Tailwheel Repair

[JDOJR]

Need some ideas on how to support the airplane (6) during tail wheel maintenance. Thanks!
Dean

[Craig]

There's only about 40 - 50 pounds of weight on the tail.

You can pick it up by hand and rest the fuselage or tailwheel spring on a padded table or sawhorses.

[Mel]

I use a padded saw horse placed under the most aft bulkhead just where the tailspring exits the fuselage.

[JDOJR]

Thanks for the replies. I thought that might work. Are you securing the tail with weights (sandbags,etc.)

[Mel]

If you have to add weight, you probably have a severe forward CG problem. The tail should weigh around 50 lbs.

[Pat Hatch]

Originally Posted by JDOJR

Need some ideas on how to support the airplane (6) during tail wheel maintenance. Thanks!
Dean

Dean,

Yes, the tail only weighs 50-60 lbs., but I can tell you from experience that it's just a matter of time before you do some real damage to your lower back lifting this tail--not to mention that it's cumbersome to position a saw horse while holding the tail up. Here's my solution:



I built the little caddy shown to contour the lower empenage with a piece of carpet providing the cushion. I made sure it wasn't tall enough to interfere with the horizontal stab (I made it idiot proof so that there was no way it could damage the stab).

I purchased a Lowe's come-a-long and chained it to the hangar rafter. The nylon strap is a common auto parts store item. Believe me, this has really made tail wheel maintenance a pleasure. Especially since I use two tail wheels, one with the fairing and one without, so I use this rig often!





P.S. This also works for an annual condition inspection to get the airplane in a better attitude for working on the engine and inside the cockpit!