What's in a tailwheel????

If I was building another airplane I would make my own
tailwheel. Someone here on the 'net published plans for a neat one,
easy to make from aluminum angle and so on. Googling this group might
find a reference to it.

Dan

Dan,

Thanks very much for the info, I will try to find that tailwheel. The
8" matco, by my untrained eye , appears to be a well made tailwheel.
It is fully castering and has sealed bearings. You can see it at:
www.matcomfg.com just follow the prompts from products to tailwheels.
I guess the certification process is what costs the $$$$.

Don....

Dan

I found a link after a brief search here. The tailwheel you refer to,
I believe, is the "Bob Wheel" after Bob Barrow the designer. You had a
post or two on the discussion so I assume it is the right one. Plans
can be found but there is also a fellow who makes and sells these
tailwheels for about $600. His web site is:
http://www.irondesign-airparts.com/index.htm

Thanks again. Don.

DonMorrisey wrote:
Dan

I found a link after a brief search here. The tailwheel you refer to,
I believe, is the "Bob Wheel" after Bob Barrow the designer. You had a
post or two on the discussion so I assume it is the right one. Plans
can be found but there is also a fellow who makes and sells these
tailwheels for about $600. His web site is:
http://www.irondesign-airparts.com/index.htm

Thanks again. Don.

That's a dandy wheel, but I don't think that's it. The one I
remember was made mostly of aluminum angle, bolted together really
simply. I can't find it anywhere.

Dan

The only thing that might be a concern (and I don't know this for
sure)...does the matco have a solid rubber tire or inflated tire? Hard
rubber is a rough ride down cracked paved taxiways...I've always like
inflated tires like the Scott 3200...

Scott



DonMorrisey wrote:

If I was building another airplane I would make my own
tailwheel. Someone here on the 'net published plans for a neat one,
easy to make from aluminum angle and so on. Googling this group might
find a reference to it.

Dan


Dan,

Thanks very much for the info, I will try to find that tailwheel. The
8" matco, by my untrained eye , appears to be a well made tailwheel.
It is fully castering and has sealed bearings. You can see it at:
www.matcomfg.com just follow the prompts from products to tailwheels.
I guess the certification process is what costs the $$$$.

Don....

does the matco have a solid rubber tire or inflated tire? Hard
rubber is a rough ride down cracked paved taxiways...I've always like
inflated tires like the Scott 3200...


Hi Scott, The Matco I have is an inflable tire and as stated looks to
be well built. What I have decided is that since it came w/the kit and
I own I will install it. If I have any issues I will purchase the
tailwheel from the irondesign site above. They report use in excess of
1000 hours with no issues.

Thanks. Don...

"DonMorrisey" wrote in message
ups.com...
|
| does the matco have a solid rubber tire or inflated tire? Hard
| rubber is a rough ride down cracked paved taxiways...I've always
like
| inflated tires like the Scott 3200...
|
|
| Hi Scott, The Matco I have is an inflable tire and as stated looks to
| be well built. What I have decided is that since it came w/the kit
and
| I own I will install it. If I have any issues I will purchase the
| tailwheel from the irondesign site above. They report use in excess
of
| 1000 hours with no issues.
|
| Thanks. Don...
|

FWIW, I flew a Maule back in the 1970's that had a Scott tailwheel. It
broke on a short field landing, I.E. tail wheel first. On examination it
had a dark area over 1/2 way through the casting which showed a flaw
that was there before it broke. Defective from the factory? Somebody
else overstressed it? Who knows!

--
Jarhead

Thanks for the info...sounds like a pretty decent little tailwheel.

Scott




DonMorrisey wrote:
does the matco have a solid rubber tire or inflated tire? Hard

rubber is a rough ride down cracked paved taxiways...I've always like
inflated tires like the Scott 3200...



Hi Scott, The Matco I have is an inflable tire and as stated looks to
be well built. What I have decided is that since it came w/the kit and
I own I will install it. If I have any issues I will purchase the
tailwheel from the irondesign site above. They report use in excess of
1000 hours with no issues.

Thanks. Don...