Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 6:58 pm
by gammaxy
Does anyone use the stock tailwheel pushrod? I went to install it today and it seems like it will require significant bending to fit correctly, but even then it seems like it will most likely wallow out any holes in aluminum any time the tailspring flexes.
I see a lot of people using ball joints and will likely do the same.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 9:18 pm
by MichaelFarley56
Hi Chris,
I used the stock piece for around 50 hours, but when I noticed one of the bolt holes start to elongate I decided that was a good time to make my own adjustable pushrod. I took some 4130 steel tube, bent it as needed, and had two rod ends welded to it. The new piece seems like a much longer lasting option, plus it’s nice to have an adjustable length piece. It’s only fair to say though, that the original piece worked just fine in terms of fit and finish.
Best of luck if you make our own piece.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 10:09 pm
by N111YX
Please note that welding is not required for such a modification. Look closely and you’ll see steel roll pins that I have used with great success… 
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 10:32 pm
by Fastcapy
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 10:23 am
by gammaxy
Thanks guys. I like the suggestions on how to do this without welding.
I measured my stock pushrod and compared it to the plans. It is about 1/4" too “tall” to connect to the tailwheel horn when attached at the rudder plate. This seemed significant, but I bet if I bent one of the tabs a degree or so it would fit.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 12:50 am
by wlarson861
I used a hardware store piece of 3/16 inch rod and threaded it for a 10/32 rod end bearing and stop nut on both ends. I bent the rod to align with the flats. I used the same rod with the original welded tail wheel and the new one.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:44 pm
by Sonex541
I bought a solid piece of aluminum rod and drilled and tapped both ends and bought , 2 heim joints and lock nuts , I went with a larger diameter than needed but it worked out great , that and the larger vans tail wheel , and kip bracket it’s been working great ,
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 11:12 am
by vicdelgado9
Nice info, I love to see all of the ingenuity builders come up with! I was going to make the rod end bearing push rod to start off with, but have made so many changes already and it bogging me down, I have now decided to stick to plans as much a possible to finish my build, and then I can alwasy upgrade after I am flying. So I just made the stock push rod for now while I was welding already.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 5:04 pm
by sonex892
As much I initially disliked the crude stock tailwheel push rod is it does work. The tab on one end needed adjustment to correct the angle. I can weld so I just re welded it. I probably could have gotten away with just bending the tab.
I have almost 500 landings on my plane now and this crude arrangement is doing fine. I’m guessing its also lighter than using rod ends.
Steve 892
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2014 12:52 am
by hickej
I’ve had no issues with the stock tailwheel push rod. I tightened it once during the first 40 hours and check it every pre-flight. It is holding up just fine at 135 hours.
-Jim Hicke W0162 3300
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2016 9:23 pm
by Bryan Cotton
I have my mixer locked in place, mini rudder in place and my cables are adjusted and pinned. The pushrod does not seem close. I was thinking rod ends, but weight is the enemy and some of you seem to have done fine with the stock setup. I am thinking of welding up one that fits rather than doing some crazy S bend.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 5:49 pm
by Bryan Cotton
Here is my pushrod:
I have 4130 stock and have started to fabricate one that fits.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2016 7:37 pm
by Corby202
I kept the stock pushrod because of weight, I fitted bushes each end 65 hrs, so far so good.
Phil
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 11:07 am
by Area 51%
What keeps the motion of the tailspring from transferring to the rudder horn and causing it distress with the stock unit? It seems heim joints would be a requirement in this application.
I believe I saw Ryan had to put a significant bend in his rod to get the flanges to line up.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 12:25 pm
by N111YX
This the reason that I went with the rod end option. I had heard, but not personally experienced, that the steel bolts could elongate the aluminum holes after use. Since lots of shock is transferred through these pieces with every imperfection of an operating surface, I would guess that soft field/grass operators would see the most benefit.
Mine is as new after 960 landings with perhaps 20 or so of those on grass 
Area 51% wrote:What keeps the motion of the tailspring from transferring to the rudder horn and causing it distress with the stock unit? It seems heim joints would be a requirement in this application.
I believe I saw Ryan had to put a significant bend in his to get the flanges to line up.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 2:22 pm
by mike.smith
I did the rod end bearings:
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_l … 803&row=71
I later made a new pushrod that had and “S” bend in it so the rod end bearings were more parallel with the rudder horn and the tail wheel bracket. It works very well after 220 hours and 2.5 years.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 2:44 pm
by Bryan Cotton
I like the stock setup with the bushing idea. I’ll try that and I can always upgrade later if I need to.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 7:42 pm
by tonyr
Is your pushrod fitted the wrong way 'round?
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 9:24 pm
by Area 51%
I got a very nice pneumatic tail wheel assembly from Peter Anson a while back. He also has available an offset steering rod, complete with heim joints. I plan on installing one of those on our Waiex when the time comes.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2016 9:30 pm
by Area 51%
So…Kip…How exactly do you keep track of your landings? I was thinking…maybe…a pedometer? I couldn’t use one of those for landings without converting the count into dog-years.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 12:47 am
by WaiexN143NM
Hi all,
We made our own push rod out of thick wall alum tube , threaded ends riveted in place. Then ball joints. Works well, allows for movement as the tail spring bends. One word of advise, the bigger the tail wheel the better.
WaiexN143NM
Michael
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 9:43 am
by N111YX
Don’t know why but I like to track certain things and one of them is landings in the Kolb and Waiex. I just make a note of the cumulative total in my log book next to the “landing” column. It’s interesting to see how many ladings I get out of tires.
Area 51% wrote:So…Kip…How exactly do you keep track of your landings? I was thinking…maybe…a pedometer? I couldn’t use one of those for landings without converting the count into dog-years.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 11:13 am
by Fastcapy
Geez, I track number of landings, number of go arounds, number of low approaches, what runways I used, what winds were on takeoff and landing, who my passenger was, how many rolls, loops, etc I did if doing acro, etc.
It is so easy with electronic logbooks and I can run a query and see all these cool stats.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 12:45 pm
by Bryan Cotton
tonyr wrote:Is your pushrod fitted the wrong way 'round?
Tony,
Now that you mention it, the other way is better but still bad.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 5:58 pm
by DCASonex
Also made “S” bend tube for tail wheel link, but used 4130 steel with ball rod end bearings. One hint, although it requires a greater bend, place the rod end bearing on underside of both the rudder link and tail wheel control arm. When viewed from side, center of “S” link passes through approx. center of the tail spring and thus minimizes steering input from flexing of the spring. (photo available)
David A. Sonex TD
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2016 6:05 pm
by Bryan Cotton
Ready to tack weld one side.
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2016 6:11 am
by peter anson
Here’s my version, a length of 3/8" dia. 6061, drilled and tapped each end and bent to shape. The tail-spring bends a long way (try dropping the tail from about a foot some time and be amazed) so the rod-ends must be capable of large angles. These are studded 1/4" rod ends but standard rod ends may be used if the bolt through the rod end is modified for extra clearance. Sealed rod ends would be better if they existed, but this set-up has done over 180 hours and 300 landings so far.
Peter
Sonex 894
290 hours
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 7:07 am
by pfhoeycfi
mike.smith wrote:I did the rod end bearings:
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/display_l … 803&row=71I later made a new pushrod that had and “S” bend in it so the rod end bearings were more parallel with the rudder horn and the tail wheel bracket. It works very well after 220 hours and 2.5 years.
Hi I was looking at your TW pics and I see that the rod end bearings are offset a small distance from the horns. Do you have a bushing of some sort between the horn and bearing? Is the bearing 3/16 or 1/4? I am looking at aurora bearings.
My b pushrod is not going to work, not even close.
peter
Re: Stock tailwheel pushrod
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2020 8:24 am
by DCASonex
If using rod end bearings and making an S bend push rod, placing the rod end for the tail wheel on the underside of the control arm puts the two rod ends in about same horizontal plane as ends of spring which minimizes unwanted steering action as the tail rod bends with load. Might be different with some tail wheels, just view from side to verify yours.
David A.