Daveontheroad11
Member
I just bought a 10 year old RV-8. Flying it already has me thinking about building. In the meantime, an experienced taildragger pilot told me he thought it was "squirelly" on landing, and I thought it was too. We checked the tailwheel chains, and there were only 9 links in it, with no slack. We added a few links, and now it is much easier to control on roll out.
Question: How many links are there supposed to be? I bought the -8 plans last Spring, and I can't find the answer there. The plans call for about 1/2" sag in the chains, I've got a bit more than that now. Is there a "right" number of links, or is 1/2" it? Should the weight be on the tailwheel while measuring the slack, or should the bird be level on a sawhorse?
Any advice will be appreciated.
Also, if anyone wants to sell me their construction videos, they might push me over the edge and get the tail kit.
Thanks all,
Dave
Question: How many links are there supposed to be? I bought the -8 plans last Spring, and I can't find the answer there. The plans call for about 1/2" sag in the chains, I've got a bit more than that now. Is there a "right" number of links, or is 1/2" it? Should the weight be on the tailwheel while measuring the slack, or should the bird be level on a sawhorse?
Any advice will be appreciated.
Also, if anyone wants to sell me their construction videos, they might push me over the edge and get the tail kit.
Thanks all,
Dave