Switching to Scott 3200 Tailwheel

[5422]

I’m the opposite of Jody I’m all for modernizing the 140 up to a certain extent. I mentioned before how our tail sections are a weak area as far as rough surfaces are concerned. That baby bushwheel taxes that one spring it is attached to. I wish I had a video of how much flexing and movement that spring assembly does on a rough strip. It’s amazing the beating that tailwheel bracket can take. I have one on our Supercub (attaches through two springs) and it provides better floatation on soft areas givin that tail weighs considerably more that our 140. The flotation is there of course on a 140 but from what I’ve seen that big mass on that one spring moves around enough to make me feel uncomfortable. Many folks have shimmy issues with those on pavement usually on roll out, they blame the oversized design but I think it’s a geometry issue of the installation. A friend put one on his 120 and after approx 150 hrs running off beaches his spring broke right at the tailwheel casting head. Because it was still attached with chains and springs it flailed around and did a number on his tail feathers. That Scott 3200 works fine and even in the rough stuff you can keep your tail light or keep it up to your planned stopping point. Even the old Maule tail wheels are fine. My 2.5 cents FWIW

[a64pilot]

I don’t mean to pick, it’s that a lot of people read these forums and make decisions based on what they read and forums tend to push towards making something “better”. My intent is to state another opinion, not to say someone has done something “wrong”, just to state that they don’t need to be “improved”, they are fine as is, maintain them to a state of near perfection ought to be the goal.
Plus it’s my opinion that as every year goes by there are fewer and fewer of our aircraft left, now we aren’t butchering them like so many did with model A’s to make hot rods, but with all the modifications, they aren’t 140’s anymore.
Just to try to explain I’ll use my Maule as an example, so people don’t think I’m picking on our little Cessna’s, every “upgrade” to it pretty much increased its weight, decreased useful load, and more often than not slowed its cruise speed, VG’s cost a knot or two, the three blade prop another couple of knots, the Oregon Aero seats were comfortable, but added several lbs with the memory foam.
Now these are of course your airplanes and you can do with them as you please, but most will tell you that nothing flies better than a lightweight airplane, and Cessna actually pretty much got it right with the 140, there really isn’t much that needs improving or can be improved on. Avionics of course are so totally different than they were 70 years ago, so that’s an exception.

[8359]

Nobody in this thread is talking about the baby bushwheel. The Alaska 3200 is nearly identical to the Scott 3200, they just bought the rights to make it.

I agree with weight savings. I bought my bird with a 1080 empty and I have it down to 1046. So an additional pound is not going to kill me. The maule was not holding grease, falling apart and rattling a ton.

[5422]

Here's a video on setting up the tension on the Scott Baby Bush tail wheel. The process should be the same with the 3200 tail wheel. It appears the springs are compression springs as opposed to the springs called for in the Scott 3200 Tail Wheel Installation Instructions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtokU8mIDQk

Hope this helps.

Steve A H

I apologize maybe this past post in this thread got me angled to the Baby Bushwheel. Yes, I do realize that they are same as I’ve owned both. If you are working to keep it light, start with the ounces then your pounds will start coming off. Every mod I’ve done to strengthen/improve it has made it heavier (1004#). It flies the way I want and that’s all that matters. The bushwheels version of the 3200 is nice. Plus their shop is on our airport.

[8359]

Got the new tailwheel all dialed in today. Had to move the springs to the steering arm so they wouldn’t bang around near the rudder. Also replaced the bottom leaf spring. Can’t wait to take it for a spin!

9F1D26FA-0914-44AE-8E47-7956B2251BF7.jpeg (145.35 KiB) Viewed 4341 times

[6277]

That's the way I have my 3200 configured with springs on the bottom.

[8424]

Tamer,

Is your chain attached to the rudder horn via eye bolts or the tab that extends from the rear of the horn?

I recently purchased the springs from AirframesAlaska and I was shocked at the size of the springs!

Steve A H

[8359]

Tamer,

Is your chain attached to the rudder horn via eye bolts or the tab that extends from the rear of the horn?

I recently purchased the springs from AirframesAlaska and I was shocked at the size of the springs!

Steve A H

Hi Steve,

Sorry for the delay. Just saw this. Here's a photo, hopefully it helps. I used eye-bolts. FYI the photo is before I installed the cotter pins.

I too was shocked how big the chain springs are!

Tamer

IMG_5906.jpg (193.56 KiB) Viewed 4229 times

[8359]

Finally got to take the new tailwheel for a spin, so much better! Can’t believe I waited this long to upgrade. Taxis straight, zero shimmy on landing/rollout.

8B0DD5B6-005F-4119-AE8D-922C9F10AF47.jpeg (152.45 KiB) Viewed 4177 times

[8424]

Well, Tamer, your new tail wheel is attached to a nice airplane! I like the photo.

Are your tires 8.00-6's?

Steve A H