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Tailwheel bolt

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John Bolding

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 281

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 11:58 am Post subject: Tailwheel bolt

My RV3 tailwheel spring got a taper pin instead of a bolt 'cause my Dad 

"said so".  Lasted almost 30 yrs and 2000 hrs so far. Hope it'll make it 

another 30,  hell , I hope I make it another 30.   John



 	  Quote: 	
		   Cal,



 Sorry to read about your incident!



 The tailwheel assembly on my Wittman Tailwind spring-rod also sheared the 

 bolt and rotated 90 degrees,but fortunately, without other damage.



 The fix that has worked perfectly throughout the subsequent 500 flight 

 hours was to drill and ream both the spring-rod and tailwheel unit for a 

 taper pin. > Taper pins and matching taper reamers are available in many 

 diameters to fit a range of appropriate requirements.

smokyray(at)rocketmail.co
Guest

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 4:10 am Post subject: Tailwheel bolt

I used TWO AN bolts instead of one. My HR2 has an API tailwheel and after 300 hours they still look fine. My driveway is "rougher than a stucco bathtub" and my turf strip not much better. Redundancy my brother!



Smokey

HR2



--- On Tue, 9/30/08, John Bolding <jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net> wrote:

[quote]From: John Bolding <jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net>

Subject: Tailwheel bolt

To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 7:55 PM



[quote]--> Rocket-List message posted by: "John Bolding"

<jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net>



My RV3 tailwheel spring got a taper pin instead of a bolt 'cause my Dad 

"said so".  Lasted almost 30 yrs and 2000 hrs so far. Hope it'll

make it          [quote][b]

Vince Frazier

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 132

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 6:28 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

OK, now I'm a bit confused as to which bolt sheared.  Was it the one

inside the fuselage at the top of the spring rod or the ones nearest the

tailwheel.  You should have 2 bolts down there.



I have a tapered pin inside the fuselage on mine.  As far as I know,

it's in good shape... but it sure would be tough to inspect.

Vince



______________________________  Message 1

_____________________________________

Time: 05:10:38 AM PST US

From: Smoky Ray <smokyray(at)rocketmail.com>

Subject: Re: Tailwheel bolt



I used TWO AN bolts instead of one. My HR2 has an API tailwheel and

after 300 hours they still look fine. My driveway is "rougher than a

stucco bathtub" and my turf strip not much better. Redundancy my

brother!



Smokey

HR2

--- On Tue, 9/30/08, John Bolding <jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net> wrote:

From: John Bolding <jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net>

Subject: Tailwheel bolt



<jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net>



My RV3 tailwheel spring got a taper pin instead of a bolt 'cause my Dad

"said so".  Lasted almost 30 yrs and 2000 hrs so far. Hope it'll make it



another 30,  hell , I hope I make it another 30.   John

 	  Quote: 	
		   Cal,



 Sorry to read about your incident!



 The tailwheel assembly on my Wittman Tailwind spring-rod also sheared

the 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   bolt and rotated 90 degrees,but fortunately, without other damage.



 The fix that has worked perfectly throughout the subsequent 500 flight


	


 	  Quote: 	
		   hours was to drill and ream both the spring-rod and tailwheel unit for

a 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   taper pin. > Taper pins and matching taper reamers are available in

many 
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   diameters to fit a range of appropriate requirements.

_________________
Vince Frazier
3965 Caborn Road
Mount Vernon, IN 47620
812-464-1839 work
812-985-7309 home
F-1H Rocket, N540VF
http://vincesrocket.com/

CalBru(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject: tailwheel bolt

The bolts that sheared on my accident/incident were the two AN3 bolts that  thru bolt the TW assembly to the aft end of the tail spring.  NOT the  tailspring to the fuse bolt!

  

 Sorry for the miscommunication.

  

 I have some pix on my cell phone, but need to get an 8th grader to show me  how to get them into my computor!!

  

 Cal Brubaker

 F1   116



Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

  [quote][b]

smokyray(at)rocketmail.co
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:47 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

Cal, 

What type tailwheel?



Smokey

HR2



--- On Thu, 10/2/08, CalBru(at)aol.com <CalBru(at)aol.com> wrote:

[quote]From: CalBru(at)aol.com <CalBru(at)aol.com>

Subject: Re: tailwheel bolt

To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Thursday, October 2, 2008, 8:53 PM



     The bolts that sheared on my accident/incident were the two AN3 bolts that  thru bolt the TW assembly to the aft end of the tail spring.  NOT the  tailspring to the fuse bolt!

  

 Sorry for the miscommunication.

  

 I have some pix on my cell phone, but need to get an 8th grader to show me  how to get them into my computor!!

  

 Cal Brubaker

             [quote][b]

CalBru(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:38 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

It is the stock TW that came with the F1 kit.

  

 The wheel, wheel forks, assembly, etc all seem OK, even after dragging  along the runway on it's side.  Just those dang bolts, and what ever I did  to them, that were the culprit.

  

 Cal B.



Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and calculators.

  [quote][b]

smokyray(at)rocketmail.co
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:32 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

Bigger bolts! 



--- On Fri, 10/3/08, CalBru(at)aol.com <CalBru(at)aol.com> wrote:

[quote]From: CalBru(at)aol.com <CalBru(at)aol.com>

Subject: Re: tailwheel bolt

To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Friday, October 3, 2008, 1:37 PM



     It is the stock TW that came with the F1 kit.

  

 The wheel, wheel forks, assembly, etc all seem OK, even after dragging  along the runway on it's side.  Just those dang bolts, and what ever I did  to them, that were the culprit.

  

          [quote][b]

fairlea(at)amtelecom.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 7:49 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

The AN bolts that we use on our aircraft are not really that strong and you could consider going with a good quality machine bolt.  Grade five or grade eight bolts would be quite a bit stronger in shear.  When you are turning the aircraft that tail wheel assembly is putting a lot of shear loads on those small bolts.  Remember that this is the same assembly that was designed for a 1500 lb gross weight RV4.  

On my EVO I tried something different. Rather then using bolts I used what is called a spilt pin.  These are often used to hold gears on shafts and they are very hard.  They are slightly oversized and the split allows them to be driven in.  I used locktite and currently have 275 hours on the plane.  I can not see any evidence that there is any movement in the area.  The nice thing about this method is that three is nothing sticking out as you can grind the pin to size after it is installed.  This is truly experimental on my part so use this method at your own risk.  

            Vince Frazier’s tail assembly will reduce the twisting loads and I highly recommend making the change.  

   

Tom Martin  

         

  

From: owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of CalBru(at)aol.com

 Sent: October 3, 2008 9:38 AM

 To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Rocket-List: tailwheel bolt  

  

     

It is the stock TW that came with the F1 kit.  

    

   

    

The wheel, wheel forks, assembly, etc all seem OK, even after dragging along the runway on it's side.  Just those dang bolts, and what ever I did to them, that were the culprit.  

    

   

    

Cal B.  

  



 

         

  

Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial challenges? .  

  

     [quote][b]   Checked by AVG.   Checked by AVG.

jrstone(at)insightbb.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:46 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

Is it possible you over torqued the bolts and  weakened them?  Since this is the first failure of it's kind, I have to  suspect something damaged your bolts.

 Jim

 [quote]   ---

fairlea(at)amtelecom.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 4:58 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

Years ago a friend of mine with a RV6 only drilled one hole and installed one bolt in this location. He did not feel that two bolts would be needed.  A year or so later he was taxiing on the ground and turned the airplane to shut it down into the wind.  The tail bounced into a slight depression and the one bolt sheared like butter.  Of course he installed two bolts after that and had no problems.  The RV 6 is much lighter than our aircraft and I can see how these bolts could shear.  This may be a one time occurrence, however I see no downside to installing better quality bolts at that location.  

   

Tom Martin     

         

  

From: owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jim Stone

 Sent: October 4, 2008 8:44 AM

 To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Rocket-List: tailwheel bolt  

  

     

Is it possible you over torqued the bolts and weakened them?  Since this is the first failure of it's kind, I have to suspect something damaged your bolts.  

    

Jim  

    

---

CalBru(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 5:48 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

Jim,

  

 It's possible, but I have a $250 Snap-On torque wrench that I just love to  use!!

  

 Who knows,

  

 Cal Brubaker



New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination.  Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out!

  [quote][b]

Im7shannon(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:25 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

What about the bolt that goes through the fuse weldment and holds the  tailwheel spring on? I dont know about the F-1 but my HR II just has one AN  bolt. This bolt gets the same twisting forces as the bolt(s) securing the  tailwheel. I think I will put a high strength bolt in there too.

 Kevin Shannon

  



New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination.  Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out!

  [quote][b]

fairlea(at)amtelecom.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2008 10:45 am Post subject: tailwheel bolt

This is typically a ¼” bolt.  Some use a tapered pin here or a larger 5/16” bolt.  The key here is to get the hole drilled properly the first time and to keep the bolt tight. If it gets loose the spring tends to work back and forth and oblongs the hole in the weldment.  That is when you drill up to a larger size bolt.  

   

Tom Martin  

         

  

From: owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Im7shannon(at)aol.com

 Sent: October 4, 2008 2:25 PM

 To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Re: Rocket-List: tailwheel bolt  

  

     

What about the bolt that goes through the fuse weldment and holds the tailwheel spring on? I dont know about the F-1 but my HR II just has one AN bolt. This bolt gets the same twisting forces as the bolt(s) securing the tailwheel. I think I will put a high strength bolt in there too.  

    

Kevin Shannon  

    

   

  



 

         

  

New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining, Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out!  

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     Checked by AVG.  Date: 25/09/2008 12:00 AM 

  Checked by AVG.

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