alpinelakespilot2000
Well Known Member
I noticed while taxiing today that any time I try to turn right on the ground I had to use brake to get the tailwheel to turn. I could easily turn left with left pedal but as soon as I tried to turn right, even shallow turns with just a tiny bit of right pedal, I could feel the rudder break free without simultaneously turning the tailwheel. After 400 hours on the tailwheel I notice a clear difference, so something has changed.
I assumed this to be the typical case of the spring/pin mechanism getting stiff or developing a burr and not extending all the way. However I took the tailwheel apart, cleaned and inspected the spring and pin (pin seemed smooth and burr free), and put it back together. Both before and after the cleaning the pin seemed to operate as it should on the bench. For good measure, I then reinstalled the spring/pin in the opposite direction to see if my problem turning problems shifted to the left but they remain only on the right.
FWIW, I have the standard chains on a Bell tailwheel fork. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
I assumed this to be the typical case of the spring/pin mechanism getting stiff or developing a burr and not extending all the way. However I took the tailwheel apart, cleaned and inspected the spring and pin (pin seemed smooth and burr free), and put it back together. Both before and after the cleaning the pin seemed to operate as it should on the bench. For good measure, I then reinstalled the spring/pin in the opposite direction to see if my problem turning problems shifted to the left but they remain only on the right.
FWIW, I have the standard chains on a Bell tailwheel fork. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
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