Hello fellow RV-builders/flyers,
The tailwheel of my RV-9 is developing problems. It has always been hard to convince the tailwheel to turn and it required a great amount of input (and differential braking) to take it out of it's centre lock.
Today, returning from a fly-in, I landed normally and at taxi-speed I could hardly make right turns and really had to step on the rudder to turn. Whilst trying to vacate I could only steer with differential braking. At shutdown I discovered that the metal clamp that connects the rudder to the tailwheel spring had broken away completely and the rudder-cable, together with the tailwheel spring, was disconnected and dragging across the apron.
My questions are: 1. Is this a common problem to taildragger RV's and 2. How do I fix it.
My current approach would be to disassemble to tailwheel-assembly and find out why it takes so much force to take it out of the centre lock. Then try to fix that specific problem.
Your input is much appreciated. Specially hints in which direction to look.
Cheers !
The tailwheel of my RV-9 is developing problems. It has always been hard to convince the tailwheel to turn and it required a great amount of input (and differential braking) to take it out of it's centre lock.
Today, returning from a fly-in, I landed normally and at taxi-speed I could hardly make right turns and really had to step on the rudder to turn. Whilst trying to vacate I could only steer with differential braking. At shutdown I discovered that the metal clamp that connects the rudder to the tailwheel spring had broken away completely and the rudder-cable, together with the tailwheel spring, was disconnected and dragging across the apron.
My questions are: 1. Is this a common problem to taildragger RV's and 2. How do I fix it.
My current approach would be to disassemble to tailwheel-assembly and find out why it takes so much force to take it out of the centre lock. Then try to fix that specific problem.
Your input is much appreciated. Specially hints in which direction to look.
Cheers !