The Cessna 120-140 Association Forum

Where do we begin...

I have driven by a 140 for several months now with a for sale sign on it and finally called the guy. Gave him cash and here we are with a new airplane and no experience with the type.

She has really good bones but she is no show queen. There are some parts i want to change even though the annual was done a month ago but have a few questions. The tailwheel chain and springs are rusty so its the first change coming. The chains are extremely tight with the tailwheel on the ground. I have flown some cubs and remember there being a little slack in the chains. Anybody have any reccomendations on if they should be tight or have a little slack with the tail on the ground.

Im sure ill be back with a lot more questions but that is first priority

Please send a picture, as the type of tailwheel and spring combination make a difference.

Pictures always help!

Will do, ill have to get them tomorrow.

I had good experience with the scott 3200 so hopefully in the future that is an upgrade

I ran out to the airport real quick, as you can see the previous owner let her sit outside for quite a bit

Upside down, too!

That's a Scott 2000. The chains have to be tight, 25# tension, IIRC, or it won't steer.

Here's what you need: https://www.univair.com/tires-wheels-br ... -assembly/

Awesome! i would have never known it was a scott 2000! i apreciate the link very much!

This thread will stay alive with many more questions to come. Seriously appreciate it

Welcome to the club! I just passed my first year of 120 ownership and I love my plane more every day!

Not to thread jack but, I’ve been meaning to buy a spare set of chains/springs for my tailwheel, the only thing I’ve been able to find is that kit on univair, it says for Scott though (I have the maule), any suggestions on where else to look?

Thanks,

For the pneumatic Maule I'd try the other Scott kit with heavier springs (for a heavier wheel). It used to be Scott 3239; Univair calls it "Piper spring connector assy." I don't like those compression springs. They bottom out and put an irresistible force on the rudder bellcrank. That said, if you experience shimmy, you may have little choice. There is a kit for the Maule with different rate springs left and right to combat shimmy, (what you have) but they are compression springs. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... prings.php

Tread wear indicates your tailwheel is over inflated.

What's with the rubber and hose clamps on your tailwheel bracket?

6643 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 12, 2019 7:27 am For the pneumatic Maule I'd try the other Scott kit with heavier springs (for a heavier wheel). It used to be Scott 3239; Univair calls it "Piper spring connector assy." I don't like those compression springs. They bottom out and put an irresistible force on the rudder bellcrank. That said, if you experience shimmy, you may have little choice. There is a kit for the Maule with different rate springs left and right to combat shimmy, (what you have) but they are compression springs. https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/ ... prings.php

Tread wear indicates your tailwheel is over inflated.

What's with the rubber and hose clamps on your tailwheel bracket?

Thanks for the expert eye, as usual. I don’t experience any shimmy, but it does get a little hairy if it pops out of the detent at speed, different problem I believe?

That’s an old photo from when I first got the plane, i replaced the tailwheel tire then and it has been wearing nice and evenly.

The rubber clamps are holding on a 2lb weight. With the O290 Up front the previous owner felt like he was running out of trim on landing. Now that I’ve lost a few lbs on the nose (alternator and exhaust) I’m going to try taking it off and see how it flies. I’ve found I run out of nose down trim at cruise with the extra weight on the tail.

Thanks again for the help, I’ll checkout that kit.

Sounds like you should do a proper weight and balance.