Simple lesson for us all...

[z3skybolt]

Folks,

This is so simple that it hardly needs to be mentioned but here goes. Always carry a spare tailwheel/nose or maybe even a main gear tire tube and simple tool kit. I have had a spare tailwheel tire and tube in my Maule for years. For no good reason last fall I took it out an put it in the hangar.

Just today I flew to a friends private strip about 40 miles from my home base. Touchdown on the smooth grass was rewarding. When I deplaned I noticed that the tailwheel tire was flat and nearly off the hub. No one home, no cellphone and a couple of miles from the nearest house. Broke into my friends hangar: got the jack and tools, removed the tailwheel and seperated the hub. The stem of the tube was missing, my spare in my hangar 40 miles a way. Finally got hold of a friend nearby who drove me the 80 mile round trip to pick up the spare. Had it on and tools put away in 15 minutes.

No big deal but took 4 hours of running around in 105 degree heat. Would have been a simple 30 minute job if I had the spare and tools with me. Some places I take the Maule could have turned it into a significant event.

That is the last time I go anywhere without tools and a spare.

Happy Flying,

bob

[Yellowbelly]

Been there...



...done that...


... had to borrow a "jack"...


We were lucky; fixed the flat with a bicycle repair kit. I started carrying TWO t/w tubes, then a tube for the mains, then... I ended up with a cardboard box of spare parts and a tool kit that that would let me do an annual on the spot.

Funny thing was, with all that crap in the back of the Maule, my landings improved significantly.

[Littlecub]

Why not lift the tail immediately with power application on TO?..... (if you have enough power)
Then hold the tail up with power while braking when you land-until you stop?... (if you have enough RW length)

It does sound like a high DA day, though.
Just askin....
lc

[Emory Bored]

Most of the flats on tailwheels I hear about are Maule tailwheels. I'm not makin' this stuff up now, why not just buy a Scott tailwheel?

[EZFlap]

There's a high density plastic strip, or ring material, that the BMX and mountain bike guys use to line the tire, so it is harder to puncture the tube. Might be a good thing to have available. With all the proper paperwork and approvals.

[Yellowbelly]

Sometimes the solution lies in an unexpected direction.

I used the little tool kit to tighten up everything on the Maule tailwheel. The added weight of the tool kit and spares improved my landings so much that I never got to use either of the spare tubes despite many hundreds of subsequent landings on everything from urban concrete to Alaskan gravel. They are still folded up in their little plastic bags to this day.

You will only need what you don't have.

[patrol guy]

you wouldn't need the valve if you had a can of Great Stuff to fill the tire with??

[courierguy]

I'm more concerned about the several cuts and gashes I have in my Airstreaks. Not leaking air but they sure don't look good....

Tailwheel is no big deal for my light bird, makes it easier to push around on the ground but don't need it for taking off or landing. What are you other Bushwheel guys packing for bush tire repair?

[obxbushpilot]

I had a similar experience. I flew in to Okracoke Island, NC in the Outer Banks (not as remote as back county but an island with a few hotels and taverns and nothing else) and noticed that my tail wheel felt mushy so I taxid on the mains until I could no longer hold the tail up and parked. I was with my wife and kids. I sent them off to the beach (that was the mission) and I called a local repair garage (auto repair).

I explained the situation and half expected the guy to decline any assitance. However,two guys pull up in a jeep and quickly assesed the situation and came right back with a jack and a some tools. I pulled the tail wheel off and rested the fork of the scott TW on a small board. The guys took me back to their shop and let me pull the wheel apart. We inflated the tube and found a pin hole leak. They put a patch on it and and I reassembled the wheel and they drove me back to the airport (about 1.5 miles away). It was the easiest field repair I ever encounterd and the garage owner and his buddy were about the nicest guys I ever met. They charged me $30. I balked at the price (way too low) and pitched them $50. I ofered a ride to them, but the owner needed to stay on call for stranded motorists (and an occasional pilot). I rejoined my family on the beach and we enjoyed a nice day and nice flight back to the airpark.

If not for the help of friendly locals, I could have been stranded there and it might have cost me a whole lot more to get an aircraft mechanic out there with the parts.

The first thing I did was send a nice thank you letter to the garage and the second thing I did was order a new tire and tube and replaced it and put the old ones in the bagage compartment for spares along with a few essential tools including one of those tiny bicycle tire pumps and patch kit.

[z3skybolt]

Why not lift the tail immediately with power application on TO?..... (if you have enough power)
Then hold the tail up with power while braking when you land-until you stop?... (if you have enough RW length)

It does sound like a high DA day, though.
Just askin....
lc

Since you asked....

..I considered doing that and would have in a more isolated location. But maybe lack of skill factored into my decision. I once put a Citabria on it's nose while taxiing around the airport with the tail in the air. Figured that I just might damage the hub and or spoke...maybe bend a prop. I've been known to screw up before and just might once again.

Emory Bored,

My tailwheel is a Scott and was just rebuilt 15 flt. hours ago. But I don't doubt your accessment of Maule's and flat tires.

bob

[hotrod150]

I carry a spare (old discard) t/w tire & tube with me. Used to carry a spare inner tube for the mains when I had 800's as I figured even most airports wouldn't have one available(let alone out in the wilds somewhee). That's still the case now with my 850's but I don't have a spare tube in that size. I also always carry a little toool kit in the airplane.
In the hangar I have two more spare wornout t/w tires with tubes in case any of my buddy's have a flat when they're here. So don't throw them old baldies away, keep them for "get-it-home" spares.
I know a guy who went me one better & carries a complete tire/tube/wheel assembly for the t/w on his C180.

[OregonMaule]

If I had a flat tailwheel and was in the bush I would drag it.

[Mauleguy]

I would have to agree with the others that a flat tailwheel is a non issue, either drag it or pick it up with power. I took the whole fork off on a rock on a rough gravel bar and just found the busted tire and fork and took off with it inside the airplane. If I was heavy I probably would have had to leave the majority of the gear behind and come back for it after I had fixed it.

I carry a tool kit that I can take apart anything on the airplane (excluding pulling cylinders).

I carry a tire patch kit, place the patch over the outside of the Bushwheel and pump it up with the bike pump you carry.

If you carried spare parts for every possible problem you cross out my number one rule, keep it light.

Greg

[obxbushpilot]

My Scott 3200 cost some money. I don't think I would risk damaging it by taxiing with a flat any more than necessary to get off an active runway. I live in a windy corner of the world where keeping your tail wheel planted when moving on the ground is absolutely a must.

when the CG is at the aft end of the window (like when you have rear seat passengers) you can't just pop the tail up super cub style and go.

[dogpilot]

I learned that lesson years ago with my first 185. Tailwheel tires and tubes are not stocked in many places, so a wait is in order if yours goes bad. As a result I have always carried a built up tailwheel tire, tube rim to slap on if I get a problem. Just be patient and buy one for a deal, build it up and keep it in your tie down kit, it isn't heavy.

Of course jacking your tailwheel is always fun, but last time, my overly portly Canadian buddy proved that in every fat man lives a strong man. They have to be to simply move around. He hoisted the 185's tail and held it up while I changed the wheel. I was impressed.

[S-12Flyer]

you wouldn't need the valve if you had a can of Great Stuff to fill the tire with??

OK be gentle. Does that really work for a temporary fix?

[Emory Bored]

you wouldn't need the valve if you had a can of Great Stuff to fill the tire with??

OK be gentle. Does that really work for a temporary fix?

This is an opinion not burdened with anything like a real understanding or empirical data: that stuff is good for wheel barrow and hand truck tires. If you don't keep the wheel spinning until it congeals inside the tire/tube you will end up with a tire that is out of balance. I have no idea whether this is important on the tail of an airplane.

EB

[S-12Flyer]

you wouldn't need the valve if you had a can of Great Stuff to fill the tire with??

OK be gentle. Does that really work for a temporary fix?

This is an opinion not burdened with anything like a real understanding or empirical data: that stuff is good for wheel barrow and hand truck tires. If you don't keep the wheel spinning until it congeals inside the tire/tube you will end up with a tire that is out of balance. I have no idea whether this is important on the tail of an airplane.

EB

I'm pretty sure that I would not use it on the mains but I wasn't sure if it would work in a pinch for a tailwheel to get you home without destroying your rim, tire and fork.
However, I would like to see the peer reviewed double blind study and the NASA calibration data that you used for your opinion.

[Hottshot]

DO NOT Use the Green stuff..... Use NO TUBES sealant, I don't care if you buy it from us (that would be a plus) but it is a FAR SUPERIOR product. Good luck and Fly like the wind Bullseye

[Emory Bored]

OK be gentle. Does that really work for a temporary fix?

This is an opinion not burdened with anything like a real understanding or empirical data: that stuff is good for wheel barrow and hand truck tires. If you don't keep the wheel spinning until it congeals inside the tire/tube you will end up with a tire that is out of balance. I have no idea whether this is important on the tail of an airplane.

EB

I'm pretty sure that I would not use it on the mains but I wasn't sure if it would work in a pinch for a tailwheel to get you home without destroying your rim, tire and fork.
However, I would like to see the peer reviewed double blind study and the NASA calibration data that you used for your opinion.

I suppose if a guy were ready and willing to sacrifice a tailwheel tube to science he could gather data on his own?