Tailwheel spring rubber cushion/spacer availability

[sreeves]

Had a tailwheel main leaf spring break on me. I decided to buy the entire set from univair. The manual shows a rubber cushion or spacer yet I haven't been able to find one from a parts place. Any ideas anyone?

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

By manual you mean the 170A Illustrated Parts Manual. And I think you might be talking about item 101 figure 22.

First question. Does your A model still have the original style mount bracket, item 92 figure 22?

If not, the later bracket uses a shim and the material is not described. I don't recall mine having any rubber but I haven't been in it for a while.

If you have the original bracket, you actually need two rubber pads. I've not seen them personally but would think that a pad cut from a tire side wall would be what your looking for.

[sreeves]

Yes, that is the part in question. But now that I look at it, the bracket on my airplane is shaped more like a "Y".

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

You mean a Y with fingers going forward. This is commonly referred to as the fish mouth bracket and it is the later bracket and btw the more desired bracket. It is not original until '53. It is the replacement for the old bracket. The new bracket as I said has a shim and I think that's made of steel.

[sreeves]

Yes Sir, that is the one I have. The fish eye mount. I'll be working on it this weekend so I'll see if there is a shim there. Thanks again for the help!

[bsdunek]

I made my own as mine was in pretty bad shape. This was before "owner made parts" were popular, I guess.
I used 3/15 neoprene material from McMaster-Carr https://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-neop ... s/=14spuy4

The pad is 1 5/8 X 1 1/2 with a 5/8 dia. hole centered. The hole is for the bushing.

This has been working fine for quite a few years. Hope this helps.

[sreeves]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Steve