Lil Poke Q

[Thomas B.]

I have a question about adding a steerable tail wheel to my lil poke. How should I go about doing this. Im afraid it might break the rudder on landings. So any ideas are needed. I have an idea for doin this but Im not sure if its the best. I just want to hear some new ideas I havent thought of doing
Thomas Baughman:confused:

[all_fly_all_day]

heres an idea. If you run the wire through a tube with a 45 angle at the bottom of the tube then another 45 going down to attach the tail wheel the rudder wont be ripped off if you have any hard landings.

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Thomas,
Several accerory companies such as DuBro sell a small nylon bracket that mounts on the fuselage bottom just ahead of the rudder. The tailwheel mounts in this bearing, with a steering arm that goes under the rudder. This steering arm can be connected with a rubber band to the rudder to avoid passing shock into the delicate rudder.
Regards, Dave

[Thomas B.]

:confused: Im a bit confused all_fly_all_day about your idea. Could you explain a little bit more. Dave, how much would the steerable tail wheel mount produced by durbro cost. Im asuming around 8 dollars at the most. Also would they add a whole lot of wieght. thanks for you guys for your help and ideas. More ideas would be apriciated.
Thomas B.

[Dave Robelen]

Hello Thomas,
The tailwheel fitting I am reffering to is a plastic bearing that mounts to the fuselage bottom just ahead of the rudder. Top Flite, Goldberg, and DuBro each make their own brand of pretty much the same widget. At most, the cost will be around $1.00, and probably less. The tailwheel wire passes through this bearing and one end goes down to the tailwheel, while the other goes under the rudder. Come to think of it, Tower Hobbies also sells these things.
Regards, Dave

[smuths]

Dave, what about rigging a steerable tailwheel on a Pico FD.....since the rudder is above the elevator I assume the nylon bracket assembly you're talking about won't work.....could I use a fuse mounted wheel that swivels and is not connected to the FD's rudder? Just apply slight thrust on the ground along with rudder to turn the plane....would that work?

[Dave Robelen]

Hi,
I would mount the tailwheel steering bracket on the bottom so that the tailwheel strut is in line with the rudder H/L. Then I would make a longer steering arm that sicks straight up through the fuselage and bends under the rudder. A srtip of tape wrapped around this wire will secure it fine. On the bottom, you can bend the tailwheel arm in the usual way so that it trails back, and the rudder will steer it fine.
Regards, Dave

[smuths]

Thanks Dave.....appreciate the help very much.....newbie question.....you mentioned "rudder H/L" ......help me out on the H/L part......is it horn/linkage by any chance?

[Dave Robelen]

Hi,
Sorry about that. H/L is a pretty standard abbreviation for hinge line. I need to mind my manners and spell things out more.
Regards, Dave

[smuths]

Got it. Thanks!