Tango Mike
Well Known Member
A recent thread on ground loops reminded me of an issue I'm dealing with in my '97 RV-4 and a question I've been wanting to pose on the forum.
Unlike any other RV I've flown, my -4 has a tailwheel that seems to be anxiously awaiting the next opportunity to suddenly freewheel when taxiing in strong, gusty crosswinds and make me look like a fool.
I've seen a suggestion on how to make the transition into freewheeling smoother by increasing the radius slightly on the pin. It occurred to me that a worn pin, and possibly a pin spring that is worn out, might be the problem.
With the exception of tight turns on the ramp or positioning the airplane by hand, a freewheeling tailwheel is my enemy, and to make the transition harder and more positive, I'm wondering if the first step might be to replace the pin and spring and assess the effect on ground handling.
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Tosh
Unlike any other RV I've flown, my -4 has a tailwheel that seems to be anxiously awaiting the next opportunity to suddenly freewheel when taxiing in strong, gusty crosswinds and make me look like a fool.
I've seen a suggestion on how to make the transition into freewheeling smoother by increasing the radius slightly on the pin. It occurred to me that a worn pin, and possibly a pin spring that is worn out, might be the problem.
With the exception of tight turns on the ramp or positioning the airplane by hand, a freewheeling tailwheel is my enemy, and to make the transition harder and more positive, I'm wondering if the first step might be to replace the pin and spring and assess the effect on ground handling.
Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Tosh