New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:07 pm
by N111YX
Hello, everyone. After many weeks of waiting for a prototype, I now have a new tailwheel bracket! After 340 landings I found myself dragging the tailwheel pivot bolt across airport ramps all over the country, not to mention the destruction of my ventral fin. Let’s face it, the stock tailwheel clearance may be good enough for the taxiways of Oshkosh but other airports hold many taxi “traps”, tie down rings, potholes, uneven pavement ect.
This bracket is made for the Van’s mini tailwheel…
http://www.vansaircraft.com/cgi-bin/cat … LW-t-wheel
Yes, it’s pricey but what is your beautiful ventral fin worth? The bearings are sealed and the tread will likely last way longer than the stock wheel. Three stock wheels will pay for one Van’s and I was ready to buy my third (one tread worn and the other with shot bearings).
If it appears that the clearance is tight from the tailwheel and the rudder in the picture, it was. I extended the production brackets 1/4 for clearance, mainly for the Waiex. The Sonex clearance was not a problem.
I made three landings today and steering authority seems to be improved. The overall ride…like a Cadillac… :lol: . Completly quiet and very smooth.
Now, the numbers…
Weight and Balance
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:09 pm
by N111YX
One more…
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:48 pm
by rizzz
Very nicely done Kip!
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:12 am
by radfordc
Bob Mika and I modified our original Sonex tailwheel brackets to take 5" wheels. This completely cured the problem of scraping the tailwheel bolt and also made for smoother taxiing…no more Sonex “thump” everytime you taxi over a crack in the pavement. We welded on some .090 plates to the side of the old bracket.
tailwheel.jpg (139.14 KiB) Viewed 10744 times
tailwheel 2.jpg (233.9 KiB) Viewed 10744 times
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:17 am
by radfordc
The tailwheel is from Wicks…$30
http://www.wicksaircraft.com/catalog/pr … ec183ada52
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:05 pm
by chris
Both of these solutions look nice. I’m going to move this thread to general discussion so it doesnt get deleted from classifieds after 60 days.
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 4:32 pm
by N111YX
I plan to have 25 of these for ready by the time Crossville rolls around (October 8th). I will bring some to Crossville…
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 11:50 pm
by MichaelFarley56
Kip…do you have a price estimate for one? Any chance I can reserve one? 
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:01 am
by N111YX
Mike, they will be $75 shipped with the longer AN bolt included.
The few, the proud, at Sonexbuilders.net will have the first ones.
YX pilots and builders are automatically at the front of the line… :lol:
Actually, only the first 10 I expect to go quick so there should be plenty available. If they go fast, I’ll have another 25 made…
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 11:48 am
by Sonex1517
Kip
I’m in…I have a long way until I need it but it looks like a great solution.
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 8:50 pm
by N111YX
The brackets are at the powdercoater. They should be ready in a week…
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 10:12 pm
by MichaelFarley56
I call dibs on one! Tell me what you want for one and how you prefer payment. Thank you sir! 
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:14 pm
by N111YX
You got it, Michael. I’ll be in touch with everybody via email..
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 3:01 pm
by GWMotley
Just to update this site regarding Kip’s tailwheel mod, I just test " drove" and flew with the 6" tailwheel on my Sonex. What a difference in taxi! Gone is all the noise and spine jolts which were so evident with the original 4" wheel. I highly recommend changing the wheels out.
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 6:42 pm
by checkn6
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Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2012 8:19 pm
by MichaelFarley56
Hi Chris,
I’m not sure where Kip is right now but his job keeps him traveling a lot. I’m sure he’ll get back to you ASAP once he sees this.
Mike
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 5:53 am
by N111YX
OK, you found me, Chris!
I did not know that my mail was so selective but all of my responses have been replies from yours (?).
I’ll get a bracket out today or tomorrow…!
Kip
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2012 3:20 pm
by checkn6
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Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 8:31 am
by GOIX
Hey Kip ,
Do you have any left . It would look good on my Onex ..
Marc
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:00 am
by N111YX
I do have some left, Marc. I’ll send you a message through this site…
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 3:11 pm
by MarkR
N111YX wrote:I do have some left, Marc. I’ll send you a message through this site…
This is a differant Mark, but I would also like one, Let me know how to proceed.
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 6:04 pm
by N111YX
Here’s more info…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTNRd332OD4
If you have trouble messaging me through this site just respond back to this thread. I don’t want my email address posted for spam reasons.
Thanks,
Kip
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 5:58 am
by Jstovall
Kip
Just sent you a PM. Do you have any left? If so I am interested.
Justin
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Tue May 07, 2013 9:42 am
by N111YX
Sorry, they are all gone. I’ll post back here if I make more of them…
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 8:58 pm
by jeffsy
Do you have any left
I’m in Australia but will be at EAA in July
Regards
Keith
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:01 pm
by N111YX
Sorry everyone, they are all gone. Please contact Jeremy and tell him to get his version to market. If he does not, I’ll have some more made…
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Thu Jun 06, 2013 9:12 pm
by jeffsy
Do you have a drawing available so that I can have one made in Australia.
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2013 9:38 am
by N111YX
I do not have a drawing. The best thing to do is take the Sonex part as a model and upsize it to your chosen wheel. My brackets are simply a bit longer and a bit wider to accomodate the larger wheel.
jeffsy wrote:Do you have a drawing available so that I can have one made in Australia.
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 2:40 pm
by GordonTurner
Improved Tailwheel Bracket
I have one of Kip’s improved T/W brackets, UNUSED, with the bolts and an also unused Sonex/Waiex tail wheel pivot. $75 shipping included.
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2019 6:28 pm
by WaiexN143NM
hi gordon,
sent you a pm.
WaiexN143NM
Michael
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2019 9:38 am
by dbdevkc
Gordon,
I am curious why you were selling the Kip version of the tail wheel bracket.
Thanks,
Kevin
Re: New Tailwheel Bracket
Posted: Fri Dec 27, 2019 8:21 pm
by N111YX
Hello, everyone. After having 93 of these brackets in the field for over eight years, I have received two reports of cracks or failures of the bracket at the 90 degree bends of the main fork piece, both fairly recently.
Mine still looks as new but my rough/soft field operations are probably in the 2% of my total of 900 landings using the bracket. Others may subject the tailwheel area to higher stresses.
I think that any potential cracks before failure will be visible on preflight so please be sure to include this area during your inspection.
One fix (via Mike Smith) is the welding of triangle shaped doublers in the inside of the bend area if cracks are noted.
Regards,
Kip