Aero Garage - Tail Wheel Fork

[bjdecker]

Finally got around to installing my Christmas present - Aero Garage Ti Tailwheel fork and Ti Bolt.

The bad: The fork is designed around the DJM Lightweight tailwheel -- 0 margin, 0 tolerance. As a result my newly acquired, anodized in blue, Fairings-ETC tailwheel would not fit
The good: The fork fit up perfectly into my JDAir tailwheel "yoke", only needed 1 of the thick plastic spacers*. The extra clearance afforded by the top attachment, pin retention scheme will be great when I prang a landing (ed: Do my best impression of a #3 wire/tailhook grab...)

Overall, I'm impressed with the weight savings and fact that it "just fits", no fussing with shims*, washers, bushings, etc. etc.

Gratuitous picture attached.

 

[Desert Rat]

Nice!

I've got one of those steering links but haven't installed it yet. My chains are really loose and I kinda like it that way. How do you like the link by comparison to chains?

 

[lucas2696]

Nice!

I've got one of those steering links but haven't installed it yet. My chains are really loose and I kinda like it that way. How do you like the link by comparison to chains?

You didn't ask me, but I have recent experience with both. My plane had very loose chains when I bought it, put about 20 hours on it before I replaced the whole tailwheel assembly (spring included) and installed a steering linkage at that time. Put about 80 hours on it in that configuration. THEN I swapped over over to the Aero Garage Lite Links and set them to be similarly loose to the chains I had before. I didn't hate the linkage, but I prefer the loose chains/links because you're able to make minor corrections with the rudder alone without steering the tailwheel. It also makes the transition from tail on the ground to tail in the air and vice versa smoother, this is especially nice on landing because inevitably you have some rudder in as the the tailwheel touches down, with the linkage this could make for a sudden change in direction, whereas loose chains/links the wheel just casters to a certain point.

 

[Beechx1]

Finally got around to installing my Christmas present - Aero Garage Ti Tailwheel fork and Ti Bolt.

The bad: The fork is designed around the DJM Lightweight tailwheel -- 0 margin, 0 tolerance. As a result my newly acquired, anodized in blue, Fairings-ETC tailwheel would not fit

I have ordered the same fork and wheel but neither has been shipped yet. How do they not fit and can one or the other be easily modified so that they fit?

 

[pylet2000]

I have ordered the same fork and wheel but neither has been shipped yet. How do they not fit and can one or the other be easily modified so that they fit?

The Fairings Etc tailwheel is a bit wider at the pavement edge, and a bit narrower in the hub than the DJM the Lite Fork is designed around.

I had the Fairings Etc tailwheel first, then got the Aero Garage Lite Fork. Eager to make these two work together since I had just bought the Fairing Etc tailwheel a few months prior, I was able to grind the edges of the wheel rubber with a medium grit bench grinder until it fit in the fork with a little clearance. The end result on the wheel isn't terribly crude, but not factory looking. Good enough and I never notice it on preflight. You'll also need a couple washers to center the Fairings Etc tailwheel in the Lite Fork.

I would have probably went with the DJM tailwheel, if I had known about the Lite Fork beforehand. The Fairings Etc tailwheel and Aero Garage Lite Fork are both great products and both are very well made. Even though I had to work to get them to fit together, it's an exceptional tailwheel setup with lots of saved ounces and I'm happy with it. Probably 50 hours with this setup now, still works perfect.

I have the Lite Links too, also a great product.

 

[AlphaCharlieBravo]

Ill just jump in here as well. Originally ordered Fairings Inc wheel and it is too wide for the Aero Garage fork, also requires spacers. Dan was nice enough to accept it back. I have the DJM wheel with the fork, ti axle and lite links and a titanium stinger from Langair. Just need a ti steering arm and knuckle...hahah
A

 

[justa6ereh]

I’ve been flying RV’s for 30 years now with no tail wheel steering of any kind.

Just a Belleville washer to keep a little tension on the tailwheel. I tried locking it with a pin once, but after forgetting to lock it… several times… I just took the lock pin and cable off.

 

[bjdecker]

Nice!

I've got one of those steering links but haven't installed it yet. My chains are really loose and I kinda like it that way. How do you like the link by comparison to chains?

Terry,

I've had a long history with chains (Van's "screen door" version, Tail-Lynx) and hard-links (Attaway's, Flyboy's, and JD Air) on both RV-7s. TBH, I set up and plan for wheel landings 99.9% of the time, and only rarely, when I screw things up, do they become 3pt. - rougher than a corncob - 10-miles of bad road, etc. (You get the idea ) By the time it matters, the tail is done flying (mostly) and planted firmly on the ground.

My ability to detect the angle of the tail wheel vs the rudder and the nuanced nuances of the difference between springs 1 and springs 2 when landing is non-existent.

With the tail link, I like the positive feel of the rudder/wheel during ground ops -- it's much less of a steering "suggestion." than chains.

The SilverBullet/JD Air link is more finished looking than the Flyboy's version. Worth at least 2kts of apparent airspeed.

 

[justa6ereh]

Terry,

I've had a long history with chains (Van's "screen door" version, Tail-Lynx) and hard-links (Attaway's, Flyboy's, and JD Air) on both RV-7s. TBH, I set up and plan for wheel landings 99.9% of the time, and only rarely, when I screw things up, do they become 3pt. - rougher than a corncob - 10-miles of bad road, etc. (You get the idea ) By the time it matters, the tail is done flying (mostly) and planted firmly on the ground.

My ability to detect the angle of the tail wheel vs the rudder and the nuanced nuances of the difference between springs 1 and springs 2 when landing is non-existent.

With the tail link, I like the positive feel of the rudder/wheel during ground ops -- it's much less of a steering "suggestion." than chains.

The SilverBullet/JD Air link is more finished looking than the Flyboy's version. Worth at least 2kts of apparent airspeed.

I agree on wheel landings. Of the last hundred landings, maybe 1 was a three point. And that was on pavement.
No point risking the tailwheel any other time….

 

[Desert Rat]

Hey Brian, thanks for the feedback.

On an unrelated note, I'm going into paint this week and was strongly considering shamelessly ripping off....I mean paying tribute to... your paint scheme. My wife had other ideas, so you're still one of a kind. Also, you're marked safe from me introducing myself as Brian Decker to the peanut gallery after a bounced landing or other typical shenanigans.

 

[AlphaCharlieBravo]

Lite links, DJM wheel, Ti hollow axle, Ti fork, Ti stinger…..
Thanks to Taylor at Aero Garage and Richard at Langair.
A

 

[lucas2696]

I cleaned and re-lubed my tailwheel for the first time since installing Taylor’s fork. I found that the pre-applied loctite on the button head screws was already becoming ineffective, and since this whole assembly is covered in grease all the time, I didn’t trust that I could get it clean enough for regular loctite to work. I ordered these drilled cap head screws instead so they can be safety wired.
They are PN MS24674-7, and are a drop in replacement.

 

[AlphaCharlieBravo]

I cleaned and re-lubed my tailwheel for the first time since installing Taylor’s fork. I found that the pre-applied loctite on the button head screws was already becoming ineffective, and since this whole assembly is covered in grease all the time, I didn’t trust that I could get it clean enough for regular loctite to work. I ordered these drilled cap head screws instead so they can be safety wired.
They are PN MS24674-7, and are a drop in replacement.

Great idea.... Thanks for the heads up...ordering.