A vibration-preventing tail wheel conversion system prevents an aircraft
tail wheel from shimmying during the takeoffs and landings. The system
retrofits to the original equipment tail wheel fork. A rigid insert in the
form of an inverted T comprises a cylindrical base that is pressed down
into the upper end of the factory fork assembly and welded therewtihin. A
rigid, reduced diameter and coaxially-centered stein projects integrally
upwardly from the insert base, with an annular shoulder defined
therebetween. An elongated, threaded bolt rigidly penetrates the insert
and extends upwardly outwardly for threadable connection to a suitable
nut. A hollow, sleeve-like hub is coaxially coupled to the end of the fork
assembly, externally surrounding the insert. The hub's lower, internal
shoulder contacts and rests against the fork tube and the insert's annular
shoulder. An upper shoulder concentrically defined by the hub receives a
bearing assembly. The race portion is press-fitted within the shoulder,
and the bearing is coaxially pressed against the race for rotation. A
castellated nut attached to the upwardly projecting bolt compresses the
bearing assembly with suitable washers to maintain the desired degree of
firmness.