SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

Having read a billion SSE build posts, what is recommended for rear wheel? What Sig supplies? Or this [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&W=001603520&I=LXD851&P=K]Dubro[/link] or this [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&W=001603520&I=LXFV47&P=K]Sullivan[/link] ?? Seems lots of debate on this.

I plan on using the stock main gear...any problems with a ST51 swinging a 11x6, 12x4, or 12.25x3.75 ?

As an aside, I am amazed at pricing escalation. Someone posted SSE was $79 and raised to $89 earlier this year. it is now $109. Ouch.

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

Chemie,

You will love the SSE! I bought mine last Fall at the $79 price. Ouch! Talk about over compensation for transportation. I wonder if Tower will lower their price after the Holidays , now that the cost of fuel has significantly dropped? Sure.
My plane came out real tail heavy. I installed the tail bracing and I added a Dubro tail wheel assembly. I had to add 10oz of lead into the nose. this with the battery and reciever up front under the fuel tank. I had a Magnum XLS.46 on it. It flew ok. But with a final weight of 6.10 LBS it wasn't as nimble as I would have liked. Landing was like landing a brick. I recently changed as much as I could. I took off the tail bracing. This was an ounce of weight that I don't think is necessary for my flying style. I also changed engines. I now mounted a Magnum XL.52 and I am running an APC 11 x 5 prop. I moved the engine as far forward as possible on the mount. I used the Great Planes adjustable fiber glass mount. For a tail wheel I changed the Dubro to just a 4-40 wire I bent and epoxied it in. I got the total weight down to 6.2 LBS. I still had to add 2oz of lead to the nose again with the battery ( 2500MAh 4.8v NIMH rcvr btry) and the receiver pushed as far forward as I could under the fuel tank.
It flies alot better! Lands like it should. This plane can float. With the 11x5 prop I have a terrific vertical and plenty of speed.
Good luck.

Frank

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

I use the Sullivan tailwheel assemblies on a lot of my planes, and have had them on all of the SSE's that I've had. Here's a picture of how I mounted it.

Ken

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

Another vote for the Sullivan assembly. Easy to implement with just a piece of 1/8 ply glued in for it to screw to. Love the SSE!!

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

I used the Sullivan tail wheel assy. Also i used the Four Star 60 Landing gear out of the kit. I added zero lead to mine. with the battery and the receiver located as per instructions. I have used a Magnum XL53, A Como 40 and now the present Mecoa 46

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

I was in a rush this morning when I posted the pictures of my SSE with the Sullivan tailwheel, but had wanted to add to that. I prefer the Sullivan tailwheels over the Dubro simply because of the spring on it. With the Dubro, or any other wheel assembly, that is is mounted directly into the wood of the rudder you risk damaging the rudder when on the ground. A good jolt or turning hard can damage the wood that the tiller rod is mounted in. With the Sullivan the wheel is connected to the rudder through a spring. This isolates the wood of the rudder from being damaged. I started using these because our old runway as a bit short, so when we touched down I had to start using the tailwheel and turn the plane from side to side to bleed off speed. If I touched down long it meant that at times I had to really lean on the rudder to get the plane stopped. More than once I had rudders damaged because the wheel was directly connected to the rudder. When I switched to Sullivan wheels that all went away!!

Ken

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

Thanks Ken. I saw your pics in another SSE thread and this is why I asked. I guess I am confused as to the spring. From the picture, it looks like when the rudder moves, the spring move take all that movement and therefore the wheel would never turn? As I will be taking off on pavement or grass, I was playing around with the idea of ditching wheel altogether and getting a [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXDCT8&P=0]skid[/link]

DEADEYE: Where would the ply be mounted?

TH is out of stock on ST51 (late Jan expected!!!) so I might have to switch to the Magnum XLS-52....any comments on the Magnum?, or should I wait until Jan (I won't be flying during snow season anyway).

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

Chemie,
I can understand that it might look like the spring will turn the wheel, but trust me in that it works VERY well. I can't even begin to count how many of these units I have around here. I used them on just about everything. You'll be hard pressed to find a better tailwheel for the SSE, IMHO.

Ken

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

The wheel will turn fine on grass or hard surface. The spring just acts as a shock absorber.
As far as engines, I have not seen a lot of negative comments on the Magnum 52.
You might also take a look at:
Aviastar 53 available from http://www.sigmfg.com $69.99
SK 50 http://www.atsrcplanes.com/skengines.htm $59.77 - but it is currently out of stock

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

Hmmm...TH was Black Friday special on OS55. Back down to price last June before the great price increase across all OS (25% increase is a lot anyway you cut it).

Almost makes me wonder...but I assume the 55 would be a little too much for this little SSE? it would add 45 g to the front which might be a tad too much.

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

Here's a light and simple option making use of the Dubro bracket. A cap screw does double duty to capture the wire and serve as a flexible means of connecting the wheel to the rudder. The silicon fuel line is surprisingly resistant to tearing but will let go in a violent "arrival". :)

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

Erik:

What size set screw did you use? Did you have to re-drill and tap to make larger or just get a longer set screw?

RE: SSE Tail Wheel hardware suggestions
 

If I'm not mistaken, it's 4-40. I just poked around in my junk box until I found the right size. :)