Originally posted by 232Cap-Tain
Andy,
I looked up the Tatone website and they don't show the actual picture of the assembly, only the description "Tail Wheel Assembly for 1/4 Scale" at a price of $20. Does that sound about right for the price?
I just looked at the website that was posted by Jemo. The prices listed there are closer to what I pay at my LHS. But, that site is only showing the pre-bent versions. They also com flat, like the 2nd pictures shows and are available flat in most of those sizes.
I believe the one that I used was in the 9-18 pound range. I have the exact part number at home. If you decide to do what I did, in order to make it the same length as the stock tail wheel, I had to drill an extra hole about an 1" away from the hole closest to the front of the plane. Then I made my bends between the second and third holes.
One of the tricks that I use when I bend these is to put a screw and nut through the first hole so the leaves line up. First I bend the longest piece that holds the tail wheel by clamping it in a vice (make sure that you square up the leaf and the jaw of the vice before you bend) and bend it to the angle that I want. (I use a hammer and hit it close to the jaws of the vice so I get a clean crease. Then I bend the tail wheel tab, but I always bend it a little less than I want because it will bend a little with he weight of the plane on it.
After I have the first piece bent I bolt the next leaf to the first and clamp both in the vice and start the bend on the second piece. Then I take them apart and put the second piece back in the vice and continue the bending process and I bend this leaf just a little more than the first. (When you assemble the leaf spring the second and subsequent leaves load the main leaf bending it slightly down, but once the weight of the plane is on it goes back to the desired position.)
Just continue the process for leaves 3 & 4. For lighter planes it is not necessary to use all of the leaves.
I hope this helps.
Andy