TSoftware

New homemade 8 inch tail wheel on original spring. 

So the new(ish) 582 is here and has oil injection.  The standard oil reservoir is not going to work because it is too big to fit on the firewall, because the motor mount gets in the way. Rotax suggests a minimum of 5% of fuel capacity, which for me is 15 gallons, which would make for a 3 quart reservoir, which will not fit and feels like a bit overkill for my application.  With 15 gallons of fuel, at a 50:1 mixture, I shouldn't use more than 39 ounces of oil, so a quart and a half should be adequate and hopefully will fit, as long as I can keep the output high enough for the pump.  Anyone have any suggestions for a reservoir?

I keep going back and forth about whether to just run pre-mix and figure out what all I have to do to "properly" disable the system.

TIA

I am getting ready to replace my Rotax 532 with a (relatively new) 582.  From what I can see, it looks like the easiest (best) way to do this is to remove the engine with the engine mount still attached, since it gives me a good place to attach my hoist.

I have looked at the build manual on this site and well as the Rotax installation manuals, but none of them seem to have any torque specifications contained.

Does anyone know what the torque specifications are for the motor mount attachments to the engine or the torque specifications for the motor mount to the frame?

Thanks.

I may try and run these for a bit, but I appreciate it.  I have another set of aluminum wheels, with hydraulic brakes, but the list to get her flying just seems longer and longer and have to prioritize.

Does anyone have a source for the original mechanical (cable) brakes?  My left hub has been / is dragging on the outer surface of the brake assembly.

I started off by testing using logic...of course it was a dual EGT and one side was working....when researching the WesTach I came across these two links:

There may not be a problem with the gauge itself....looks like a bad connection in the umbilical, just have to find the connectors to rebuild.  Found the gauge function test on their site and found that I had some weak connections.

They also had an additional check for the probes...so guess I will see where this goes.

Crossing fingers and toes.

Where did you find a number?  Their web site only lists two email addresses.  I sent them an email when I thought all I needed was a probe....out until Monday.

Anyone have any opinions on the swift dual EGT and probes?  My Westach had one probe die and during troubleshooting half of the gauge died.  I can get a new Swift gauge and probes for just over $100, but the Westach is over $200.

Opinions on either or both?

TIA

Here's something funny...I joked earlier about the current wheel being a shopping cart wheel....I think it actually is!!!  Looking at replacements for it and the only thing that seems to meet the specs and design is actually a shopping card wheel.

I have someone who has offered to build me an 8" with a lower profile...think that is where I am leaning.

Just went out and measured it...that would raise my tail by 5".

My name is actually Leslie R. Thomas.  TSoftware stands for Thomas Software, which is my company name.  I must say that this mount differently than what I thought it would.  In my head, the ideal spring would have come down on a 45 like yours does and then would flatten out and the main bolt would go through the flat part of the spring.  Apparently, I was wrong and need to rethink the approach or see if a small re-design would work.

Is your spring a stock 1.25" wide spring off of something or did you have to custom make it?

I had already figured some work was going to need to be done on the spring to get the tailwheel back level.  Additionally the Matco has the 45 degree upslope for additional support that I don't have.  Once it gets here I will see what I can do with it.  And yes, I have considered a spring replacement, if necessary, just not sure where I am going to get it.  The current spring is a single that is 1.25" wide, which is supposed to match up with this tailwheel.

Here is a picture of the measurement that I wanted, because it is the measurement that I can't change.  I decided to go ahead and get the 8" from Barnstormers; I offered $100 plus shipping and he agreed.  Just waiting for the PayPal invoice now.

Sorry, I misunderstood, I thought you meant that you had a Matco 8" handy.  That is the one that is concerning me.

I would appreciate it.  When I say from the ground to the bottom of the spring, I am talking about where the tailwheel actually mounts to the spring...Unfortunately, that is not a measurement that Matco gives you.  I know, for instance that my 5" tailwheel is just under 6" from the ground to the point on the bottom of the spring where the tailwheel mounts.  This is why the 11.7 is scaring me on the Matco.

Anyone know that the height of the 8" single yoke tailwheel height is from the ground to the bottom of the spring?

The drawings only show me the height from the ground to the top of the bolt, which I am only moderately concerned with.  Coming from a 5" tailwheel with a reasonable low profile stance, I am concerned with the 11.7 total height of the 8" tailwheel.

http://www.matcomfg.com/TAILWHEEL8PNEU-idv-2678-69.html

Don't think that I haven't thought it

If I can find someone who wants it, I would prefer to sell it to help offset the costs of other parts that we all know that I need.  I saw a 600 pound model go for $300 late last year, so the 900 pound model should be more right?  Of course, it may just turn out to be a paperweight or a conversation piece.

Did I mention that their installation damaged the skin.  Where they attached the cables to the bottom of the fuselage, one side was completely worn through and the other side was severely distorted.

I personally can't say that I would ever use one anyway, for anything short of a significant structural failure and even then it is not going to be a good day.  But then again, that is just me.

I actually have already ordered, and received 20' of 3/8" and ordered the connectors because they seemed like a much nicer finishing.  Whether I will use the connectors or not, I have not fully decided.  The price on them was reasonable, so it isn't like it was a financial risk.

Yes, I have already been there, but the web site is all jacked up.  From what I have read the company has been out of business for some time.  I also read that they sold out to BRS.  I have completely removed the unit at this point and do not plan to put it back in.  I was thinking of contacting BRS, not for a service, but for specifications and disposal recommendations.  Either I sell this thing or I dispose of it, either way, I need to know what kind of motor it has in it.  If it is a rocket motor, from what I have read, you have to have an appropriate license to even ship the thing or it has to be removed (although I have seen where some people have used UShip).  If it is compressed gas, then things get much simpler.

Obviously, I am hoping that it is compressed gas.  If it is a rocket motor, what kind of ummmm.... individual would install it bumped up against a fuel cell?

And I plan on giving it a shot.  I haven't heard back from the guy on Barnstormers yet (Email) and will probably give him a call if I don't hear from him some time tomorrow.  Based upon his price quote, it will be a single arm, so we shall see how it goes.

@Edmo, I think there will be a bit more difference than that because of the differences between the Matco and of the current tailwheel design.

@avid.  Unfortunately the bush gear aren't currently on the immediate list.  I have read about the various wide gear that people have suggested, but they all seem to put stresses in other places that you have to account for, or, in some cases, the gear are no longer attainable.

If you go with the spring gear, you get rid of the bungees, but put more forces on the support structure, that you need to reinforce, especially in case of bottoming situations.

In the case of the gear that mimic the currently installed ones, people keep talking about the stress on the longerons.

Which gear would you suggest and why?

What mitigations would you need to take based upon your suggestion?

Measuring my current gear, it is right at 60" from tire center to tire center.  I read another post somewhere on this forum that indicated that was already wider than normal, especially considering that the fuselage appears to be from an A model.  What sort of distance are we talking about wanting?

I have aluminum rims that are supposed to fit the current axels, that I inherited, and have hydraulics brakes, but of course that requires me to put in the rest of the equipment to support the hydraulic brakes.  This too is on the list, just not the immediate list

The other day, when I was doing an engine run on the old engine, I moved the rudder around a bit and chunks came off the current tailwheel and is the reason that it got promoted to immediate.

The build manual, from this site, does not specify the size or length of bungee to use, I got that from reading this site.  It does however specify the 7 / 6 wraps.  One of the gear is starting to sag from the fuselage.  On one side the gear looks flush to the fuselage and on the other side I can see a gap.  I also noted a difference in the wheel stance and a difference in wing height from the ground, which is why I initially started looking for the cause.  I had already ordered the 3/8" bungee and 90" lengths, based upon what I had read on the site, but I wanted to make sure that I was going down the right path and there wasn't a valid build reason for it being the way that it was.

But, I also don't see any pressure gauge on it either, so it is still an unknown.  I read somewhere that Second Chantz sold out to BRS, so think I will give them a call next week to see if they can shed any light.