours on it. I would not hesitate to by another Maule down the road. Sure the Scott is nice and all that but the price is out to lunch.
Ron

[MikeB]

Thanks for all the info, guys. I've pretty much decided to go with a new Maule. I'd rebuild the one I have, but I borrowed it off my AI's Champ that's sitting in my shop. He might as well have the fun and $$$ of rebuilding it, now that I wore it out. It might just be gummed up too.

Next question: which windshield is more flat? The Aeronca or the Citabria?
Mine is kind of "bubble" shaped.

[marklamon]

Aeronca 7AC = Bubble
Citabria = Flat
Mark

[Nathan K. Hammond]

Yeah, champs are bubbled so when you fly through rain, it won't clear were you look out!
....at least on mine....

nkh

[MikeB]

Thanks for the info. I knew there was a difference, but wasn't sure which was which. Saw all sorts at Oshkosh. Of the three Champs on our field, I think one has the flat windshield.

[Ron Babos]

Mike: Citabria is much cheaper also.
Ron

[Dusty]

So, what sort of flying do you Maule TW fans do? My latest toy needs a new tailwheel, and I'm seriously thinking about a Maule instead of a Scott. I can buy 3 maules and still be money ahead, but I can't buy much tubing for the difference.