Tail wheel rubber cushions

[Dennis]

Just curious if everyone is using the rubber cushion above and below the tail wheel spring. I was recently told to leave it out and secure the Leif spring solid. What's everyone doing?

Dennis

[MikeB]

Dennis,
I don't have one on my Champ (never had one when I bought it). I do have one the L16 but can't notice any difference (between the two planes). I suspect it might do two things: provide a cushion between the tail spring and the tail tubing and possibly change the TW angle a bit. I cut the one for the L16 out of a (FAA certified) truck mud flap. I was having a problem with the ## ## pnuematic Maule tailwheel shimmying on the L16 so I was trying to do things right, changed the angle, springs, etc. Finally gave up and put my old 1950's hard rubber Firestone on....problem solved!!
Short answer: I guess it was probably put on there for a purpose (cushion, I think).

How's your 0200 Champ working out? I have about 42 hours on mine. Just changed oil, checked the screen.....no metal . Great performance compared to the old 65 (which was OK, too).

Mike

[Dennis]

Mike,

I am doing the annual on it now. Everything looks good so far. But it should with only 17 hours. It has been out of annual since sept. so I am anxious to get it done.

Still need to check the cable tensions and check timing plus paint some inspection covers.

Dennis

[EDGEFLY]

Dennis,

I don't have any input on the
rubber cushions but did go thru quite a shimmy session on my Chief when I first bought it a few months ago. It had a recent installation of a new pneumatic Maule TW setup which was then addressed, at my request, by a local A&P who suggested a different set of tension springs purchased from WAg-Aero. These were installed and things only got worse. Since I still had the original Maule parts (and the installation instructions), I decided to go back to that and require that the installation be done in strict coherence with the manufacturers' instructions. I insured that this was done and have had no problem since. Just a reference point.

Dale

[joea]

Dennis,

I had the rubber padding you are talking about on my Chief. Felt that it kept things just a bit tighter and together than if it was not there.

Joe A

[Dennis]

Thanks Joe. I tend to stay with factory design unless I have a very good reason to deviate. So I will leave them in place, at least for the time being.

Dennis

[Aerco]

Curious coincidence - today I re-installed my tailwheel assembly on my L3 project. It had pads both above and below the springs and they were both in fine shape. They are not simply rubber, more like a section of tire; it has fabric reinforcement running through it. I guess cutting one from an old tire would make a perfectly good pad.

[skyking3286]

You are looking at the same thing I used.... a main radiator hose from a car that is cut to shape. Mine's worked just fine for nearly 20 years! Swap out one in your oldest car, clean it up and cut it and you have the pads for free.