Can someone show me a close up picture of a sullivan tail wheel installation? Have one for a four star and not sure how the wire gets installed into the rudder. I know it's bent up and then is it glued in? How far does it hang out below the rudder, and where is the best location for the spring? Do you put some covering over it? I think a picture would be the best if someone can help. Thanks.

Steve,

Sorry I do not have a pic yet. I am at work but will post one tonight once I get home.

It is glued into the rudder. Epoxy is best.

I have mine right up against the rudder and also epoxied to it.

I put the spring into the rudder about 2 inches from the leading on the underside. Use the heavier of the 2 springs they give you.

You can put some covering over it if you want to but that is personal preference. (I didn't)

Steve, I used a Sullivan wheel on my Funtana S 90 also instead of the stock wheel. I have photos also if Bubbagates can't post them for you. (I'm at work also). However, I did use epoxy at first which came out for some reason, I then used Gorilla glue to secure the wire into the tail. Also, the stock wire spring IMO is to flimsy, even the thicker wire because it would bend and even broke. I now use music wire and drilled the wire mount slightly to allow the music wire to fit through. I use the poly glue to install the wire into the rudder and let the music wire slide in the tail wheel attachment piece that is soldered to the wheel itself. The tail wheel is a nice product but the music wire seems to work a little better.

DTB,

That is going to be my next choice. I am replacing the spring with larger music wire on my 4*. If I keep full up elevator, the downforce on the tailwheel will not allow it to turn as the spring is too weak [:'(]. If I use partial up elevator then it works fine .

Go ahead and post the pic's. It will be at least 10:00pm EST until I can.

As far as the epoxy, I have 3 of these installed in various planes and have never had a problem. I do epoxy the wire part of the spring all the way back to the LE of the rudder which may be making the difference. I just got some Gorilla glue and did Robart hinges with it and all I can say is WOW [X(]

On my other 2 planes, both a Twist and Somethin Extra, I can use all of the rudder I want too for taxi and the spring works just fine. Maybe I have a weak spring on the 4*.

Here you go,

Altough the focus was not on the gear in that photo it shows.

The best way to do it is to make a little loop at the end of the wire and use a small screw to attach the spring. Sometimes I had to glue the screw into the rudder itself, but you can always get it out if you need to.

Thanks Cobra for the photo. Here is another photo of how the tail was attached.

1st = Tail wheel assembly
2nd = Longer bolts used to reach the blind nuts
3rd = Blind nut location
4th = Tail wheel bolt looking through fuse

fstevenj, I use canopy glue to keep the end of the spring in the rudder. It stays flexible and won't vibrate out. I just shove it until the spring is running paralell with the bottom of the rudder. It may be over kill but to reinfore the rudder sides I also CA a fiberglass strip from the bottom of the rudder up the sides about 3 inches where the wire is going into the rudder. Then I recover this part before mounting the tail wheel.
bubbagates, If the weight against the tail wheel keeps it from turning when you use elevator then I would think that you are using too light of a tail wheel assembly and you need to get one of the larger ones with the heavier duty springs. I use the Sullivan assemblys on all my taildraggers icluding 2 large 60 size planes and I haven't run across that problem.

It's wierd. I have the same setup on 2 other planes that are within OZ's of the same weight and have no problems. In fact the Twist and SSE have much larger elevator surfaces than the 4* has. [] I can hold full up on the other 2 without a problem

That's what makes me think it's a weak spring

Steve, Its quite easy. Just bend the spring/wire about 1/2" or so from the end at a
90 degree angle up, (toward the rudder). Then press this section into the
rudder wherever it lines up. A drop of thin ca at that point will further secure the wire in the rudder. When the rudder turns the tailwheel will follow.
You can also use a small strap of some kind to strap the spring/wire end to
the bottom of the rudder instead of bending it if you so choose. It is quite
easy and once you have done it you will see. Good luck.

bubba, if the assembly is the same size as the other ones with no problems then I would agree that the spring is too weak on that one for some reason. [8D]

Thanks for all your replies. I thought that was how you did it, but just wanted to be sure.[8D] do most of you glue it down the length of the rudder like the first picture or have it hanging below the rudder like the last picture?

I will try to answer. The white plastic assembly that holds everything is bolted to the bottom of the fuselage with two 4-40 bolts into blind nuts. Then the steering spring ends in a long straight wire that is simply poked up into the bottom of the rudder. I push the straight wire (with canopy glue on it) in until the spring is paraell to the bottom of the rudder. Does that help?? [8D]

On the three I have, I glued the long side of the spring to the bottom of the rudder. On the others that I have seen they are either glued/clamped to the rudder.

I have 3 of the Sullivan units in service. On all 3 I reinforced the area to mount them with 1/8 ply and used four #2 sheet metal screws to hold the bracket on. The wire is glue in with ca only where it goes into the hole. The horizontal section is down about 1/8-3/16 and not glued to the bottom of the rudder. I've used the light spring on all of them. This lessens the strain on the rudder servo and turns the model fine when the plane is moving.