SonexBuilders.net

What are the limits to winching a Onex onto a trailer, hooking onto the tail wheel? I have the impression that I could easily pull something out of place. What are your thoughts and experience? John

I've done quite a few full throttle tests with the tailwheel tied to my truck. On a 912, that's probably around 400 lbs. I don't think I'd have any hesitation to winch the plane onto a normal (fairly low, long ramps) trailer using the tailwheel.

I'm thinking the "limit" is the shear strength of the bolt holding the wheel to the rod or the rod to the bracket.

GraemeSmith wrote:I'm thinking the "limit" is the shear strength of the bolt holding the wheel to the rod or the rod to the bracket.

Exactly, and it's in double shear. Boat loads of capacity.

This is actually a great question as I hangar on pavement where I am now but I also have access to a hangar at a grass field (my plane loves a grass field!) and the grass comes all the way up to the edge of the slab at the door.

Although the ground is even, rolling the plane back into the hangar takes quite a pull on the tailwheel (using the factory size tires) unless I have an assistant to push from the front. There is a winch mounted to the rear wall of the hangar but I've not used it as I wasn't certain how much pull I could put on the tailwheel bracket.

The current plan is to put some pavement in front of the hangar to make it easy to roll the plane inside. Any great ideas are welcomed!

Dale
3.0 Corvair/Tailwheel

AN3 bolt, 76ksi, 1049 double shear strength by my calcs.

"and the grass comes all the way up to the edge of the slab at the door." Perhaps a lawn mower might be a more practical solution. :-)
David A.

DCASonex wrote:"and the grass comes all the way up to the edge of the slab at the door." Perhaps a lawn mower might be a more practical solution. :-)
David A.

There is a mower in the hangar ... 8~)

Bryan Cotton wrote:AN3 bolt, 76ksi, 1049 double shear strength by my calcs.

I'm a bit more concerned about the bulkheads the tailwheel bracket is fastened to ...