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Tail Wheel Upgrade
- Thread starter JW969
- Start date
Sam Buchanan
been here awhile
What deficiency are you wanting to address?
Doug Bell Tailwheel Fork
Doug Bell’s original design for an improved tailwheel assembly on Van’s RV aircraft. You’ll see dramatically improved obstacle clearance and ground handling with this simple modification. Easy install retrofit installation into standard sized Van’s-style tailwheel assemblies. For more...
flyboyaccessories.com
Sam Buchanan
been here awhile
The longer mains with a small tailwheel and the resulting higher angle of attack is a good thing. This makes it easier to complete a three-point landing without the RV-6 skipping back into the air since the wing is closer to stalling.
Your easiest option is to just replace the tailwheel with a new one from Vans. There are other choices such as the Bell fork mentioned above (I fly one) but I suggest you install a fresh wheel and see how that works for you.
Sam Buchanan
been here awhile
It is, he is probably comparing it to the short-legged RV-4's.
Double fork with a bearing for the win
I have the Bell fork on my 8 and the had the Screaming Eagle fork on my 7. Both give better ground clearance than the stock Vans fork and work with the Vans mount. I have been running the Flyboys Delux TW tire for over 800 hrs. It has better bearings than the stock Vans tire and runs a little smoother.
Tail wheel or tail wheel fork?
A lot depends on when your RV-6 was built. The original had tail wheel fork that was not full swivel. IF the builder installed an Aviation Products full swivel tail wheel, then it uses a larger diameter axle and requires different bearings. IF it is the Van's full swivel tail wheel fork, then it uses the same size axle as the original tail wheel fork that was not full swivel.
I had an Aviation Products dual fork full swivel tailwheel when I built my RV-6. (The single fork version will bend after numerous landings.) After wearing the aluminum part that mounts to the tailspring out, I added a bushing to it. When I wore the bushing out, I replaced the assembly with current production Van's Aircraft parts other than using the lightest weight tailwheel available and the Bell tailwheel fork.
I now have a lighter weight fork on order from AeroGarage. I love the Bell tailwheel fork but like the idea of reducing weight.
If all you are looking for is tire, I recommend the Dayton Murdock light weight tire. IF cost is a factor, this would be a good option.
Tailwheel Assembly for Van's RV aircraft with light weight tire (no steering link)
JD Air sells the best aftermarket experimental aircraft parts including rudder pedal extensions, tail wheel steering links and other parts for the Vans RV Aircraft. Click Here To Browse Our Store!
www.jdair.com
Double TailWheel Control Arm for Vans RV Aircraft
JD Air sells the best aftermarket experimental aircraft parts including rudder pedal extensions, tail wheel steering links and other parts for the Vans RV Aircraft. Click Here To Browse Our Store!
www.jdair.com
Needle bearing/ball bearing in the yoke. Low friction, doesn't wear the shaft like a top hat bushing. Ditch the single sided arm and order the double, rig with dual cables or chains. Units rigged with the link will prematurely pop into full swivel before the rudder can reach the stop.
Flyboy Accessories Screaming Eagle fork for me. https://flyboyaccessories.com/collections/tailwheel-products
Simple and affordable.
Getting the increased fork angle to avoid hitting cracks in the ramp was my main goal.
Oh, and the Rocket Steering Link, of course.
Simple and affordable.
Getting the increased fork angle to avoid hitting cracks in the ramp was my main goal.
Oh, and the Rocket Steering Link, of course.
Agree with this 100.0%, and I've tried at least 6 variations. The yoke with bearings is well worth the expense. Also agree with dual cables/chains. I've had a couple of failures of the various single sided push-pull devices. The cheap Van's tailwheel is heavier, but seems to absorb bumps best within the solid rubber choices. Tried the Condor2 and ended up with terrible shimmy.Tailwheel Assembly for Van's RV aircraft with light weight tire (no steering link)
JD Air sells the best aftermarket experimental aircraft parts including rudder pedal extensions, tail wheel steering links and other parts for the Vans RV Aircraft. Click Here To Browse Our Store!
Double TailWheel Control Arm for Vans RV Aircraft
JD Air sells the best aftermarket experimental aircraft parts including rudder pedal extensions, tail wheel steering links and other parts for the Vans RV Aircraft. Click Here To Browse Our Store!
Needle bearing/ball bearing in the yoke. Low friction, doesn't wear the shaft like a top hat bushing. Ditch the single sided arm and order the double, rig with dual cables or chains. Units rigged with the link will prematurely pop into full swivel before the rudder can reach the stop.
My suggestions are driven by my observed performance, reliability and reduced maintenance time/cost.
I put the Aero Garage fork, links and lightweight tail wheel on long legged 4. Saved a bit more than a pound by removing the Aviation Products single fork tailwheel. I can recommend that. Lite links are good idea as well. Leave some slack in the links, touch down straight and it will stay straight.
I have the JD Air tailwheel assembly (yoke, fork, and lightweight tailwheel) with the pushrod steering linkage. The tailwheel is great, not crazy about the steering linkage. My particular RV just likes to go straight unless acted upon by the wind, so with steering chains set pretty loose it was easy to taxi. With the steering link, you always have a steering input going to the wheel, so it's definitely more work with the linkage. It's not bad, just different. I've got a set of Aero Garage Lite Links in my box-of-stuff-to-install that I'm going to try.
Lite Links are a great deal. Leave enough slack so you can negotiate the torque and crosswinds. Keri Mi stays straight on landing if I land straight even with moderate cross wind because of slack in links.
JW969
Member
