steerable tail wheel

[john melia 1]

I'm busy installing servs into this seagull glasair i bought recently, in total the model will have eight servos , i am going to use a spektrum ar8010T RX , the manual states the tailwheel has its own servo which operates the tail wheel via a pull pull normal arrangement

my question is how do i steer this tail wheel , do i Y lead it with the rudder servo (rudder servo and tailwheel servos are not the same ), it seems a bit overboard to me , what are your thoughts

could i not just fix the tail wheel so it doesnt turn at all

[Denis Watkins]

Woe, fit the steering John, the push pull is a faff, but is a servo saver.

Use a Y lead, and reverse the rudder or the tailwheel servo mounting to get the correct sense

Or if you have multichannel Tx, then slave the tail servo from the rudder channel

I would not advise a castoring taildragger

[cymaz]

Just looked up the manual....it leaves a lot to the imagination.

I would say go with a Y lead and see how it goes.

[iqon]

I used a Y lead

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Slave it then you can set how much it moves.

[Don Fry]

Got to steer it, I've got a castering taildragger. Not again.

[Cuban8]

Yep, castering tail wheels are a pain. Any sort of breeze and the model just weathercocks into wind as you taxi. Steerable for me now, no matter what the model.

[cymaz]

Posted by Cuban8 on 10/04/2017 07:27:57:

Yep, castering tail wheels are a pain. Any sort of breeze and the model just weathercocks into wind as you taxi. Steerable for me now, no matter what the model.

It's like driving a dodgem car on roller skates....not recommended

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

A fixed tailwheel is also an option...

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

I've programmed my left thumb for that task!

[Denis Watkins]

Ahh but?

You can fly properly Martin

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

Sometimes...

[Former Member]

[This posting has been removed]

[Don Fry]

Fixed is good, I was flying my Fokker D VII this morning. The wind direction was unkind, but with a bit od rudder, and aileron to hold it straightnand level, it got down. But once down, with only a skid, it's a joy to move on the ground.

[Denis Watkins]

Ahh but Donald?

You can fly properly, like Martin and Tom,

Imagine a novice on "page 1" flying rudder, with no tail wheel steering?

Edited By Denis Watkins on 10/04/2017 19:24:22

[Don Fry]

Fair enough, but fixed is still a load better than a castoring tail wheel. Mine last week, sitting ready to roll, got struck by a side wind, and simply moved though 90 degrees into wind, like a sail boat with a broken rudder.

I detest predictive spell checkers.

Edited By Donald Fry on 10/04/2017 19:42:46

[Denis Watkins]

Ha ha Donald, my tablet always addresses my friend Les, as Led

It is a nuisance

[Rich too]

Is the rudder on closed loop? Perhaps add another pull pull from the same servo to the wheel, with the usual spring on the tail wheel end. That's what I would do rather than another servo.

Nice looking model btw.

 

Edited By Rich2 on 10/04/2017 22:31:05

[john melia 1]

all sorted , i put the flaps on a Y lead ,giving me one channel spare (ar8010t) which i re-assigned to rudder , all works perfect , just waiting for a saito 125a to arrive in the next two days