Mar 24, 2024     Tail Wheel Pt. 2 - (1 hour)       Category: Landing Gear

Little extra time to make sure I got the hole drilled right and still didn't get it dead on, but close enough. Took some time to find suitable hardware as well. Still have to drill a hole for cotter pin to hold the wheel on but will do that at a later date.

  Mar 21, 2024     Tail Wheel Pt. 1 - (.5 hour)       Category: Landing Gear

Since I had no idea how to in fact proceed, I went through and inventoried hardware and found the bolt needed to attach the tail wheel bracket to the aluminum rod. Drill press and some patience and that is now attached. Still have to do the forward end to secure rod to vertical bracket.

Note: The kit only came with a pair of these phenolic wheels and no rollerblade wheels so this is what went on. I also have the breakaway wheel assembly but will use this one for the time being.

  Jul 01, 2023     Spindles & Wheels Mounted - (3 hours)       Category: Landing Gear

Wheels mounted to brake assemblies and spindles mounted to legs. Spindle bolt holes became a little oblong while trying to drill back hole, will have to weld a tiny spot to make them both round again; going too fast and it bit me. Thankfully this is just mock up, I won't be able to get it out of the room if left on.

Wheels & brakes are mocked up, now to fix my mistakes and carry on.

  Jun 27, 2023     Landing Gear Struts, Part 1 - (1 hour)       Category: Landing Gear

First part of landing gear install: inner cage / landing legs drilling. Found the drill bit I had for initial cage drilling labeled .250 was in fact .257. I drilled the legs with a true .250 and found my home bit did not fit, hence the .257 discovery. Thankfully I had another that was new and did fit the.250 and finished drilling the cage back hole. Now bolted together loosely.

  May 19, 2023     Tires Mounted - (1 hour)       Category: Landing Gear

Tires received and mounted. Some youtube to figure out how to do it, and some help from a friend (Thank you Doug!) to use ratchet straps. Once the compressor kicked on and it started to seal, it was pretty easy.
The tires that were supplied with the kit were 14x4-6 tube-type, the wheels are 5" wide-6 tubeless. Now the tires are 15x6-6 tubeless.

Tires are heavier. The 4in wide are 2.2 pounds each, these on the wheel are 6.2 pounds each. Will calculate weight as I go.

I am just happy the tires went on AND sealed.

  May 15, 2023     Supplied Tires Too Small - (1 hour)       Category: Landing Gear

The wheels that came with the kit are 6" dia 5" wide, with valve stems. The tires that came with the kit are 6" dia but 4" wide, and tube-type.
No amount of stretching could get this tire to fit properly on this rim, so I ordered another set that should, and are tubeless like the wheels.