nose wheel shimmy [video]

[Auburntsts]

Originally Posted by Mike S

A second hole in the shaft that is a half flat of the nut off-----30* will allow either of the holes to be used each time you tighten the nut.

Good solution as I see it.

Sounds reasonable to me.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

that is REALLY fascinating how the wheel is cockeyed inthe prop wash. I just assumed it'd straighten right out in the airstream. Great video. Thanks for posting that.

[jimbower]

Upon landing a few weeks ago, I had some nosewheel shimmy to the point that my wheel pant was fractured. I checked the breakout force and it was pretty low. Don't know why it wasn't a factor until then, but it took several notches worth of turning to get it right.

I guess it's for the better, because it forced me to do some cleanup on the wheel pant after I fixed it and now I will have to primer and paint it! (I'm having too much fun flying to want the airplane out of service.)

Jim Bower
RV-6A N143DJ

[flyboy1963]

It seems that even at specified crush, the cup washers aren't damping oscillation all that well.
You can easily see with moving it by hand...... Once the breakout force is reached, there is little to no further resistance.
Does anyone have experience with other types of swivel dampers? Not that the tiny oleo style on the nosewheel of a cessna are much better.
....could using a viscous fibre washer of some kind produce a more predictable drag, without affecting steering?
I will speculate that the metal-on-metal washers are going to vary a lot with temperature, oil film, etc.

[walkman]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

that is REALLY fascinating how the wheel is cockeyed inthe prop wash. I just assumed it'd straighten right out in the airstream. Great video. Thanks for posting that.

Surely it IS straightened out in the airstream. It's just that the flow coming off the prop corkscrews, it's not parallel to the longitudinal axis of the air raft.

[bkthomps]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

that is REALLY fascinating how the wheel is cockeyed inthe prop wash. I just assumed it'd straighten right out in the airstream. Great video. Thanks for posting that.

so did you see a speed increase with the straighter pointing nose wheel?

[txaviator]

Looks like that could really have put some wear on the front tire, too!

[GeneL]

Nose wheel weathervane is NOT due to propwash. It is due to the wheel pant not centered over the nose wheel. To get the amount of turn in the earlier part of video you only need to be off .100 of an inch. Ask me haw I know! Gene

[The Wizzard]

Have you considered turning it into a trail dragger?

[woodmanrog]

As has been stated and discussed in many previous texts: do NOT lubricate the Bellville washers (per Van). The nose gear is a taxi gear not a landing gear. Hold that nose wheel off of the pavement till it won't stay up anymore and you will alleviate a lot of problems.