Tailwheel Spring Clamp Failure

[inflight]

Jim, that's a great idea, wish I'd thought of it. I need to work on my creativity with this process. Thanks, that's what I will do.

[Peteohms]

Yes.. it is available.. We have not done an official release of the new tail wheel spring and it has been tested on the 5-7 aircraft. While I suspect it will work fine on the IV the angle of the spring may be an issue with some tail wheels. Works great with the 8" pneumatic Maule, ABI-3200, Scott 3200, and Matco's 8" and 10". (most of the testing was with the ABI-3200 and the Matco)
$349.00 for the spring and mounting hardware.
$59.95 for the draw spring, clips and chain.

John

Will this work on my Kitfox 3 and what is the weight for the kit?

[N213RV]

We made this. I have a couple extra spring thicknesses to clear some mods I made on the rudder. Machined the aluminum block. I didn't like the thin AN3 bolts.....

[Floog]

1/2" square tube welded to external rudder stop plate. Held together by AN-4 bolts. Over 700 hours on the assembly.

[Floog]

...one more angle.

[Floog]

...looking up. Incidentally, it's the original Matco tail wheel with 835 hours.

[Peteohms]

Had the front bolt on the tailwheel spring break off at the nut a couple days ago. Does this look like a good fix? 😉 (It did get me home.)

[jtpitkin06]

Wow. Using the casters off a floor jack for an emergency tail wheel. Now that's creative.

[jiott]

Pete, I had the same thing happen to me a year ago, before I changed to the Grove aluminum tailwheel spring system. I got home by using a heavy wire coat hanger borrowed from the nearby FBO. I threaded it several times thru the small hollow cross tube just above the spring and around the spring about 3 good wraps held fine during takeoff and landing at home. Looks like you also used that cross tube.

[Peteohms]

Wow. Using the casters off a floor jack for an emergency tail wheel. Now that's creative.

😉😇 used a 6" long bolt through the fuselage tube with some 3/8" drive sockets and a few washers to use up the excess bolt length. Put a couple eye bolts down to a piece of aluminum angle. Also used 3/8 sockets to use up the extra bolt length. You use what you can get. Looks good enough to leave they way. 😉