tailwheel rebuilders?

[clayton991]

Anyone specialize in rebuilding Scott tailwheels?....a 3200 specifically?

[GAHorn]

The Air Force once had a manual designated for the tailwheel overhaul/maintenance. I've tried every resource I can find to try to obtain one. When I do, I'm gonna re-publish it for the association.
Meanwhile.... they're not hard to do. Remove, disasemble, clean, inspect, replace worn parts (most common are thrust plates and thrust washers, pawl, pawl spring, wheel bearings, cone bearing) then reassemble, grease, and reinstall.

For exploded drwgs and parts list see:
http://aircraftspruce.com/catalog/lgpag ... 3200tw.php

NOTE: The wheel bearings are not iillustrated in the above link, and the compression springs used in this tailwheel are only 3, as illustrated (not 5 as listed.)

[N419A]

That was my project today, rebuild my tailwheel. I bought this niffty kit for about $150 at my local parts store, it's made by Alaska Bush Wheels. Only took about 2 hours and minimal profanity. It really tightened things up. The photo is front and back.

Later, Paul

[iowa]

doen'st one have to be
and A+E to do this?
dave

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Yes you would have to be under the supervision of an A&P if you don't hold that certificate.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

After rethinking my answer I looked over 41.13

43.13 Appendix A. paragraph (c) Preventive maintenance. Preventive maintenance is limited to the following work, provided it does not involve complex assembly operations:
(1) Removal, installation, and repair of landing gear tires.
(2) Replacing elastic shock absorber cords on landing gear.
(3) Servicing landing gear shock struts by adding oil, air, or both.
(4) Servicing landing gear wheel bearings, such as cleaning and greasing.
(5) Replacing defective safety wiring or cotter keys.
.......

Some might stretch the first 5 items into meaning being at least able to remove and disassemble the tailwheel assembly and clean and regrease it.

Of course I wouldn't be one of them.

And if new parts fell back into the assembly as it was being reinstalled how would an uneducated pilot know.

[170C]

If you feel confident doing the job, do it and get a AI to sign it off OR just do it and don't log it or tell anybody.

[GAHorn]

... do it .... and don't log it ....

Just FYI, the FAA considers NOT logging repairs/maintenance more egregious than not being qualified to perform repairs/maintenance. And as the owner, YOU are the one who'll be held accountable. The way I understand it, ... I'd rather do work on my plane and log it as having done it myself even if not certificated as an A&P, than I would risk doing the work and not recording it at all. IMHO
(The difference is: Not understanding the limitations of preventive maintenance versus outright fraud because you knew the difference.)

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I do believe and follow George's advice. I never intentionally work on the aircraft specially installing new parts without logging it and when necessary that means an A&P or AI signature cause I was working under their supervision.

One of the most important things you can do i believe as an aircraft own who is going to do any work on his plane is develop a relationship with an appropriately licensed person who will learn your capabilities and be willing to supervise your work.

The tail wheel assembly could be a perfect place to start that relation ship. It is easily removed and taken to a shop disassembled and cleaned. All can be done by the pilot. Assistance it can be assembled with the new parts and reinstalled.

As for the wheel assembly itself well that definitely falls under Preventive Maintenance so you don't even have to get your supervisor involved in that part and you get to practice making a maintenance right up for that part of the operation.

[GAHorn]

I do believe and follow George's advice. ...

I only wanted to quote this to preserve it for posterity (in case Bruce ever decided it was "over the top" and deleted it.)

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

I guess in retrospect I should have been more specific.

And yes the more I read it the more it appears to me to be bit "over the top".

The sentence will stand unedited however.