Anyone installed a Matco tailwheel?

[8475]

My 140 presently has a Scott 3200 tailwheel. It also has an aft CG. I'd like to claw some of this back by installing a lighter tailwheel. I'm thinking about a Matco tailwheel, WHLT-6P. The swap would save me 3.45 lbs. The problem is that this tailwheel is intended for experimental airplanes. My IA wants to know if anyone out there in 140-land has successfully submitted a 337 for the installation of this tailwheel. Has anyone done this? If so, would you be willing to share your 337?

[6597]

Do you have extenders on the main gears? Just a thought.....

[8475]

Do you have extenders on the main gears? Just a thought.....

No extenders on this plane.
But you bring up an interesting point.
Extenders would certainly put more weight on the tail when on the ground, but their presence should have minimal effect on shifting the CG. They have relatively low mass, and they have a short arm relative to the datum.

[2066]

No RE the Matco, 'though they really appear to be quality tail wheels. Gaining approval may be a challenge for the reasons you mention, but let's hope someone may yet step up with a successful installation story. That said, have you considered the Lang (formerly Decker) D-501 steerable tail wheel? It's lighter, FAA/PMA & on the Type data sheet so no prob with using on our aircraft...although like everything else (aircraft parts and eggs! ) it's pretty expensive these days.
Mac

[tonycondon]

Why is your CG aft?

[6183]

If your airplane has an aft CG it would be wise to find out why rather than just changing the tailwheel to a smaller unit to try to rectify the aft CG issue. Cessna per the type certificate of the 140 and 140A aircraft approved the Scott 3200 for use on both of the aircraft types. Again if you have an aft CG issue you should find the reason why and correct that. My good friend Mac Forbes has mentioned that the FAA/PMA approval is a must for those tailwheel assemblies not listed in the type certificate data.

No RE the Matco, 'though they really appear to be quality tail wheels. Gaining approval may be a challenge for the reasons you mention, but let's hope someone may yet step up with a successful installation story. That said, have you considered the Lang (formerly Decker) D-501 steerable tail wheel? It's lighter, FAA/PMA & on the Type data sheet so no prob with using on our aircraft...although like everything else (aircraft parts and eggs! ) it's pretty expensive these days.
Mac

[2066]

If your airplane has an aft CG it would be wise to find out why rather than just changing the tailwheel to a smaller unit to try to rectify the aft CG issue. Cessna per the type certificate of the 140 and 140A aircraft approved the Scott 3200 for use on both of the aircraft types. Again if you have an aft CG issue you should to find the reason why and correct that. My good friend Mac Forbes has mentioned that the FAA/PMA approval is a must for those tailwheel assemblies not listed in the type certificate data.

No RE the Matco, 'though they really appear to be quality tail wheels. Gaining approval may be a challenge for the reasons you mention, but let's hope someone may yet step up with a successful installation story. That said, have you considered the Lang (formerly Decker) D-501 steerable tail wheel? It's lighter, FAA/PMA & on the Type data sheet so no prob with using on our aircraft...although like everything else (aircraft parts and eggs! ) it's pretty expensive these days.
Mac

Good point & suggestion, Mike. I expect that Dave may well have already double-checked numbers, but for some of us who may be sometimes math challenged (...don't ask how I know this ) it's all too easy to err with a total "formal" weighing & balance check, so even that may be worth double checking before chasing a fix(?). The other extreme, of course, but I've seen a couple of "too far fore" over the years that turned out not to be when re-weighed and/or recheck of computations, for example.
Mac

[8475]

Good news. I just received a field approval from the FAA Oakland FSDO for the installation of a Matco WHLT-8LD tailwheel on my 140. I'll be happy to share the 337 if anyone is interested. (I tried to upload it, but was unable due to size.) Send me a PM.

[2066]

Congrats, Dave -- thanks for the update!