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Vans RV Discussion >> RV Related Discussion >> RV4 tailwheel
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Message started by Barry_Hunter on 03.07.2011 at 20:12:12

Title: RV4 tailwheel
Post by Barry_Hunter on 03.07.2011 at 20:12:12

My RV4 has quite a low clearance between the spring and fibreglass section of the rudder. We keep dinking the fibreglass, not on a normal landing but we've had a couple of firm arrivals. We have a 1993 -4 with the modern castoring tailwheel and I would be grateful if someone out there can solve this little problem for us. I'm sure this is not unique to our plane.

We have been told that when we are fully loaded the spring (flyboy) sits very close to the fibreglass of the rudder.

Title: Re: RV4 tailwheel
Post by Alan GEORGE on 04.07.2011 at 22:56:04

Hi Barry,

We have an RV-4 with the castoring tailwheel and I have done a few firm arrivals but we have never had a problem like yours. Where are you based, we are at Gloucester if you would like to compare tailwheels.

Meanwhile here is a photo after landing at Popham a couple of years ago. We probably only had 1/2 fuel but we are both 14 stone so it was a reasonable load. As you can see there is plenty of gap between the spring and the rudder.

Cheers, Alan.

http://trussler.co.uk/alangeorge/rv4_popham.jpg

Title: Re: RV4 tailwheel
Post by Barry_Hunter on 05.07.2011 at 05:25:31

Alan

Thanks for your reply.
My RV is based at North Moor, Scunthorpe. I'm offshore at the moment and I don't have a photo to compare with yours.
I'd never heard of RVs having an issue with their tailwheels and it sounds like ours is unique!

Barry

Title: Re: RV4 tailwheel
Post by Mark Browning on 05.07.2011 at 14:32:00

Hi Gents

I am not sure about the RV-4 but on the RV-7 you have to modify the lower fairing by taking off arroud an inch or two from the forward part of the fairing and then glassing in a piece.
This is not part of the plans but most RV-7 builders do this to prevent damage to the fiberglsss from the tail wheel spring ;)

Title: Re: RV4 tailwheel
Post by Barry_Hunter on 08.07.2011 at 12:36:47

The damage to mine is directly over the tailwheel bolt. It would appear to have too much flex and it is the bolt pushing into fibreglass. We thought a small artistically designed divot in the fibreglass might be a solution..something with a radius of an inch or so. No added weight of course.