non-solid tailwheel help

[brannan78]

We have a 6" solid rubber tailwheel presently (Series IV speedster). We wanted to upgrade to a tubed one and a friend recommended the 6" from Matco.

We got it in, but the wheel is so big and the sidewall/volume is so small that a loss of 1psi makes the thing go completely flat.

We thought about the 7" (actual dia of 6.7"), which has a little more sidewall/volume - I think it'll be a bit better and think it'll fit in the elbow (spring arm).

Any other ideas of good tailwheels:

1) for the stock assembly? <save $>
2) with new assembly?

Probably thinking a 7", but open to thoughts. FYI - we have 8-800 on the front.

Thanks!

[kmach]

Hi,

I had the 6" solid on my model 5, I put on a Matco WHLT-8 LD , it weighs 5.34 lbs , it was around the $400 mark .
the next option I looked at was the alaskan bushwheel at double-plus the dollars . I really like the Matco .

[Peteohms]

Matco WHLT-8 LD works great on my Kitfox III.

[brannan78]

Hi,

I had the 6" solid on my model 5, I put on a Matco WHLT-8 LD , it weighs 5.34 lbs , it was around the $400 mark .
the next option I looked at was the alaskan bushwheel at double-plus the dollars . I really like the Matco .

That's good to see, thanks!

[kmach]

Hi,

I use 6x600 tires on the mains, I fly off of a smooth grass strip mainly.

If I were going for off field landings, I would go with your size 800x6 or the 8.5x6 mains and the whlt-8WD (wide) .

I also looked at the whlt-8D , its slightly bigger than the whlt-8LD .

If you haven't , check out their site, go dual fork , and all the specs are there.

[Lion8]

Might be a dumb question but, if you put the phenumatic tire on the tail, could you put the fluid in that makes it like a solid tire? The stuff they use on tractor tires. Just a thought. -Lion8 (Tom)

[Av8r3400]

Why? What's your idea, Tom?

[kmach]

The reason I went to a pneumatic tire was for flex and give , so as to soften the ride when taxiing on rougher runways. And it did make a big difference. I'm not really sure why you would want make a pneumatic solid by adding liquid, what would be the reason for this ?

[Lion8]

Well, A friend of mine did a weight and Balance on his Mark IV Avid Flyer after he installed a Jabiru 2200 on it. He has to add a significant amount of weight to the tail to get it in bal.
He already installed the battery back in the tail, and now wants to put a heavier tail wheel on it. I thought that if he were to change to a pneumatic wheel he could fill it with that fluid to increase weight.

[kitfoxnick]

I hate to see people add weight to their planes. Is there any weight savings that could be done up front? These planes like to be light weight. I am currently running an ABW scott tailwheel, I started with a solid maule then a pneumatic maule. I have a new Matco I got doing some horse trading, and have yet to install. I do a decent amount of off airport and the ABW aired down does a nice job of absorbing the ground. That said I would put a piece of lead in the back before I filled a pneumatic tire. If you have extra weight back there you don't won't a stiff ride. My $0.02 anyway.