Saville
Well Known Member
I just read Pauls' thread and here is another slightly different one that I need to post:
RV-8 taildragger.
I notice that when the tailwheel is "reversed" as in this picture:
as it often is after rolling the plane backwards into the hangar, there is almost zero resistance on the rudder pedals when I cycle them. You can move the rudder back and forth with no resistance and the "bellcrank" in the photo moves along with the rudder easily. Tailwheel does not move.
But then when you place the tailwheel in the usual position, as in this picture:
and then cycle the rudder pedals you get one push with zero resistance and then the resistance to the pedals stiffens.
I get full rudder throw when it's stiff, and no adverse effects when in the air - plane is responsive as always. And you can feel the tail of the plane swish back and forth when on the ground so the tailwheel is being moved.
But I have to say this resistance has only recently come to my attention. Now I have only ~20 hours in the plane so I'm still learning a lot, but I don't recall it being quite so stiff when I first started flying the plane. Could be a lack of attention on my part as the entire plane was new to me. Could be I never taxiied it with the tailwheel reversed.
I will add that with the tailwheel inthe usual position, there is no resistance to my pulling on the rudder cables ahead of their attach points on the rudder. So there's no binding occurring in the fuselage. The additional stiffness seems to be an artifact of the tailwheel assembly itself.
So the questions are:
1) is the difference in pedal resistance expected?
2) Can the resistance get stiffer over time?
3) If so, why would that be? Is it possible that the pivot needs greasing/cleaning?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
RV-8 taildragger.
I notice that when the tailwheel is "reversed" as in this picture:
as it often is after rolling the plane backwards into the hangar, there is almost zero resistance on the rudder pedals when I cycle them. You can move the rudder back and forth with no resistance and the "bellcrank" in the photo moves along with the rudder easily. Tailwheel does not move.
But then when you place the tailwheel in the usual position, as in this picture:
and then cycle the rudder pedals you get one push with zero resistance and then the resistance to the pedals stiffens.
I get full rudder throw when it's stiff, and no adverse effects when in the air - plane is responsive as always. And you can feel the tail of the plane swish back and forth when on the ground so the tailwheel is being moved.
But I have to say this resistance has only recently come to my attention. Now I have only ~20 hours in the plane so I'm still learning a lot, but I don't recall it being quite so stiff when I first started flying the plane. Could be a lack of attention on my part as the entire plane was new to me. Could be I never taxiied it with the tailwheel reversed.
I will add that with the tailwheel inthe usual position, there is no resistance to my pulling on the rudder cables ahead of their attach points on the rudder. So there's no binding occurring in the fuselage. The additional stiffness seems to be an artifact of the tailwheel assembly itself.
So the questions are:
1) is the difference in pedal resistance expected?
2) Can the resistance get stiffer over time?
3) If so, why would that be? Is it possible that the pivot needs greasing/cleaning?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
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