So yesterday a couple of friends in "Cubs" from the lower 48 dropped by and I led them out to a few cool spots.

On the way two of us landed a gravel bar with softball sized rocks, too big for the bungee equipped third plane.

At the next spot, much smaller gravel, when the third plane landed the head of the bolt holding on the tailwheel assembly snapped off and left the assembly dangling by the chains and steering cables. Fortunately no serious damage was done so we removed the tailwheel assembly completely, off loaded the heavier stuff in the baggage compartment to my plane and then headed back to my strip for repairs. The pilot did a great job of both lifting the tail before takeoff and keeping it up for all but the last six feet of landing on my tundra strip.

Once there I saw to it that all the tailwheel suspension bolts were replaced, not just the one that was broken, and suggested that the tailwheel springs be replaced as soon as possible or better yet upgrade the tailwheel suspension to a modern one. Anyway we ate a quick lunch and with the tailwheel back on headed off for more adventure- of the fun kind.

Because all my flying in the SQ2 is off-airport every year I replace all the suspension bolts, fore and aft. When I had leaf springs in the back and AOSS up front I always had at least one bolt that was stretched. That rarely happens now that the suspension has been upgraded.

I encourage everyone with "Cub" type planes who land off-airport to change out ALL suspension bolts annually, or after any hard landing. Cheap insurance. We got lucky, could easily been a lot worse and more expensive.

Good idea. I like it.

At the regular and frequent suggestion of the Maulers out there, I ordered the NAS landing gear bolt set from Airframes Alaska. Plane is in annual this week, so all my gear bolts are being replaced while there.

It's always helpful when the landing gear holds the plane off the ground!

My dad lost the tailwheel bolt in his Pacer years ago. A runway light was the only casualty.

On the 170, aside from the controversial P-ponk gear mod, it was common to replace the axles with new and axle bolts with slightly oversized NAS bolts as this was a source of failure when operating off airport. I replaced all the big bolts on mine...wing attach, engine mount, gear.

Although I never did it, some folks think wrapping the leaf springs with teflon chafe tape helps prevent stress risers that can lead to a spring failure.

Hardware is cheap insurance.

PilotMikeTx wrote:....some folks think wrapping the leaf springs with teflon chafe tape helps prevent stress risers that can lead to a spring failure......

Dunno about teflon tape, but I have seen some tail springs fail-
with the main leaf breaking right where the end of the second leaf contacts it.
I think putting a slight bevel on the sharp edges where they contact other springs is a good idea.