Steering Spring Tension

[170C]

Within the past several weeks I have had two different pilots tell me my steering springs are too loose. One is a first officer on a commuter airline who flies a Piper Pawnee to tow gliders (CFII) and the other is a FAA safety inspector who has owned multiple C-180's. When going down a taxi way it is not unusual for me to apply some braking to keep the plane in the middle of the taxi way. In grass I always have to use some braking. I have never felt my springs were loose. I lifted the plane off the ground and the springs (regular steering springs--not compression springs on a Scott 3200) and are not stretched, but are taut (no slack in the chains). This seems correct to me, but I need some input to be sure whether I am wrong or if these guys are all wet

[bagarre]

Sounds like your springs are fine.

As the tail rests on the ground, the chains should be short enough to have the springs slightly taught.
IE one link less than slack. The only thing I think the springs are good for is holding the tailwheel straight while in flight - they do little to nothing on the ground but give the wheel a suggestion on the direction of travel.

Everyone uses brakes when steering a 170.

Perhaps the commuter airlines are using different tailwheel springs

[170C]

Well I think the commuter pilot is accustomed to how the Pawnee steers (which I have no idea) and he found it took "some" effort to maintain a straight taxi in my plane. His "work" plane probably has a tiller on the pilot side

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

They are all wet.

A Pawnee or a 180 is not a 170 (and of course your 172 isn't either) and can not be compared. All 170s (and likely 172 impostors) need a little breaking to steer them.

[Metal Master]

Within the past several weeks I have had two different pilots tell me my steering springs are too loose. One is a first officer on a commuter airline who flies a Piper Pawnee to tow gliders (CFII) and the other is a FAA safety inspector who has owned multiple C-180's. When going down a taxi way it is not unusual for me to apply some braking to keep the plane in the middle of the taxi way. In grass I always have to use some braking. I have never felt my springs were loose. I lifted the plane off the ground and the springs (regular steering springs--not compression springs on a Scott 3200) and are not stretched, but are taut (no slack in the chains). This seems correct to me, but I need some input to be sure whether I am wrong or if these guys are all wet

The 172 Tail dragger I work on (BUSH conversion) has just the slightest tension on the tail wheel steering springs when the tail wheel is on the ground. It is just perceptively tensioning the springs. When taxiing it, it is no different than my 170A which is adjusted similarly with the Large Scott tension springs. I had occasion just a couple of weeks ago to make a flight of two with this airplane I was following him down the taxi way and was I was impressed by the tail wheel dance - rudder pedal dance going on. But it taxied a straight as an hour. My 170A experience is similar.

[170C]

I see you have a Lycoming conversion on your 170 "C". Probably have a cs prop as well. Nice looking plane! Bet it's a nice performer. Thanks for the info. Ole Pokey