The International Cessna^® 170 Association

My tailwheel sticks or hangs up when turning to the left. When manuevering the aircraft by hand, the wheel just drags across the Tarmac. I have to get under and kick it free. Turns OK to the right.
I have had the tail off the ground and can feel where it hangs up. Is this a common problem? I just took delivery of the aircraft in March after a "restoration". Thanks, Marty

If it's a Scott 3200 tailwheel, take it apart and you will probably find a broken flat spring. There are two of them in there, it is an intuitive process of dissassembly and reassembly.

Thanks Joe, is the replacement part readily available?

Both Univair & Aircraft Spruce (among several others) sell replacement scott t/w parts. Those 2 catalogs each have good exploded drawings of the 3200,for "situational awareness" when dis- & re-assembling.
Sounds like maybe a funky spring p/n 3222 (item 18 )*. Sounds like it's maybe bent or burred,not necessarily broken. Be sure to check the notches in the arm assembly p/n 3214 (item 8 )* where the ends of the springs fit when the t/w is locked. Also check the pawl p/n 3219 (item 9) to make sure it's kicking the spring ends out as required. I've had trouble with the notches in the arm assembly & the ends of the spring getting burrs on them,some careful file work cleaned them up so they worked properly. Also have had to tweak the spring so that it provided just the right amount of pressure,it has to lock the tailwheel firmly yet release fairly easily when the pawl kicks it out. Take some care adjusting the kingpin nut ("shear nut") p/n AN320-8 (item 16). I tighten this until I can't hardly turn the t/w,then back it off one flat & safety it. Too loose & it'll shimmy,too tight & it won't release to full swivel.

Eric

Actually, that's only one spring (shaped like an angular "U") and is backed up with a short stiffener. When that spring or the "pawl" breaks, the tailwheel behaves as described. The parts are readily available from Spruce 877-477-7823.

* I edited your comment, Eric. When a number "8" is followed closely by a ")" then the icon "cool" thinks you're invoking his presence. The fix is to follow any 8 with a space, before typing a closed parenthesis. 8 ) vs

Marty, for parts, I am lucky to live in the DFW area and was able to procure the spring locally - George is right, when I replaced the two springs that was causing the problem with the one new spring things worked much better, mine had broke in two and that number had stuck in my memory. Not lucky in other things like traffic, smog, etc. Good luck with your tail wheel, Spruce is a good solution if you do not have a local source.

check the tailwheel threads for the name and e-mail of the Tyco (Scott) engineering rep. He has some very helpful pages of overhaul and rigging specifications.

The problem was a burr which i filed out. Its working fine now, Thank you for all your comments, Bet regards, Marty