Replacing Tailwheel Leafsprings

[GAHorn]

The T3 tailwheel is an answer to a badly maintained tailwheel. So is good maintenance …(for a lot less expense)…. IMO.

[counsellj]

George. The T3 prevents broken springs and damaged rudders. Especially for those of us that operate off airport. The are pages and pages in these forums of problems with old and new tailwheel springs alike.

[dstates]

George. The T3 prevents broken springs and damaged rudders. Especially for those of us that operate off airport. The are pages and pages in these forums of problems with old and new tailwheel springs alike.

Can you put a T3 on an original style steel tailwheel bracket, or does it have to be the "fish-mouth" aluminum one?

[n2582d]

Dan Dufault, the developer of the T3, answered that question for me:

The STC does cover all 170s but they must have the later B type fish mouth brackets.

[DillanMcL]

So here’s what’s holding my tailspring to the bracket. Gary I think I’d like to buy your retainers please pm me a price.

[GAHorn]

George. The T3 prevents broken springs and damaged rudders. Especially for those of us that operate off airport. The are pages and pages in these forums of problems with old and new tailwheel springs alike.

Jon, I truly am not seeking to criticize any owner who believes it’s the best product for their purposes and wishes to spend the money on a T-3….
… But ANY design, including the more complex T-3… will require diligent maintenance to remain intact and not cause additional damage. The T-3 uses springs and bolts and brackets too…. All of which are subject to wear-and-tear.

I believe the main reason we haven’t seen them fail and damage rudders, etc ….Yet….is because they are All NEW.
If the 75-year old original, less-complex tailwheel gear, springs, and bolts were AS new… They would enjoy an Equal amount of success… for Less Money and trouble. Just sayin’…. Good Maintenance is the Key.

[sflynn30362]

George, I battled a tailwheel shimmy earlier this summer, it was resolved with a new tailwheel assembly as a previous owner made an egregious attempt to rebuild it, damaging it in the process. I have noticed that the camber on the pivot is nearly vertical, not cambered as it should. I was debating between the T3 and replacing the springs through univair. Is it worth just replacing the main spring or should the whole stack be replaced?

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

The change in caster is not because the entire spring pack relaxes, but the main spring fatigues and bends just aft of the trailing edge of the second spring. It will eventually break off and this point.

Replacing only the main spring is necessary to remedy the problem for years for most operators.

This is just one of many wear/maintenance issues we have to deal with owning a 170 or any mechanical thing. I don't think a claim of the T3 is that is is maintenance free.