Tailwheel chain springs

Robert Eilers · Post by **Robert Eilers** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:04 am

I ran into a hangar neighbor today who has a 1948 C170. Walking around the airplane and talking C170 ediosyncracies I discovereed his tailwheel chain springs were attached at the tailwheel rather than at the rudder cable end - same springs. My springs are attached to the rudder horn then to the chain and the chain to the tailwheel horn. His aircraft is a 170A mine is a 170B. Does it matter what end the springs are attached to? Does one method have an advantage over another.

CBogle · Post by **CBogle** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:47 am

Robert:

The Cessna Illustrated Parts Catalog for the 1948 shows the springs attached to the rudder end, not the tail wheel end. I have a 1948 and that is how mine is set up, but mine is a Scott 3200 wheel, not the original Cessna wheel, if that makes any difference. I too wonder what difference, if any, the springs in this position might make?

Also, I didn't know that there was such a thing as a 1948 Cessna 170A. I was under the impression, maybe incorrectly, that the 170A came out in 1949.

Regards,

Curt

Post by **Bruce Fenstermacher** » Tue May 15, 2007 1:58 am

A models started in '49. Probably makes no difference mechanically where the springs are but being the purist I am I could never have then at the tail wheel end.

blueldr · Post by **blueldr** » Tue May 15, 2007 2:29 am

Bruce the "Purist",

What kind of a "Pure" airplane are you flying? I thought you said yours was a bastardized "A" model with L-19 wings or some such. But the tail wheel springs are by god pure? I suppose there are some diverse degrees of virginity.

Haydon · Post by **Haydon** » Tue May 15, 2007 3:37 am

Bruce, I think you have been "fingered" by Blueldr

doug8082a · Post by **doug8082a** » Tue May 15, 2007 11:57 am

blueldr wrote:Bruce the "Purist",

What kind of a "Pure" airplane are you flying? I thought you said yours was a bastardized "A" model with L-19 wings or some such. But the tail wheel springs are by god pure? I suppose there are some diverse degrees of virginity.

and don't forget the hardpoints and VGs...

Tue May 15, 2007 12:32 pm

Tough crowd. OK OK so I have a few modifications. I can almost positively say they're all Cessna parts. Well OK maybe I have a few that aren't.

I still wouldn't have the springs next to the tail wheel.

johneeb · Post by **johneeb** » Tue May 15, 2007 12:58 pm

Bruce,
Maybe for your airplane you could figure a way to put the springs up at the rudder pedal end.

n3833v · Post by **n3833v** » Tue May 15, 2007 7:01 pm

I wouldn't want the springs aft because they catch more grass

. Just need the right springs.

John

Post by **GAHorn** » Tue May 15, 2007 11:00 pm

n3833v wrote:I wouldn't want the springs aft because they catch more grass . Just need the right springs.

John

Yeah....and the aft position shifts the CG too far aft!