Tail wheels
02-04-2007, 11:48 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lincoln,
NE
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tail wheels
I have two airplanes. One I bought at a auction which is a Sig Four Star 60 and I am putting together a seagull extra 300ep (which is a park flyer). On both airplanes I noticed they have the tailwheels mounted to the rudder. I think this would be a bad situation. Wouldn't this put alot of stress on the rudder and eventually break it. I was thinking about putting a different set up that would mount to the fuselage. I have not been flying for very long and am just starting with taildraggers so I have no idea what the norm is. Any feedback would be helpful.
02-04-2007, 12:55 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Sarnia, ON, CANADA
Posts: 966
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Tail wheels
Either will work and both are done regularly.
The biggest difference is the extra work and material needed to have a 'Steerable' tailwheel if it isn't attached to the rudder. [:'(]
Your concern of undue wear and tear on the rudder is well thought out BUT there isn't a lot of weight on the tail, and the amount of time that the plane spends taxiing is minor...in short don't worry about it.
The biggest difference is the extra work and material needed to have a 'Steerable' tailwheel if it isn't attached to the rudder. [:'(]
Your concern of undue wear and tear on the rudder is well thought out BUT there isn't a lot of weight on the tail, and the amount of time that the plane spends taxiing is minor...in short don't worry about it.
02-04-2007, 05:49 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Sun City,
AZ
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Tail wheels
carfan:
You can use a tailwheel bracket that connects to the fuselage, and use a tiller arm to connect to the rudder. With a tiller arm, you can change the tailwheel deflection with respect to the rudder by removing the tailwheel pivot from the rudder hinge line; thus desensitizing the tailwheel.
One attachment shows the tailwheel bracket and tiller arm for a 1/2 A model and a 40 - 60 size model. The other attachment shows a 1/2 : 1 deflection of tailwheel to rudder on a 40 size airplane.
For park flyers, I just use a piece of tubing epoxied to the fuselage with the tailwheel and rudder control arm attached to the rudder. A washer is soldered onto the tailwheel wire that transfers the load from the tailwheel to the fuselage.
feihu
You can use a tailwheel bracket that connects to the fuselage, and use a tiller arm to connect to the rudder. With a tiller arm, you can change the tailwheel deflection with respect to the rudder by removing the tailwheel pivot from the rudder hinge line; thus desensitizing the tailwheel.
One attachment shows the tailwheel bracket and tiller arm for a 1/2 A model and a 40 - 60 size model. The other attachment shows a 1/2 : 1 deflection of tailwheel to rudder on a 40 size airplane.
For park flyers, I just use a piece of tubing epoxied to the fuselage with the tailwheel and rudder control arm attached to the rudder. A washer is soldered onto the tailwheel wire that transfers the load from the tailwheel to the fuselage.
feihu
02-05-2007, 11:58 AM
#5
RE: Tail wheels
You need to make sure there's a good thrust bearing for the impact of landing. The side-to-side stresses can be handled with a well reenforced rudder where the torque rod connects. The rudder servo should be tough enough to pivot the plane's tail (the wheel stays put, after all) at rest. The wheel doesn't drag back and forth - the whole rear fuselage shimmies to the side. Once in motion it's just castering along and turns pretty easily side-to-side. I usually use a stronger servo for the rudder, anyway.
