Thorp Air Command - T18.net

AP products dual fork tail wheel. I probably already know the answer to this question, but it is almost my rack time and I need to ask it now ! With the tailwheel on the ground should there be any lateral play (left/right) in the steering arm ? I have about 1/8" + play in the arm. I am guessing no. As a last resort I will call AP. I have a spare arm and pin I carry in my "on the road" pack up kit.

RB

Rich,

Just serviced my AP tailwheel yesterday. That amount of play is normal. Any less, then I think the pin would start to ramp out and unlock the tailwheel at every bump in the road. If steering gets sloppy with tight cables/chains, then you might want to investigate the pin.

_________________
Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

Thanks Bob. I couldn't remember how much play was in the arm when I installed it. I'll look at the pin for wear.

RB

I just took off my AP steering arm and found wear on the right side of the "groove" that holds the pin. This was causing my excessive play in the arm (right rudder). Just got off the phone with Karen at AP and she said she was having other calls from folks experiencing the same problem with wear in the arm "groove." She ask me if I had the Maule Anti Shimmy springs on the A/C and I said yes as they were recommended by someone in our group. Come to find out the AP wheel requires equal size springs for the unit to operate properly...the Maule springs have a large and a small spring and the LARGE spring is on the right side of my steering causing the wear. AP also has a new steering arm that is heavier and "chromed." The State of California will not allow CAD plating. My old arm is CAD plated. She is sending me a new arm to try out. What a great American Company !

RB

I need to ammend my last. Right side of the groove in the steering arm where the pin sits in.

RB