wandersen
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2007
- Messages
- 519
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Hello Everyone,
I had a couple of on and off list comments around the tailwheel mounting. The concern is around security of the round tailwheel spring under torsional loading. With a flat tailspring, bolt down the end and it won't twist out of the mount. With the round spring, even with the bolt through it, there will be a tremendous torsional force on this and only the sheer strength of the attach bolt will resist this.
I honestly knew when I put the tail-wheel on that my mounting would likely need to be enhanced, so no issues with critiques.
Picture #1 is the Steen tailwheel assembly orderable from their website. It looks like it has a 10 degree bend in the spring. It also appears to have two flats milled into the ends.
Picture #2 is a picture of the Yellowbird tailwheel mounting from Capt. Al Rice's website. http://www.captalrice.com/
Picture #3 is a picture of how Al Rice did his. http://www.captalrice.com/Skybolt%20Landing%20Gear.htm (see very bottom)
Picture #4 is a picture of my first cut of the tailwheel mounting. As you can see, I don't have a bend in the tailspring (yet?). Also I did not mill in the flats on the tail spring either. If I am correct, the Steen round tailspring is two inches shorter than the stock Aviation Products Inc. shipped spring. I just drilled at the very end with the understanding that I could shorten this up as required later.
Picture #5 is a closer detail of the current tailspring mounting. No flats have been machined yet. I'll likely have this done.
Talking with Aviation Products, Inc. the spring is bent cold is a hydraulic press. Adding an angle will increase the torsional loading.
I'll give Steen a call next week to see what they say. In the mean time I would really like any suggestions and thoughts on securely mounting the round tail spring.
Thanks! Ward
I had a couple of on and off list comments around the tailwheel mounting. The concern is around security of the round tailwheel spring under torsional loading. With a flat tailspring, bolt down the end and it won't twist out of the mount. With the round spring, even with the bolt through it, there will be a tremendous torsional force on this and only the sheer strength of the attach bolt will resist this.
I honestly knew when I put the tail-wheel on that my mounting would likely need to be enhanced, so no issues with critiques.
Picture #1 is the Steen tailwheel assembly orderable from their website. It looks like it has a 10 degree bend in the spring. It also appears to have two flats milled into the ends.
Picture #2 is a picture of the Yellowbird tailwheel mounting from Capt. Al Rice's website. http://www.captalrice.com/
Picture #3 is a picture of how Al Rice did his. http://www.captalrice.com/Skybolt%20Landing%20Gear.htm (see very bottom)
Picture #4 is a picture of my first cut of the tailwheel mounting. As you can see, I don't have a bend in the tailspring (yet?). Also I did not mill in the flats on the tail spring either. If I am correct, the Steen round tailspring is two inches shorter than the stock Aviation Products Inc. shipped spring. I just drilled at the very end with the understanding that I could shorten this up as required later.
Picture #5 is a closer detail of the current tailspring mounting. No flats have been machined yet. I'll likely have this done.
Talking with Aviation Products, Inc. the spring is bent cold is a hydraulic press. Adding an angle will increase the torsional loading.
I'll give Steen a call next week to see what they say. In the mean time I would really like any suggestions and thoughts on securely mounting the round tail spring.
Thanks! Ward
