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04-13-2014, 01:05 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manstad, Norway
Posts: 866
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Upgrading from Vans std tailwheel to a lightweight TW: here's the numbers I found:
Hi all.
I've just replaced Vans std TW with a lightweight version bought from Vince and Blake at Flyboy Accessories, and here's the numbers and experiences so far.
The TW looked like a piece of art when I took it out of the box:
I also bought some spareparts because those springs and little things have a nasty habbit of getting lost.
First I compared their diameter:
Vans TW is 15 cm diameter.
FlyBoys is 14 cm.
Then I compared the width:
Vans is 5,5 cm.
FlyBoy is 3,5 cm rubber and 5,5 including the bearing.
Finally the weight: Vans is 1100 grams
FlyBoy is 740 grams:
Mounted on the fork, Vans TW distance from the floor to the center was 68 mm:
Flyboy was 65 mm above the floor:
Finally I measured the angle of the fuse:
Both wheels indicated an angle of 10,9* and that makes sense since the height above the floor was almost the same.
I haven't flown with the new TW yet because bad weather, but next week it's forecasted to clear up. Then it'll be time for flying and I'll post my experiences afterwards.
In a month or so, I'll get hold of some calibrated weights and weigh in the plane with both the old and the new TW.
It'll be interesting to see how much (if any?) the CG has moved fwd.
Maybe someone else has done this already?
Stand by for updates.
Lastly: Blake and Vince is very nice to do business with and they provide very nice customer care!
__________________
Regards Alf Olav Frog / Norway
First RV-7 completed, (bought partly finished from a US-builder) 305 hrs per July 2014, SOLD
Second -7 had first flight Feb 25th 2014. 220 hrs pr July 2019. Life is good!
Last edited by ao.frog : 04-13-2014 at 02:18 AM.
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04-13-2014, 05:31 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Burleson, TX
Posts: 117
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Thanks for posting the comparison. I look forward to reading your flight review. I'm considering the same upgrade on my -7 build.
__________________
Ken
?Aviation is not so much a profession as it is a disease.? Anonymous
Building an RV-7
Empennage complete, fuselage 75%, wings 75%.
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04-13-2014, 05:41 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Seville, Ohio
Posts: 15
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I am also considering the same upgrade. Will be waiting for your update to see if the CG changed.
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04-13-2014, 05:54 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Newport, TN
Posts: 7,496
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I just did this upgrade a few weeks ago.
One of the unexpected benefits was that the LW wheel is of a much harder durometer of rubber and it does not bounce as much!
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04-13-2014, 08:25 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 2,452
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That is Dayton's tail wheel. Same guy that makes Vans throttle quadrants. I noticed a big difference during taxi ops. Hope you like it. I love mine.
Btw, on my 4 the tailwheel spins slowly in flight.
__________________
Axel
RV-4 fastback thread and Pics
VAF 2020 paid VAF 704
The information that I post is just that; information and my own personal experiences. You need to weight out the pros and cons and make up your own mind/decisions. The pictures posted may not show the final stage or configuration. Build at your own risk.
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04-13-2014, 10:42 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Hicks Airfield, Fort Worth,Texas
Posts: 1,728
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Dayton's TW
I received one of Dayton's first production tail wheels.
My post is long gone, but it said it made me younger, lighter, better looking, faster, more responsive, and in general a better pilot.
Good job Dayton!!!
Every RV flyer need to get on of these tail wheels. 
__________________
Jay Pratt VAF #2
RV Central - Builder Assistance
Paul Revere, Borrowed Horse, & Shooter
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04-13-2014, 08:38 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 2,125
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AX-O
That is Dayton's tail wheel. Same guy that makes Vans throttle quadrants. I noticed a big difference during taxi ops. Hope you like it. I love mine.
Btw, on my 4 the tailwheel spins slowly in flight.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaypratt
I received one of Dayton's first production tail wheels.
My post is long gone, but it said it made me younger, lighter, better looking, faster, more responsive, and in general a better pilot.
Good job Dayton!!!
Every RV flyer need to get on of these tail wheels. 
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Concur..Dayton's TW is a nice piece of gear, and Vince and Blake are great to work with!
Mine has worn very well, even in the crucible of Reno-Stead home field ramp ops?I have a heavier-than average tail weight, and we have the most cavernous expansion joints of any ramp I've seen (and there is a tar flow off the coast of Madagascar, where all the annual refill goop must be going). The DM/FB lightweight tailwheel has earned its stripes there!
Mine spins in flight too?and when Axel and I fly formation, they spin in sync!
Jay's right on all counts?except for the faster part?but Dayton, Vince and I have something up our sleeves. Tell ya all about it?in mid-September!
Cheers,
Bob
Last edited by rvmills : 04-13-2014 at 08:44 PM.
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04-14-2014, 11:09 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Trento, northern Italy
Posts: 622
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I built my 8 and did the first flight on august, 2010
On november 2011 I upgraded the tailwheel with the FlyBoy fork and lightweight wheel, I had an incredible improvement in ground control of the aircraft during taxi, takeoff and landing roll.
It's a great products, easy to promote
ps: shadows are strange in this photo but the tail fork is perfect
Last edited by lucaperazzolli : 04-14-2014 at 11:11 AM.
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04-14-2014, 12:08 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 193
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used one originally but it's on the shelf now...
am using the Van's now. the improved product is way smoother and higher quality in general; I used and loved it for about 200 hours, but then the rubber separated from the metal hub. that made for really crappy taxiing and I replaced it "temporarily" with the van's model and shoo-gooed it. will put it back on the airplane at the next CI, most likely, and the Van's will become the Shelf Stock. BTW, Shoo Goo is great stuff too.
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04-14-2014, 11:40 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Manstad, Norway
Posts: 866
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Flight report
Yesterday, I did the first flight with the new TW.
It was only one flight with one takeoff and one landing, (no T/G's since I'm in the break-in phase) so my experience with this TW is limited to say the least.
BTW: I have Vans TW chains with the std slack shown on the drawing.
I found that the steering during taxi was slightly more "stable". (the plane didn't need quite som much steering with the rudder-pedals to stay on course)
During takeoff, I didn't notice any difference.
During landing rollout, the steering felt slightly more stable. (10-15 kts X-wind)
The TW-noise heard inside the plane during all phases where alittle different, (slightly different rumble) but the noise-level was the same as Vans TW.
All-in-all: not any big differences, but at least it's some approvement.
Hopefully I'll find that the CG has moved alittle fwd when I'll weight the plane in a month or so.
Also: during postflight, there was NO GREASE slung around on the TW fork or the rudderbottom! BIG improvement!
It's good to know that the bearings are sealed so no dirt or dust can enter the bearing. That's a BIG advantage in my book.
PS: I'll have a friend join on me soon to see if the TW spins in flight. Funny thing....
__________________
Regards Alf Olav Frog / Norway
First RV-7 completed, (bought partly finished from a US-builder) 305 hrs per July 2014, SOLD
Second -7 had first flight Feb 25th 2014. 220 hrs pr July 2019. Life is good!
Last edited by ao.frog : 04-14-2014 at 11:43 PM.
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