[rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

Gary Gustafson · Post by **Gary Gustafson** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:51 pm

I had a similar experience while moving my plane around in the
hanger. I turned out after taking the tail wheel mechanism apart
that the grease (and some grime) on the tail wheel locking mechanism
had hardened from age. The result was that the locking slide in
the tail wheel assembly did not slide back into the notch in the
tail wheel post to enable tail wheel steering.

A good cleaning and some fresh silicon lubricant were sufficient to
correct the problem. I suspect a similar arrangement was incorporated
into the SR. I will post several pictures of the slide mechanism and
the tail wheel post on the Rebel under "R - Landing Gear".

Gary
242R

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Kimball
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 12:44 AM
To: Rebel Builder's List
Subject: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

I started on my way to the runway today only to quickly discover that I had
no tailwheel steering. After returning to parking I moved the steering horn
on the tailwheel back and forth and felt no detent. My kit was purchased
about 10 years ago, and I'm serial number 44. Anybody know what the problem
likely is and what kind of tailwheel I have? Also, what's up with a
tailwheel failure after only about 17 hours on it?

Mike
044SR

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Mike Kimball · Post by **Mike Kimball** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:51 pm

Great info Bob and Gary! I'm on my way to the airport to check it out.
Thanks!

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Kimball
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:44 PM
To: Rebel Builder's List
Subject: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

I started on my way to the runway today only to quickly discover that I had
no tailwheel steering. After returning to parking I moved the steering horn
on the tailwheel back and forth and felt no detent. My kit was purchased
about 10 years ago, and I'm serial number 44. Anybody know what the problem
likely is and what kind of tailwheel I have? Also, what's up with a
tailwheel failure after only about 17 hours on it?

Mike
044SR

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Mike Kimball · Post by **Mike Kimball** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:51 pm

Thanks again Bob and Gary. Took it apart, cleaned it all up, lubed it, and
it works fine. The slide pin was definitely stuck although it took very
little effort for me to free it up with my finger. I'm curious about Bob's
comment about greasing the "bearings". My tailwheel has no bearings as in
ball bearings. Just a simple shaft through the vertical hole in the
tailwheel casting. There are bearing surfaces top and bottom with some sort
of round plastic plates that I greased. I also discovered that the grease
fitting simply leads to the middle of the shaft and doesn't let me put even
one stroke from the gun. It's like the fitting is plugged, which it isn't.
That's because there's no cavity for the grease to go. Just the minimal
clearance between the shaft and housing.

In any case, it's working just fine again.

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Kimball
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:50 AM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

Great info Bob and Gary! I'm on my way to the airport to check it out.
Thanks!

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Kimball
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:44 PM
To: Rebel Builder's List
Subject: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

I started on my way to the runway today only to quickly discover that I had
no tailwheel steering. After returning to parking I moved the steering horn
on the tailwheel back and forth and felt no detent. My kit was purchased
about 10 years ago, and I'm serial number 44. Anybody know what the problem
likely is and what kind of tailwheel I have? Also, what's up with a
tailwheel failure after only about 17 hours on it?

Mike
044SR

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Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:51 pm

Yes even with a high pressure grease gun, it takes at least 10 seconds
to squeeze a shot of grease in there on my Rebel. My original solid
Rebel t/w also has a grease fitting for the wheel bearings Mike. Those
bearings were unsealed, noisy, and grease didn't stay in there very long.

Recently I had a bit of tailwheel shimmy on a landing which took a
significant amount of tread off the cheap industrial pneumatic tire that
I mentioned a few weeks ago. The original solid wheel also shimmied a
little occasionally of late. Anyway I put one of the wavy washers
(W-386) from the amphib float nose wheels on the top side of MAM's
tailwheel pivot. I gather that a bit of friction does the trick on the
Scott tailwheels so fingers crossed.

Ken

Mike Kimball wrote:

Thanks again Bob and Gary. Took it apart, cleaned it all up, lubed it, and
it works fine. The slide pin was definitely stuck although it took very
little effort for me to free it up with my finger. I'm curious about Bob's
comment about greasing the "bearings". My tailwheel has no bearings as in
ball bearings. Just a simple shaft through the vertical hole in the
tailwheel casting. There are bearing surfaces top and bottom with some sort
of round plastic plates that I greased. I also discovered that the grease
fitting simply leads to the middle of the shaft and doesn't let me put even
one stroke from the gun. It's like the fitting is plugged, which it isn't.
That's because there's no cavity for the grease to go. Just the minimal
clearance between the shaft and housing.

In any case, it's working just fine again.

Mike
044SR

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Bob Patterson · Post by **Bob Patterson** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:51 pm

You're welcome Mike !

Glad it's working again !

I was talking about the bearings in the wheel itself - well...
they might be just bushings in some ...

Definitely a squeeze of grease on that back fitting now &
then will help, but the main spot is on the pin itself - just
a dab every few flights will do ...

--
......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
http://www.prosumers.ca/Ramble08

http://bpatterson.qhealthbeauty.com
http://apatterson2.qhealthzone.com
http://apatterson2.ordermygift.com

-------------------------------orig.-------------------------
On Thursday 28 August 2008 03:43, Mike Kimball wrote:

Thanks again Bob and Gary. Took it apart, cleaned it all up, lubed it, and
it works fine. The slide pin was definitely stuck although it took very
little effort for me to free it up with my finger. I'm curious about Bob's
comment about greasing the "bearings". My tailwheel has no bearings as in
ball bearings. Just a simple shaft through the vertical hole in the
tailwheel casting. There are bearing surfaces top and bottom with some
sort of round plastic plates that I greased. I also discovered that the
grease fitting simply leads to the middle of the shaft and doesn't let me
put even one stroke from the gun. It's like the fitting is plugged, which
it isn't. That's because there's no cavity for the grease to go. Just the
minimal clearance between the shaft and housing.

In any case, it's working just fine again.

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Kimball
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:50 AM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

Great info Bob and Gary! I'm on my way to the airport to check it out.
Thanks!

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Kimball
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:44 PM
To: Rebel Builder's List
Subject: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

I started on my way to the runway today only to quickly discover that I
had no tailwheel steering. After returning to parking I moved the steering
horn on the tailwheel back and forth and felt no detent. My kit was
purchased about 10 years ago, and I'm serial number 44. Anybody know what
the problem likely is and what kind of tailwheel I have? Also, what's up
with a tailwheel failure after only about 17 hours on it?

Mike
044SR

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Mike Kimball · Post by **Mike Kimball** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:52 pm

I'm wondering if access to the pin is different on whatever is used on a
Rebel. To access the pin on my tailwheel requires disassembly which means
dragging a floor jack out to the airport to jack the tail up. I sure hope I
don't have to do that "every few flights". I'd also have to take the floor
jack with me on long cross country flights. Please say it ain't so!

Mike
044S

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Bob
Patterson
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:02 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

You're welcome Mike !

Glad it's working again !

I was talking about the bearings in the wheel itself - well...
they might be just bushings in some ...

Definitely a squeeze of grease on that back fitting now &
then will help, but the main spot is on the pin itself - just
a dab every few flights will do ...

--
......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
http://www.prosumers.ca/Ramble08

http://bpatterson.qhealthbeauty.com
http://apatterson2.qhealthzone.com
http://apatterson2.ordermygift.com

-------------------------------orig.-------------------------
On Thursday 28 August 2008 03:43, Mike Kimball wrote:

Thanks again Bob and Gary. Took it apart, cleaned it all up, lubed it, and
it works fine. The slide pin was definitely stuck although it took very
little effort for me to free it up with my finger. I'm curious about Bob's
comment about greasing the "bearings". My tailwheel has no bearings as in
ball bearings. Just a simple shaft through the vertical hole in the
tailwheel casting. There are bearing surfaces top and bottom with some
sort of round plastic plates that I greased. I also discovered that the
grease fitting simply leads to the middle of the shaft and doesn't let me
put even one stroke from the gun. It's like the fitting is plugged, which
it isn't. That's because there's no cavity for the grease to go. Just the
minimal clearance between the shaft and housing.

In any case, it's working just fine again.

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Kimball
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:50 AM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

Great info Bob and Gary! I'm on my way to the airport to check it out.
Thanks!

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Mike
Kimball
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:44 PM
To: Rebel Builder's List
Subject: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

I started on my way to the runway today only to quickly discover that I
had no tailwheel steering. After returning to parking I moved the steering
horn on the tailwheel back and forth and felt no detent. My kit was
purchased about 10 years ago, and I'm serial number 44. Anybody know what
the problem likely is and what kind of tailwheel I have? Also, what's up
with a tailwheel failure after only about 17 hours on it?

Mike
044SR

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Ken · Post by **Ken** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:52 pm

OK it ain't so ;)
My Rebel brass locking pin has never stuck Mike although I did clean it
and reverse it after about 300 landings. I do drag it through the mud
and grass on occasion too so perhaps you just had some shavings or
something because it was new. The rebel pin comes off just by lifting
the bellcrank off the top.
Ken

Mike Kimball wrote:

I'm wondering if access to the pin is different on whatever is used on a
Rebel. To access the pin on my tailwheel requires disassembly which means
dragging a floor jack out to the airport to jack the tail up. I sure hope I
don't have to do that "every few flights". I'd also have to take the floor
jack with me on long cross country flights. Please say it ain't so!

Mike
044S

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Bob Patterson · Post by **Bob Patterson** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:52 pm

Think they are very similar. The pin is open on the
bottom of the bellcrank - I can just reach under it with
the grease on a finger & squeeze a bit in around it ...
no disassembly needed ! :-)

--
......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
http://www.prosumers.ca/Ramble08

http://bpatterson.qhealthbeauty.com
http://apatterson2.qhealthzone.com
http://apatterson2.ordermygift.com

-------------------------------orig.-------------------------
On Friday 29 August 2008 22:39, Mike Kimball wrote:

I'm wondering if access to the pin is different on whatever is used on a
Rebel. To access the pin on my tailwheel requires disassembly which means
dragging a floor jack out to the airport to jack the tail up. I sure hope
I don't have to do that "every few flights". I'd also have to take the
floor jack with me on long cross country flights. Please say it ain't so!

Mike
044S

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Bob
Patterson
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:02 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

You're welcome Mike !

Glad it's working again !

I was talking about the bearings in the wheel itself - well...
they might be just bushings in some ...

Definitely a squeeze of grease on that back fitting now &
then will help, but the main spot is on the pin itself - just
a dab every few flights will do ...

--
......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
http://www.prosumers.ca/Ramble08

http://bpatterson.qhealthbeauty.com
http://apatterson2.qhealthzone.com
http://apatterson2.ordermygift.com

-------------------------------orig.-------------------------

On Thursday 28 August 2008 03:43, Mike Kimball wrote:
Thanks again Bob and Gary. Took it apart, cleaned it all up, lubed it,
and it works fine. The slide pin was definitely stuck although it took
very little effort for me to free it up with my finger. I'm curious
about Bob's comment about greasing the "bearings". My tailwheel has no
bearings as in ball bearings. Just a simple shaft through the vertical
hole in the tailwheel casting. There are bearing surfaces top and bottom
with some sort of round plastic plates that I greased. I also discovered
that the grease fitting simply leads to the middle of the shaft and
doesn't let me put even one stroke from the gun. It's like the fitting
is plugged, which it isn't. That's because there's no cavity for the
grease to go. Just the minimal clearance between the shaft and housing.

In any case, it's working just fine again.

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Mike Kimball
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:50 AM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

Great info Bob and Gary! I'm on my way to the airport to check it out.
Thanks!

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Mike Kimball
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:44 PM
To: Rebel Builder's List
Subject: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

I started on my way to the runway today only to quickly discover that I
had no tailwheel steering. After returning to parking I moved the
steering horn on the tailwheel back and forth and felt no detent. My kit
was purchased about 10 years ago, and I'm serial number 44. Anybody know
what the problem likely is and what kind of tailwheel I have? Also,
what's up with a tailwheel failure after only about 17 hours on it?

Mike
044SR

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Mike Kimball · Post by **Mike Kimball** » Sun Feb 19, 2012 4:52 pm

Whatever I have for a tailwheel isn't like that. The pin is not externally
accessable. Because of that, perhaps it is less likely to jam since it isn't
exposed to dirt and stuff. Maybe Ken is right and some little burr grabbed
it due to it's low time and won't happen again anytime soon. It was pretty
clean inside when I took it apart. But there was very little grease evident.
It sat for 8 years while I built the plane. I should have taken it apart and
cleaned and greased it before first use.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Bob
Patterson
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 5:19 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

Think they are very similar. The pin is open on the
bottom of the bellcrank - I can just reach under it with
the grease on a finger & squeeze a bit in around it ...
no disassembly needed ! :-)

--
......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
http://www.prosumers.ca/Ramble08

http://bpatterson.qhealthbeauty.com
http://apatterson2.qhealthzone.com
http://apatterson2.ordermygift.com

-------------------------------orig.-------------------------
On Friday 29 August 2008 22:39, Mike Kimball wrote:

I'm wondering if access to the pin is different on whatever is used on a
Rebel. To access the pin on my tailwheel requires disassembly which means
dragging a floor jack out to the airport to jack the tail up. I sure hope
I don't have to do that "every few flights". I'd also have to take the
floor jack with me on long cross country flights. Please say it ain't so!

Mike
044S

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of Bob
Patterson
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 7:02 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Re: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

You're welcome Mike !

Glad it's working again !

I was talking about the bearings in the wheel itself - well...
they might be just bushings in some ...

Definitely a squeeze of grease on that back fitting now &
then will help, but the main spot is on the pin itself - just
a dab every few flights will do ...

--
......bobp
bobp@prosumers.ca
http://www.prosumers.ca/Ramble08

http://bpatterson.qhealthbeauty.com
http://apatterson2.qhealthzone.com
http://apatterson2.ordermygift.com

-------------------------------orig.-------------------------

On Thursday 28 August 2008 03:43, Mike Kimball wrote:
Thanks again Bob and Gary. Took it apart, cleaned it all up, lubed it,
and it works fine. The slide pin was definitely stuck although it took
very little effort for me to free it up with my finger. I'm curious
about Bob's comment about greasing the "bearings". My tailwheel has no
bearings as in ball bearings. Just a simple shaft through the vertical
hole in the tailwheel casting. There are bearing surfaces top and bottom
with some sort of round plastic plates that I greased. I also discovered
that the grease fitting simply leads to the middle of the shaft and
doesn't let me put even one stroke from the gun. It's like the fitting
is plugged, which it isn't. That's because there's no cavity for the
grease to go. Just the minimal clearance between the shaft and housing.

In any case, it's working just fine again.

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Mike Kimball
Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:50 AM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: RE: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

Great info Bob and Gary! I'm on my way to the airport to check it out.
Thanks!

Mike
044SR

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Mike Kimball
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:44 PM
To: Rebel Builder's List
Subject: [rebel-builders] No tailwheel steering

I started on my way to the runway today only to quickly discover that I
had no tailwheel steering. After returning to parking I moved the
steering horn on the tailwheel back and forth and felt no detent. My kit
was purchased about 10 years ago, and I'm serial number 44. Anybody know
what the problem likely is and what kind of tailwheel I have? Also,
what's up with a tailwheel failure after only about 17 hours on it?

Mike
044SR

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