Best way to Lift up the tail wheel

[Northernliving]

Someone on this forum was kind enough to send me plans for the RV-Jack. I made a few mods to the cradle, but it really works well.

[n82rb]

Originally Posted by Sam Buchanan

I have a tail stand about 3' tall made from a 4x4 with 1x6 legs that I used for over 15 years to prop up the tail of my RV-6. Just grab the tail spring and rest it on the tail stand.

Until I found it increasingly uncomfortable, and risky to my aging back, to grab the tail spring and raise the tail to level. That is when the tailwheel hoist made its appearance in my hangar. It is really nice to be able to get the plane in a level attitude without any lifting.

If a pilot is still in physical condition to yank on the tail spring, that is the quickest way to raise the tail. But for some of us the personal odometer has rolled over enough times to make that an undesirable option.

i know where your coming from sam

[Flash]

One of my holiday projects. Harbor Freight $99 but had a 25% off coupon. Another 5 bucks for the bolt and one pice of 1x2 scrap metal. About $80 total in it. Works great and I really like the control of lowering it.

[Flash]

finally got the pics to post!

[andrewtac]

Originally Posted by Flash

One of my holiday projects. Harbor Freight $99 but had a 25% off coupon. Another 5 bucks for the bolt and one pice of 1x2 scrap metal. About $80 total in it. Works great and I really like the control of lowering it.

Does this get high enough to level it for weighing?

[Flash]

Originally Posted by andrewtac

Does this get high enough to level it for weighing?

Lift kit says it raises it 24 inches. On my 8, when I raised it, the bottom went just past horizontal and was perfect for what I needed. Not 100% sure but I think so.

[Ted RV8]

Did one of these from a Harbor Freight mower lift like that.

Had to extend the lift arms to get enough lift. The 8 needs about 36? of tail lift to get level for weight and balance.

It?s a nice idea concept. If was to do it again would just use the concept and the hydraulic jack with a clean sheet design.

Don?t count on just the hydraulics to hold it up. Have a pin off positive lock to hold it. The lift as it comes from Harbor Freight has pin off locations.

Personally prefer a saw horse made to the exact height for level slid under the tailwheel spring socket. Kind off like jacking a car up and putting jack stands under it before crawling under the car.

[BillL]

Originally Posted by andrewtac

Does this get high enough to level it for weighing?

It would not be high enough for the 7, but it is high enough to physically pick it up for a higher stand. The elevator and rudder are in the way for me to get a good vertical lift, not as much the weight.

I made the tail-mate design, all new materials ordered/shipped and the cost was more like $100. A geometry mod is in order for a 7 as the rudder sticks back too much. Definitely use the cable lift as show in recent post.

[Flash]

Originally Posted by Ted RV8

Did one of these from a Harbor Freight mower lift like that.

Had to extend the lift arms to get enough lift. The 8 needs about 36? of tail lift to get level for weight and balance.

It?s a nice idea concept. If was to do it again would just use the concept and the hydraulic jack with a clean sheet design.

Don?t count on just the hydraulics to hold it up. Have a pin off positive lock to hold it. The lift as it comes from Harbor Freight has pin off locations.

Personally prefer a saw horse made to the exact height for level slid under the tailwheel spring socket. Kind off like jacking a car up and putting jack stands under it before crawling under the car.

Great inputs! I really like the way the self locking side pins work for piece of mind. I will have to ponder the extension if I need to do a Wt & Bal.

[Mark Dickens]

Here's my "contribution" to the tail jack discussion. It's my first welding project so it's wildly overbuilt but it works. Basically you pull the tail wheel up a piece of channel so no trolley is required. One "to do" is to fashion a safety catch in the event that the hooks somehow lose their grip or the HF hoist slips. Working on that, but overall I'm pleased.