OK....It's time for the Cruisemaster owners to learn something from the Cruisair.
If you will reference "Plate 117A" in the 14-13 parts manual, you will see all the parts in the shock system for the tailwheel. Maybe someone can contact Robert to see about posting that for all to see. The tailwheel in the 14-19 series is the same as the 14-13 series. The oil/piston system is the same [in miniature] as the 14-13 and 14-13-2 main landing gear....but turned upside down. The packings are at the top instead of the bottom.
So, when you land, you land on the piston plunging through oil...not the spring. Later, with the weight increasing, the tail will rest on the "taxi spring."
So, you can see there's a lot more there than the spring, itself. This is an area of neglect and the piston shaft can become corroded, ripping the packings and not doing it's job. It's primitive, it's factory made but it works.
