Converting LT-40 to a taildragger
08-21-2002, 03:54 AM
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Converting LT-40 to a taildragger
I would like to convert my LT-40 to a taildragger. I have seen it mentioned in a number of other posts, but without specific instructions or advice. If anyone has experience with this modification please fill me in on the best way to go about it.
08-21-2002, 01:40 PM
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Converting LT-40 to a taildragger
ekvaughn,
I have converted mine to a taildragger. I like it a lot better as a tail dragger. To convert it to a taildragger you need to move the main gear forward. I did this by adding a plywood doubler to the floor of the fuselage just behind the front cabin former. I removed the original wire main gear and installed an aluminum gear from a 4*40. I installed 2, 1/4-20 T-nuts in the plywood doubler and attached the main gear with 1/4-20 nylon bolts. For the tail wheel I think it was a Williams bros leaf spring tail wheel mount with a 1 in wheel. I set the tail wheel up with pull-pull and left the original pushrod in place for the rudder control.
Give it a try, I think you will like to fly it a lot better with out the training wheels.
TiggerFlyer
I have converted mine to a taildragger. I like it a lot better as a tail dragger. To convert it to a taildragger you need to move the main gear forward. I did this by adding a plywood doubler to the floor of the fuselage just behind the front cabin former. I removed the original wire main gear and installed an aluminum gear from a 4*40. I installed 2, 1/4-20 T-nuts in the plywood doubler and attached the main gear with 1/4-20 nylon bolts. For the tail wheel I think it was a Williams bros leaf spring tail wheel mount with a 1 in wheel. I set the tail wheel up with pull-pull and left the original pushrod in place for the rudder control.
Give it a try, I think you will like to fly it a lot better with out the training wheels.
TiggerFlyer
08-21-2002, 03:12 PM
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Why tail dragger
What is the reasoning behind doing this mod (I have an LT-40).
I've put a lot of dings on the nose gear, so it may be easier to convert to a tail dragger than to replace the entire firewall.
Are there differences in handling characteristics?
This is supposed to be more advanced than trike gear, how much more?
GB
I've put a lot of dings on the nose gear, so it may be easier to convert to a tail dragger than to replace the entire firewall.
Are there differences in handling characteristics?
This is supposed to be more advanced than trike gear, how much more?
GB
08-21-2002, 04:34 PM
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Converting LT-40 to a taildragger
I converted it to tail dragger for 2 reasons. Like you I kept dinging the nose gear on landings and I wanted to get some stick time with out the training wheels before I started to fly my 4*40 or my citabria, both of which I have a whole lot more time and money invested in. Loosing the training wheel made the LT much easier to land for me any way.
08-23-2002, 03:44 PM
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Converting LT-40 to a taildragger
Ghostbear here is a picture of the main, you can see where the original wire gear was mounted. I added a 1/4' plywood doubler in side the fuselage and tapped it 1/4-20 to accept the nylon bolts. you can see the doubler in another picture.
TiggerFlyer
TiggerFlyer
08-23-2002, 03:49 PM
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Converting LT-40 to a taildragger
Ghostbear,
One last one the business end. I added 1/8" plywood doubler in side the tail and installed 4-40 t-nuts to attach the leaf spring.
One last one the business end. I added 1/8" plywood doubler in side the tail and installed 4-40 t-nuts to attach the leaf spring.
08-23-2002, 05:11 PM
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Very Cool
I'm saving your pictures. They are very good.
Question, it appears that one of the arms on the rudder servo actives both the rudder and one of the pulls. Is that correct?
Question, it appears that one of the arms on the rudder servo actives both the rudder and one of the pulls. Is that correct?
08-24-2002, 04:37 AM
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Converting LT-40 to a taildragger
Tiggerflyer-Thanks for all the great pictures and help. It is exactly what I needed. I'll let you know how I fair on my first flight with the new mod.
08-25-2002, 02:54 AM
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Converting LT-40 to a taildragger
Ghostbear,
The servo arm that operates the rudder also operates the pull-pull on the tail wheel. The servo arm has four holes in each side, the rudder is in the third hole from center and the pull pull for the tail wheel is in the fourth hole on each side of the servo arm.
After talking with my flying buddy and reading other posts on RCU, I have determined that SIG is very Conservative on their CG recommendations. I think that the reason I was always dinging the nose wheel on landing was I had the CG too far forward, and I did not have enough elevator travel to flare for landing with out hitting the nose first. This forward CG makes for a very stable and self correcting platform but I think makes landing more difficult. Any way if you want to convert to tail dragger then go for it it cant hurt. I would suggest that you try to set your Cg a little aft from Sig's recommendations. I originally had mine set slightly nose down when balancing on the spar, now it is neutral on the spar.
TiggerFlyer
The servo arm that operates the rudder also operates the pull-pull on the tail wheel. The servo arm has four holes in each side, the rudder is in the third hole from center and the pull pull for the tail wheel is in the fourth hole on each side of the servo arm.
After talking with my flying buddy and reading other posts on RCU, I have determined that SIG is very Conservative on their CG recommendations. I think that the reason I was always dinging the nose wheel on landing was I had the CG too far forward, and I did not have enough elevator travel to flare for landing with out hitting the nose first. This forward CG makes for a very stable and self correcting platform but I think makes landing more difficult. Any way if you want to convert to tail dragger then go for it it cant hurt. I would suggest that you try to set your Cg a little aft from Sig's recommendations. I originally had mine set slightly nose down when balancing on the spar, now it is neutral on the spar.
TiggerFlyer
08-25-2002, 03:03 AM
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Converting LT-40 to a taildragger
mstroh3961,
I had a coworker who builds home built full scale planes show me where to place the main gear. There are some general rules of thumb but I don't know what they are. It has something to do with a percentage of the chord of the wing and the moment of the tail but for the LT it seems that just behind the first former of the cabin works well.
TiggerFlyer
I had a coworker who builds home built full scale planes show me where to place the main gear. There are some general rules of thumb but I don't know what they are. It has something to do with a percentage of the chord of the wing and the moment of the tail but for the LT it seems that just behind the first former of the cabin works well.
TiggerFlyer
08-25-2002, 03:11 AM
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lt-40
Originally posted by tiggerflyer
mstroh3961,
I had a coworker who builds home built full scale planes show me where to place the main gear. There are some general rules of thumb but I don't know what they are. It has something to do with a percentage of the chord of the wing and the moment of the tail but for the LT it seems that just behind the first former of the cabin works well.
TiggerFlyer
mstroh3961,
I had a coworker who builds home built full scale planes show me where to place the main gear. There are some general rules of thumb but I don't know what they are. It has something to do with a percentage of the chord of the wing and the moment of the tail but for the LT it seems that just behind the first former of the cabin works well.
TiggerFlyer
M
