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Old 06-21-2002 | 03:18 AM
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majortom-RCU
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From: Merrimack, NH
Default How do I connect the tailgear?

It looks from pix like the mounting plate is in the middle, steering arms inside fuse but projecting out the sides of fuse to be connected to something, and tail of course down on the ground. The simple heretic in me says you would probably do just fine to mount the wheel and to heck (to goshdarn heck! I say) with the steering arms--just let the wheel caster freely, and steer on the ground with prop blast on the rudder. I've done this at least a few times with never any problem.

(Works on nosewheel too, better I think than trying to connect linkage to nosewheel. I always enjoy the nice pictures on the plan of nosewheel linkage. I can draw pretty pictures too--lots easier than hooking it up and making it work right. I like building, and I like a challenge, but more than anything I like getting out and flying!)

If you want to do it right, though, you need to run soft coil springs from tips of tailwheel steering arms to corresponding arms at bottom of rudder, so when pushrod or pull/pull turns the rudder, the rudder tugs the tailwheel in the same direction. If you have pull/pull rudder, you can prob'ly use those arms to connect your springs to, but keep the springs connected inboard from where your pull/pull cables attach. You don't want the tailwheel to turn as much as the rudder for smooth ground handling. Spring connectors absorb ground shocks on tailwheel, save jerking on your rudder servo gears.