Nosewheel Nutcracker Cable

Thanks, Randy!

Its great to be flying again after several years.

Congrats on the purchase John!

To snub or not to snub is the age old Ercoupe question and has the potential to crack open Pandora's box of Ercoupe chat. By design Mr. Weick intended for the Ercoupe to have steering control immediately upon touch down, hence the long nose strut. This design feature is especially important while landing in a crosswind in a crabbed attitude.

Many have added a snubber cable to the nose gear to limit the travel of the strut, it is essentially an unapproved modification. My 415-E had a snubber cable when I purchased it and I flew it that way for several years. After reading up on the topic I removed the cables which allowed the strut to reach is full intended extension. I did have to revise my landing technique as I tended to land nose wheel first for a while after the cables were removed.

To answer your question, No - you should not have a snubber cable on the nose gear.

Blue Skies!

I am the new owner of N99891, 415C, Serial# 2514.  I have the original single side nosewheel.  The nosewheel works fine and does not shimmy.
I noticed that when I am in the air, the nosewheel strut extends fully out and is quite long. I have seen several Ercoupes and some have a cable in this location which I assume is to limit the travel of the nosewheel strut.  I do not see this as a part in the repair or the parts book.
Is this cable something I should have on the nosegear?