Steering with the third wheel
I did a few circuits in my taildragger yesterday, with a gentle crosswind from the right. Some crosswind refresher is always good practice, particularly on my very narrow runway. I like to keep the plane within a foot or two of the centerline, is indicated by my wheel marks in the grass. I prefer to wheel land, so I'm not depending upon tailwheel steering until the later phase of the rollout anyway. I was satisfied with my flying and directional control during my circuits.
After I pulled into the tiedown spot (in a sweeping left turn), and parked the plane, I shut down and tied down. Then I noticed that at some point during the flying, I had broken the left tailwheel steering bellcrank. I noticed this as the water rudder, which is also bolted to the left and right steering bellcranks on the tailwheel, was being pulled hard into the tailwheel tire by the steering cable and spring, and showed signs of getting hot (darkened paint) from rubbing on the tire. Darn, repairs needed.
But then it occurred to me that I had flown at least some of those circuits with not only no left steering control, but indeed, the tailwheel being pulled noticeably to the right by the remaining spring and bellcrank arm, and I had not really noticed in steering the aircraft against a light right crosswind.
I am reminded that the tailwheel steering has less of an effect on directional control than the rudder does, at "speed" on the runway. I find this on my tricycle plane too, when I taxi over softer ground with the nosewheel light or off, it's not affecting steering at all, it's all the rudder. Thus, the need to "keep weight" on the third wheel, either by wheelbarrowing a tricycle, or eagerly three pointing a taildragger, so as to have the steering wheel embedded into the surface, is really not so important.