Posted for "Mark Ravinski" <mjrav@comcast.net>:

 Hi,
 I have about 900 hrs in the small tail 360 and can tell you about my
experience.
 
 I have limited elevator trim also and need to hold aft pressure in the
pattern and forward pressure at maximum ( racing ) speed.  Landing with full
flaps and this back pressure has never been a problem.  I just got used to
pulling.
 
 Your left pulling steering could be a rudder spring but only if you have some
thrust from the engine on the rudder.  Differential brakes are the steering
and rudder position usually has no effect.
 
 You should not tolerate any nosewheel shimmy.  I've heard of at least one
instance of nosegear collapse on the first flight due to shimmy.
 
 Heavy use of braking has been known to cause the nylaflow to melt at the
wheels.  I have never had any problem even with short field landings / max
braking.  My nylaflow was 13 years old and still going strong but I replaced
it anyway.
 I don't have any black plastic cover.  Maybe that's your problem.
 
 The small tail does have limitations.  Primarily CG considerations.  When
landing light weight and all fuel in the header tank, the elevator runs out of
steam before you finish the flare.  (plan to touchdown a little fast)
 And when very heavy and pushing aft CG,  you might experience some pitch
instability on takeoff before you get 140 MPH or so.  I delay raising flaps in
this case as they add some stability.
 
 Work your way to these extremes gradually to learn your plane's
characteristics.
 
 Mark Ravinski
 N360KB  1300 hrs