RE: tail wheel.
Hi Dave,
As a short term measure? Is this just to get you in the air over the weekend?
If so you colud give it a go, just try to land on the main gear, ie slightly faster that normal, so you don't put any landing impact on the tail err wheel.
You could simply use a wire bent backwards, like the old WW1 biplanes, for a quick fix.
Have fun.