Leafsprings

C170BDan · Post by **C170BDan** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 2:50 pm

Was thinking about replacing my tailwheel leafsprings. Anyone purchased them recently and recommend where to get them?

Curtis Brown · Post by **Curtis Brown** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 3:46 pm

Spruce has them... get the whole set and discard the small one on the top.

N170CT · Post by **N170CT** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 3:51 pm

Dan

The leaf springs are fairly common and easy to purchase. Aircraft Spruce usually has some as does Wag. Seems the best approach is to replace the long spring about every 500 hours in view of potential damage

to the rudder on spring failure. (Less than 500 hours if you tend to arrive abruptly as do I.)Obviously, buying one of these used is not recommended as you are unlikely to know the time in service

.

When you disassemble the springs to change out the long one, don't forget to polish the lower edge of the next spring up which rests on the long spring. Though it has not happened to me

, I understand THAT is the most common point of failure of the long spring. I carry the removed spring as a spare along with a spare tail wheel tire and tube. My two centavos worth...
chuck

3958v · Post by **3958v** » Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:55 pm

I just replaced the main leaf and would do the same again. You probably should be painting each leaf separately to help prevent rust and that requires disassembly anyway. It really is not a big job and main leaf is the only one I hear of breaking. Bill K

C170BDan · Post by **C170BDan** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:39 pm

Thanks guys...

Chuck.... not sure when they were changed last so that means I better change them. Now... I have been pretty good at smooth landings

the past 500 hours in 67D but I dont want to try to break them!