RV-8 Pneumatic Tailwheel Mod - Page 3

John Clark · #21 03-22-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted RV8

If I remember correctly I was told the tires design application was for downhill skateboard use.

Hardly the same criterea for an airplane tailwheel!

Been wondering about that myself. My guess is that the Matco supplied tire has some of the wrong attributes to be a tailwheel. The softer rubber and aggressive tread would serve you well on a skateboard or kid's scooter. On the tail of an airplane I suspect that it "sticks" a little too well, causing tire damage and failure. The Van's supplied tailwheel is a harder compound and lacks tread. When really pressed, it will slide before it hurts itself. Chuckwn mentioned having an issue with the tailwheel "pin," could it be that the damage was caused by a higher than designed side load generated by the new tire?

John Clark
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

hgerhardt · #22 03-22-2009, 03:56 PM

Like I said earlier in this thread, the air volume in these things is tiny and therefore need weekly refilling. Also, because they have so little volume, inflating is a little tricky. I use a gas station-style inflator with hose and built-in gauge, which I got from Harbor Freight for $10 on sale and have pretty good control over how much air goes in. Without that, it would be difficult to get accurate results. Just checking the pressure with a pencil-type gauge lets about 5 psi out of the thing!

I have around 35 hours on mine and like the way it works. The bearings are lightyears better than the stock Van's units and it weighs less.

Heinrich Gerhardt
RV-6, 233 hours

vfrazier · #23 03-22-2009, 09:45 PM

http://www.flyboyaccessories.com/sto...roducts_id=183

Our solid rubber tread tailwheel tire is about 6 oz. lighter than the Van's type tire, has trouble free, maintenance free sealed bearings and several hundred are out in the field with no problems. Why mess with the others? This one works!

born2fly · #24 03-23-2009, 10:34 AM

I just got off the phone with Matco, and they have an un-listed wheel/tire combination, a 7" x 1.75:
WHEEL: WHLTW37 (3.7" diameter bead seat)
TIRE/TUBE: TIRT7X1.75 (gray in color)

George at Matco told me that this tire has much better volume than the little T6P (that everyone has been discussing).

Does anybody have any experience with this item? It does NOT fit the standard Van's fork, but it might fit an after-market fork. I have a Flyboy's fork on order, so I'll make some measurements....

I've been flying the 8" Matco tire/wheel on a custom Flyboy's fork - but it's a bit heavy and long, so I'm still experimenting.

G.

Jermechanic · #25 10-30-2014, 10:01 PM

Wondering if anyone has found a more durable source of tires to fit the pneumatic tailwheel. I have tried the 6" and the 8" Matco pneumatic tailwheels on my RV6 which are nice and smooth and feel like Iam "soaring at low speeds"

The problem is the tire wear isn't very good and worse the tubes like to go flat even when closely monitoring tire pressures. It would be great to find a new source.

Cheers Jeremy