Tailwheel Tread
Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher
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Robert Eilers
- Posts: 652
- Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 12:33 am
Tailwheel Tread
While at the Auburn airport swining to tail to position the aircraft into a tight spot I clipped the curb with the tailwheel. The tailwheel did not hit the curb hard but did clip it. I inspected the tailwheel assembly and tire and found not damage. However, this morning preflighting the airplane a discovered the tailwheel tread in one specifc spot has developed a definite S shape. The tailwheel is a Bushwheels tailwheel so I was surprised to see the plys distorted. I expect I will have to replace the tire. Has anyone experienced anything similar with the tailwheel tread?
"You have to learn how to fall before you learn how to fly"
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Indopilot
- Posts: 253
- Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 5:18 am
Re: Tailwheel Tread
I have seen numerous 10 inch tailwheels on a 185 come apart internally. It is first noticable as a squiggle in the tread and will progress to failure quickly if not caught on preflight. Some failed in the first 1-2 hours of operation some made it to 5 hours. Never really found out what was causing the failure. The cording just seemed to come unlaminated. 
52 170B s/n 20446
56 172 s/n 28162
Echo Weed eater, Jezebeel
56 172 s/n 28162
Echo Weed eater, Jezebeel
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lkelley
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:29 pm
Re: Tailwheel Tread
You are correct. Remember Firestone and their recall. Seriously it is the start of tread to core separation. albeit minor. Best to change it out. Close look at the rims a good idea as well. LK
Larry
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GAHorn
- Posts: 21302
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Re: Tailwheel Tread
Under-inflation damages tires, and most tailwheel tires have notoriously weak sidewalls. Running them under-inflated with damage them very quickly. Tread separation can result after only one flight run under-inflated.
34 psi is recommended....but if you were to err....do so on the high-side.
34 psi is recommended....but if you were to err....do so on the high-side.
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
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Indopilot
- Posts: 253
- Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 5:18 am
Re: Tailwheel Tread
We tried inflation on both sides of recommended pressures, and nothing seemed to help the problem. 
52 170B s/n 20446
56 172 s/n 28162
Echo Weed eater, Jezebeel
56 172 s/n 28162
Echo Weed eater, Jezebeel
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GAHorn
- Posts: 21302
- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2002 8:45 pm
Re: Tailwheel Tread
Is there a particulare brand of tire that is regularly failing?
'53 B-model N146YS SN:25713
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
50th Anniversary of Flight Model. Winner-Best Original 170B, 100th Anniversary of Flight Convention.
An originality nut (mostly) for the right reasons.
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Indopilot
- Posts: 253
- Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 5:18 am
Re: Tailwheel Tread
The ones failing were the STA. AirClassic was as bad or worse. If they said McCreary they would run forever. They recently put the 185 on its back so that one will last a long time till they get it fixed and flying again. 
Brian
Brian52 170B s/n 20446
56 172 s/n 28162
Echo Weed eater, Jezebeel
56 172 s/n 28162
Echo Weed eater, Jezebeel
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