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How Straight is Your Tailwheel

Discussion for Sonex builders on specific plans page experience. These posts are limited to technical suggestions such as assembly order, challenges, or techniques related to specific plans pages.
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How Straight is Your Tailwheel

Postby Direct C51 » Tue May 10, 2016 2:08 pm

I just completed my tailwheel assembly with the Sonex 6" machined tailwheel. As careful as I was to drill the tail spring precisely straight, it somehow got canted in the multiple up drilling. With the tailspring bracket on a level surface, the tailwheel is canted 7 degrees. I would imagine the tailwheel will naturally want to be level, causing it to steer 7 degrees to the left. How close did you guys get your tailwheel, and has any cant caused ground handling troubles?
Direct C51
 
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Re: How Straight is Your Tailwheel

Postby Bryan Cotton » Tue May 10, 2016 2:36 pm

Mine is pretty straight! Screwed up, welded a sleeve on, got it right on try 2.
Bryan Cotton
Poplar Grove, IL C77
Waiex 191 N191YX
Taildragger, Aerovee, acro ailerons
dual sticks with sport trainer controls
Prebuilt spars and machined angle kit
Year 2 flying and approaching 200 hours December 23
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Bryan Cotton
 
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Re: How Straight is Your Tailwheel

Postby Darick » Tue May 10, 2016 8:51 pm

Yep, mine is off a bit too. I would imagine it would eventually wear to the degree that it is canted. I intended to see how bad it taxied before trying to make it perfectly straight.
Darick Gundy
Sonex #1646
N417DG
Taildragger, Aerovee, center stick, Prince P-Tip Prop
MGL E1, F2, V6 radio, Sandia Xponder, Reserve lift indicator (AOA), iFly 520
First flight! 10/21/2017
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Re: How Straight is Your Tailwheel

Postby fastj22 » Tue May 10, 2016 9:12 pm

You will want it straight. Mine is slightly off and it pulls a bit to on side.

John Gillis
SEL Private, Comm Glider, Tow pilot (Pawnee Driver)
Waiex N116YX, Jabiru 3300, Tail dragger,
First flight, 3/16/2013. 403 hours and climbing.
Home: CO15. KOSH x 5
Flying a B-Model Conversion (Super Bee Baby!)
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fastj22
 
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Re: How Straight is Your Tailwheel

Postby DCASonex » Wed May 11, 2016 7:17 pm

The tail wheel is designed offset like a caster, and tries to act like one. Canted to the side will definitely have an adverse effect. If you have a common swivel caster around, hold it by hand and tip to one side. That should provide all the convincing you will need.

David A. Sonex TD
DCASonex
 
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