tail wheel post how big is the opening?

[Robert Bradbury]

Hi all, I'm in the process of moving my T to another hanger. I have removed the floats and put on the landing gear but I do not have a tail wheel. Since this is just for transport I figured I would use a soft rubber dolly wheel . If some one could tell me the size of the opening it would save me three hours of driving .

[Fred]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

My '46 BC-12D sn 7399 rudder post (if that's what you're looking for) is 11/16" I.D.

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

My '46 BC-12D sn 7399 rudder post (if that's what you're looking for) is 11/16" I.D.

perfect just what I was looking for, I will now fab a tire/post to get me
back to the new hanger

thks

[Ray36048]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

Robert, are you planning to attach a temp wheel the the rudder? I am not sure the rudder is strong enough for that. A land plan has the wheel on a spring attached to the fuse. Am I not understanding your plan??

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

Yea, putting a wheel on the end of the rudder would be a real bad idea. There should be two tabs that supported the back end of the flat spring and a verticle tube at the front for a bolt through the spring. A much better plan would be to get an old leaf spring (maybe one that is pited or damaged) and mount the wheel to that through the normal holes. You wouldn't need an airworthy spring for what you are doing and I'm sure someone in the tribe must have an old one that will never fly again.
Hank

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

Robert, are you planning to attach a temp wheel the the rudder? I am not sure the rudder is strong enough for that. A land plan has the wheel on a spring attached to the fuse. Am I not understanding your plan??

I'm not planning to fly with the temp wheel just a support to keep the rudder
off of the ground during repairs in the hanger .

[Ray36048]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

Yes, I did understand you were not going to fly with this. But, I would not put anything inside of the rudder tube to support the tail. Any side load will surely bend the rudder.

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

Hi all, I'm in the process of moving my T to another hanger. I have removed the floats and put on the landing gear but I do not have a tail wheel. Since this is just for transport I figured I would use a soft rubber dolly wheel . If some one could tell me the size of the opening it would save me three hours of driving .

O.K. now I think I understand why all the concern . First let me explain, I never had her on wheels before.....o.k, thus why I misunderstood where this
wheel actually goes. The rudder is off the aircraft actually, I thought the attachment for the tail wheel went in the bottom post of the vertical stab.
I guess I will just make a support covered in foam to place the tail for transport and during repairs. Now, if someone knows of a tail wheel for sale please do let me know .

[mhorowit]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

How about a 2x4 skid? one hole to accept that large bolt and two holes aligned with the tailpost bracket? - Mike

[Robert Lees]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

Robert:

The enclosed photo shows the three holes to which the leaf springs attach...one about 6" forward of the stern post (in the photo, I've put a long bolt in with loose nuts to act as spacers) and the two 1/4" holes on the "ears" under the sternpost, which take a U-shaped clamp around the leaf springs.

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

How about a 2x4 skid? one hole to accept that large bolt and two holes aligned with the tailpost bracket? - Mike

Yes perfect a 2x4 bolted there extended out enough to mount a little castoring wheel will work just fine. Thanks for the picture Mr. Lees .

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

There should be a sleeve tube in that forward hole. Don't loose it! It is probably trapped under the fabric on a float plane or long sense lost, but if you ever put a tail wheel on you will need it or the whole wheel assembly will shift side to side.
Makes for exciting ground handling!
Hank

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

There should be a sleeve tube in that forward hole. Don't loose it! It is probably trapped under the fabric on a float plane or long sense lost, but if you ever put a tail wheel on you will need it or the whole wheel assembly will shift side to side.
Makes for exciting ground handling!
Hank

I never intend to fly on wheels but will make a note somewhere to remind me
just in case. I taught myself to fly tail wheel on a Volksplane back in the mid
90's . I should have kept that plane it was a delight to fly . It was a bit harry on the first few landings bouncing back into the air every time. I learned to use power to round out the landing and fly on rather than the three wheel landing suggested by the book. The pavement I learned did
not have the forgiveness of grass landings that the book was obviously
referring to .

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

A 2x4 like that would work, especially with a caster wheel in the end, but I would be tempted to use a piece of square tube so I could also put a tow ball socket on it and tow the plane on wheels mounted to the landing gear hard points.
I WOULD NOT tow it on a road! Just for moves short distances, and I would bet the board across the front could take a couple of bicycle or lawn cart wheels. It would be really easy to move around on bike wheels. They would be plenty strong enough considering the weight of a fuselage with no wings or engine compared to a 100# kid banging around on one of those bike off road race tracks. Remember you aren't going to be slamming it around.
Hank

[Robert Bradbury]

Re: tail wheel post how big is the opening?

A 2x4 like that would work, especially with a caster wheel in the end, but I would be tempted to use a piece of square tube so I could also put a tow ball socket on it and tow the plane on wheels mounted to the landing gear hard points.
I WOULD NOT tow it on a road! Just for moves short distances, and I would bet the board across the front could take a couple of bicycle or lawn cart wheels. It would be really easy to move around on bike wheels. They would be plenty strong enough considering the weight of a fuselage with no wings or engine compared to a 100# kid banging around on one of those bike off road race tracks. Remember you aren't going to be slamming it around.
Hank

I think the 2x4 and castoring wheel is simple, effective, and I don't plan on moving the plane around too much so I think that will suffice. Thanks for your imput tough. Wish I could tow behind my Jeep on the highway, that would make the move so simple.