I replaced the tail wheel spring on my plane this weekend with a new one as the other was sagging and not in proper geometry. The wheel set up is a Scott and the new wheel spring makes the steering springs and chains tight and under tension even going straight. The steering feel very different, no surprise there as the wheel is now castering properly. However, there is very little or no play (movement of rudder peddles) before the turn starts. I feel the springs may have too much tension, should there be a little slack before the chains and spring come into tension, one or so links?

Thanks

Are they Tension or compression springs? On my old C-170 it originally had tension srings and I changed them out to Compression springs with cable. They were quite loose so when I landed in a crosswind the tail would not take off for the boonies. On my 7GCBC it has tension springs and work quite well. I care less about tight positive steering and more about less effect when I land in a hard crosswind. Both planes have Scott tailwheels. Experiment a little, but be careful. What may work for someone else may not be the best for you and your airplane.
HC

Your tailwheel should have a little bit of slack in it you shouldn't have solid tension on both sides of your tailwheel . When you try to turn your plane around really sharp it won't go to full caster if you have tension on your springs. Put in just enough slack so that they sag just a bit. When your tailwheel freely breaks left and right you have it set up correctly

That is what I thought, I had tension springs on my citabria as well and as I remember they were slightly loose.

The wheel does caster, although the wind was strong 30is when I taxi tested it and that may have broken the wheel over.

I will need to find new chains as I am on the last link on both sides.

I have changed tailwheels and had a similar problem. HC's advice is right, play with tension until you feel comfortable. We went from having some slack on both sides when neutral to a small amount of tension both sides. Tension helped feedback without shock-loading or shimmy. I like it best both on and off airport. Also changed from compression to extension springs so there is not a solid stop, in case you hit something.
A good friend of mine flys the same aircraft as I, but prefers some slack with extension springs.
Never had a castor problem with either tension.

Just my experience.

I would not only check the chain tension in the three-point attitude, check it with the t/w jacked off the ground. The chains on my old C170 tightened up considerably with the tail up. Snug at rest was extremely tight in the air- didn't like that as it seemed like it would put excess pressure on the rudder horn etc. A little loose worked best for that airplane.
Most airplanes seem to use ordinary hardware store sash chain to connect rudder & tailwheel. Cheap and easy to get -- it even comes in different pitches so when you can't get the tension/slack you want, you can often switch to a different pitch chain & get it right.