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A cry for help from NZ!

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andrew(at)nzactive.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:04 am Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Guys, a wee problem - my damn tailwheel snapped off. The (I don't know

the word, but the long bar that goes back the tailwheel assmembly)

snapped clean off, flush with the tailwheel assembly. As I'm not the

builder (I know, I know) I don't know if that is a standard RV-4 item,

or one of the things switched out when the RV-4 is transmogrified into a

Rocket. Cos of what seems like a lot more weight than my RV-4 ever had.

Mine is a well built HRII, not an F1. Anyone know where I can get one of

those bars asap? I got a ROG situation, which is even worse than an AOG

situation  Seriously, I'd like to find that item, and get one sent

down to NZ as soon as possible, cos the aircraft is stuck 400 miles from

my home field till I can sort it out.



Also, a heads-up - something to be aware of, and inspect more

thoroughly, I guess. To be fair, I hit a rabbit hole and the tail came

up very high before bashing down hard, stick back....but I wasn't much

more than walking pace, maybe running pace, so no other damage done. But

mebbe worth inspecting more thoroughly at annual time, if you fly off

short grass strips with occasional rabbit holes in em!



Cheers



Andrew



--

n395v

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 450

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 5:21 am Post subject: Re: A cry for help from NZ!

Look Here

http://www.decisionlabs.com/QuickPlace/wayne/Main.nsf/h_Toc/3F6DF4BE0484540D85257291005B7BAE/?OpenDocument

_________________
Milt

fred.laforge(at)verizon.n
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 9:49 am Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Andrew, Van makes 2 different tail springs that will fit your Rocket, a bent 

one (standard) and one for an after market tail wheel (better).



---

lschneider39(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 10:58 am Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Hey Fred, Please elaborate on the bent tail wheel spring from Vans. I've 

installed maybe a dozen springs and they were all straight. Where is the 

bend and why? Thanks,  Larry

---

fred.laforge(at)verizon.n
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:10 pm Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Its the one they normally supplied, the tail wheel fork pivots on the 

section that is bent down. Maybe they dont use them any more.

---

smokyray(at)rocketmail.co
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

The Stock RV4 (straight) tail spring works great when combined with the Aviation Products Inc. dual fork tailwheel assembly. Mine works great. Vince Frazier also has a nice tailwheel setup on his website. Check it out...



Smokey

HR2



--- On Mon, 2/9/09, Larry Schneider <lschneider39(at)cox.net> wrote:

[quote]From: Larry Schneider <lschneider39(at)cox.net>

Subject: Re: A cry for help from NZ!

To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 10:57 AM



[quote]--> Rocket-List message posted by: "Larry Schneider"

<lschneider39(at)cox.net>



Hey Fred, Please elaborate on the bent tail wheel spring from Vans. I've 

installed maybe a dozen springs and they were all straight. Where is the  

bend and why? Thanks,  Larry

---

lschneider39(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:34 pm Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Fred, You sure are dating yourself, I remember now, Thanks. ))

---

Lee Logan

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 86

Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 7:49 pm Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Andrew:  We had the same thing happen to the tail spring on our RV-4.  Flew it home off the grass strip we were on at the time.  The spring held up fine by itself during takeoff and the subsequent landing at home field.  If you are going to be stuck for awhile, you might consider that.  No harm, no foul, when we did it.  YMMV, of course!

   

 Regards,

  

  

 Lee...

  [quote][b]

smokyray(at)rocketmail.co
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 6:37 am Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Andrew,



  I too operate my Rocket off a short, rough turf strip with the occasional fire ant mound and gopher hole. A cub actually broke a tailspring here, not an easy task. I too replaced my original tail spring installed by the builder in 96', fortunately before it snapped off from an elongated hole and crack.  I turned my new tail spring end on a lathe slightly prior to installing the assembly to remove the taper where the assembly slides on. I also drilled two small holes rather than one large one through the spring to hold the assembly on. If your prior owner drilled a large hole or "slammed" the tailwheel down a few times, it might have stressed it. Either way, the fix will exceed your expectations.

  On my strip, I rarely three point land my Rocket in lieu of wheels landings, although I fly a three point approach and ease it up  on the mains at touchdown. My 380X150X5 Desser tires have helped immensely along with my API dual fork tailwheel. As mentioned before, Vince's heavy duty tailwheel assembly and the Bell work well too. 



  Something else I really like for STOL operations is my Lift Reserve AOA indicator. It lets you fly final at "max performance" safely. My normal approach groundspeed is 57-59 knots, something I'm sure you can appreciate.



Fair Dinkum!

Smokey

HR2



--- On Mon, 2/9/09, Larry Schneider <lschneider39(at)cox.net> wrote:

[quote]From: Larry Schneider <lschneider39(at)cox.net>

Subject: Re: Rocket-List: A cry for help from NZ!

To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 3:32 PM



[quote]--> Rocket-List message posted by: "Larry Schneider"

<lschneider39(at)cox.net>



Fred,  You sure are dating yourself, I remember now, Thanks. ))

---

John Bolding

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 281

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:12 am Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Rob ,and the Group.

 Several months ago I had a couple hundred of  the LRI probes molded up out of black nylon,  I sell these for $45,  shipping included.  Also have the gauges for $25 but no faces yet,   anyone interested can contact me off list.

 John Bolding    jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net (jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net)  

 [quote]   ---

smokyray(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:23 am Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Could I trade my current probe?



--- On Mon, 2/16/09, John Bolding <jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net> wrote:



[quote] From: John Bolding <jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net>

 Subject: Re: A cry for help from NZ!

 To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

 Date: Monday, February 16, 2009, 10:12 AM

 Rob ,and the Group.

 Several months ago I had a couple hundred of the LRI probes

 molded up out of black nylon,  I sell these for $45,

 shipping included.  Also have the gauges for $25 but no

 faces yet,  anyone interested can contact me off list.

 John Bolding    jnbolding1(at)teleshare.net 

   ---

andrew(at)nzactive.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:13 pm Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

Hi Smokey! Thanks for the email, and sorry about the delay  in responding. I'm finally clearing the backlog of helpful emails I received on  the subject of my poor ole AOG Rocket, which is still AOG due to a few  logistical issues. I have been travelling out of the country, but while I was  away, a VERY kind reader on the list sent me down a tailwheel spring that he had  lying around, unused. All the way to New Zealand - it was in NZ before I was! He  wouldn't even take money. Aren't some people nice? (I'm gonna insist on the  money, of course.) So I'll be trying to get my Rocket back in the air on  Monday.

  

 I'm going to fit a standard RV-4 setup to get me going, but  I really like the idea of the dual fork tailwheel, and any other ruggedizing  measures I can undertake. As for the AOA indicator, that sounds GREAT. This is  one of those, um, sense over ego issues, and I think, as ever, sense should win  here. The neighbours round here are insane, so I sometimes have to land downwind  for noise abatement. Needless to say I fly slow, power-on approaches, and  usually do a tail low wheeler, with some pretty aggressive braking, cos I find  the ole Rocket doesn't brake nearly as well with the tailwheel down. Seems to  work. But having a more scientific sense of my AoA, in addition to the ususal  cues, can only be a good thing. I'll get one, for sure. Is it a biggie to  fit?

  

 And, last dumb question, I've broken my landing gear/engine  mount three times now, albeit in 600 hours. (Did I mention my strip exactly  flat? It makes judging the touchdown a little tricky, or maybe I just  didn't pay enough attention at pilot school  We keep welding it up, and  it keeps breaking. I'm sure Mr RV wouldn't be too happy to see what has become  of his original creation, but the fact is, the HRII makes a damn fine bush  aircraft. So long as you don't mind welding! Have you ever heard of a stronger  engine mount available anywhere???

  

 Andrew

  

  



   From: owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com  [mailto:owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Rob  Ray

Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:46 AM

To:  rocket-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: A cry for help  from NZ!

 

            Andrew,



  I too operate my Rocket off a short,        rough turf strip with the occasional fire ant mound and gopher hole. A cub        actually broke a tailspring here, not an easy task. I too replaced my        original tail spring installed by the builder in 96', fortunately before        it snapped off from an elongated hole and crack.  I turned my new        tail spring end on a lathe slightly prior to installing the assembly to        remove the taper where the assembly slides on. I also drilled two small        holes rather than one large one through the spring to hold the assembly        on. If your prior owner drilled a large hole or "slammed" the tailwheel        down a few times, it might have stressed it. Either way, the fix will        exceed your expectations.

  On my strip, I rarely three point land        my Rocket in lieu of wheels landings, although I fly a three point        approach and ease it up on the mains at touchdown. My 380X150X5 Desser        tires have helped immensely along with my API dual fork tailwheel. As        mentioned before, Vince's heavy duty tailwheel assembly and the Bell work        well too. 



  Something else I really like for STOL operations        is my Lift Reserve AOA indicator. It lets you fly final at "max        performance" safely. My normal approach groundspeed is 57-59 knots,        something I'm sure you can appreciate.



Fair        Dinkum!

Smokey

HR2



--- On Mon, 2/9/09, Larry        Schneider <lschneider39(at)cox.net> wrote:

       [quote]From:          Larry Schneider <lschneider39(at)cox.net>

Subject: Re:          A cry for help from NZ!

To:          rocket-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 3:32          PM



[quote]--> Rocket-List message posted by: "Larry Schneider"

<lschneider39(at)cox.net>



Fred,  You sure are dating yourself, I remember now, Thanks. ))

---

Mytyweav(at)earthlink.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:50 pm Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

You would be well advised to get a Tailwheel assembly from Vince Frazier. Once that's in place, you might start thinking about some might fine Gussets on your Engine Mount. Stop the cracks before they appear.

 Weav

 

 ACTIVE NZ - Andrew wrote: [quote]         Hi Smokey! Thanks for the email, and sorry about the delay in responding. I'm finally clearing the backlog of helpful emails I received on the subject of my poor ole AOG Rocket, which is still AOG due to a few logistical issues. I have been travelling out of the country, but while I was away, a VERY kind reader on the list sent me down a tailwheel spring that he had lying around, unused. All the way to New Zealand - it was in NZ before I was! He wouldn't even take money. Aren't some people nice? (I'm gonna insist on the money, of course.) So I'll be trying to get my Rocket back in the air on Monday.

    

   I'm going to fit a standard RV-4 setup to get me going, but I really like the idea of the dual fork tailwheel, and any other ruggedizing measures I can undertake. As for the AOA indicator, that sounds GREAT. This is one of those, um, sense over ego issues, and I think, as ever, sense should win here. The neighbours round here are insane, so I sometimes have to land downwind for noise abatement. Needless to say I fly slow, power-on approaches, and usually do a tail low wheeler, with some pretty aggressive braking, cos I find the ole Rocket doesn't brake nearly as well with the tailwheel down. Seems to work. But having a more scientific sense of my AoA, in addition to the ususal cues, can only be a good thing. I'll get one, for sure. Is it a biggie to fit?

    

   And, last dumb question, I've broken my landing gear/engine mount three times now, albeit in 600 hours. (Did I mention my strip exactly flat? It makes judging the touchdown a little tricky, or maybe I just didn't pay enough attention at pilot school  We keep welding it up, and it keeps breaking. I'm sure Mr RV wouldn't be too happy to see what has become of his original creation, but the fact is, the HRII makes a damn fine bush aircraft. So long as you don't mind welding! Have you ever heard of a stronger engine mount available anywhere???

    

   Andrew

    

    

   

      From: owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com) [mailto:owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com (owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com)] On Behalf Of Rob Ray

   Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:46 AM

   To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com (rocket-list(at)matronics.com)

   Subject: Re: A cry for help from NZ!

   

   

                        Andrew,

         

   I too operate my Rocket off a short, rough turf strip with the occasional fire ant mound and gopher hole. A cub actually broke a tailspring here, not an easy task. I too replaced my original tail spring installed by the builder in 96', fortunately before it snapped off from an elongated hole and crack.  I turned my new tail spring end on a lathe slightly prior to installing the assembly to remove the taper where the assembly slides on. I also drilled two small holes rather than one large one through the spring to hold the assembly on. If your prior owner drilled a large hole or "slammed" the tailwheel down a few times, it might have stressed it. Either way, the fix will exceed your expectations.

   On my strip, I rarely three point land my Rocket in lieu of wheels landings, although I fly a three point approach and ease it up on the mains at touchdown. My 380X150X5 Desser tires have helped immensely along with my API dual fork tailwheel. As mentioned before, Vince's heavy duty tailwheel assembly and the Bell work well too. 

         

   Something else I really like for STOL operations is my Lift Reserve AOA indicator. It lets you fly final at "max performance" safely. My normal approach groundspeed is 57-59 knots, something I'm sure you can appreciate.

         

 Fair Dinkum!

 Smokey

 HR2

         

         

         

 --- On Mon, 2/9/09, Larry Schneider <lschneider39(at)cox.net> (lschneider39(at)cox.net) wrote:

         [quote]From: Larry Schneider <lschneider39(at)cox.net> (lschneider39(at)cox.net)

 Subject: Re: A cry for help from NZ!

 To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com (rocket-list(at)matronics.com)

 Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 3:32 PM

           

           [quote]--> Rocket-List message posted by: "Larry Schneider" <lschneider39(at)cox.net> (lschneider39(at)cox.net)  Fred,  You sure are dating yourself, I remember now, Thanks. )) ---

smokyray(at)rocketmail.co
Guest

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:56 am Post subject: A cry for help from NZ!

G'day Andrew!

  Glad you are using your Rocket "off road" as I do. I am running a new stndard Harmon mount with gussets. I use a landing technique I used in my RV4, threepoint approach to a wheels landing stance, rolling on so to speak. Smooth touchdowns result, even with an approach speed of 65 knots, touchdown 58.As I said, I really like the API tw, clears the rocks better than any of them. My buddy russ has a strip north of Auckland, stop by. Let me know if I can help! Fair dinkum, bloody oath!

Smokey

HR2

--- On Fri, 2/27/09, Fred Weaver <Mytyweav(at)earthlink.net> wrote:

[quote] From: Fred Weaver <Mytyweav(at)earthlink.net>

 Subject: Re: A cry for help from NZ!

 To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

 Date: Friday, February 27, 2009, 12:49 PM

 You would be well advised to get a Tailwheel assembly from

 Vince Frazier. Once that's in place, you might start

 thinking about some might fine Gussets on your Engine Mount.

 Stop the cracks before they appear.

 Weav

 ACTIVE NZ - Andrew wrote:

 > Hi Smokey! Thanks for the email, and sorry about the

 delay in responding. I'm finally clearing the backlog of

 helpful emails I received on the subject of my poor ole AOG

 Rocket, which is still AOG due to a few logistical issues. I

 have been travelling out of the country, but while I was

 away, a VERY kind reader on the list sent me down a

 tailwheel spring that he had lying around, unused. All the

 way to New Zealand - it was in NZ before I was! He

 wouldn't even take money. Aren't some people nice?

 (I'm gonna insist on the money, of course.) So I'll

 be trying to get my Rocket back in the air on Monday.

 >  I'm going to fit a standard RV-4 setup to get me

 going, but I really like the idea of the dual fork

 tailwheel, and any other ruggedizing measures I can

 undertake. As for the AOA indicator, that sounds GREAT. This

 is one of those, um, sense over ego issues, and I think, as

 ever, sense should win here. The neighbours round here are

 insane, so I sometimes have to land downwind for noise

 abatement. Needless to say I fly slow, power-on approaches,

 and usually do a tail low wheeler, with some pretty

 aggressive braking, cos I find the ole Rocket doesn't

 brake nearly as well with the tailwheel down. Seems to work.

 But having a more scientific sense of my AoA, in addition to

 the ususal cues, can only be a good thing. I'll get one,

 for sure. Is it a biggie to fit?

 >  And, last dumb question, I've broken my landing

 gear/engine mount three times now, albeit in 600 hours. (Did

 I mention my strip exactly flat? It makes judging the

 touchdown a little tricky, or maybe I just didn't pay

 enough attention at pilot school  We keep welding it up,

 and it keeps breaking. I'm sure Mr RV wouldn't be

 too happy to see what has become of his original creation,

 but the fact is, the HRII makes a damn fine bush aircraft.

 So long as you don't mind welding! Have you ever heard

 of a stronger engine mount available anywhere???

 >  Andrew

 >   

 >

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 > *From:* owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com

 [mailto:owner-rocket-list-server(at)matronics.com] *On Behalf

 Of *Rob Ray

 > *Sent:* Tuesday, February 17, 2009 3:46 AM

 > *To:* rocket-list(at)matronics.com

 > *Subject:* Re: A cry for help from NZ!

 > 

 > Andrew,

 > 

 >   I too operate my Rocket off a short, rough turf

 strip with the occasional fire ant mound and gopher hole. A

 cub actually broke a tailspring here, not an easy task. I

 too replaced my original tail spring installed by the

 builder in 96', fortunately before it snapped off from

 an elongated hole and crack.  I turned my new tail spring

 end on a lathe slightly prior to installing the assembly to

 remove the taper where the assembly slides on. I also

 drilled two small holes rather than one large one through

 the spring to hold the assembly on. If your prior owner

 drilled a large hole or "slammed" the tailwheel

 down a few times, it might have stressed it. Either way, the

 fix will exceed your expectations.

 >   On my strip, I rarely three point land my Rocket in

 lieu of wheels landings, although I fly a three point

 approach and ease it up on the mains at touchdown. My

 380X150X5 Desser tires have helped immensely along with my

 API dual fork tailwheel. As mentioned before, Vince's

 heavy duty tailwheel assembly and the Bell work well too.

 > 

 >   Something else I really like for STOL operations is

 my Lift Reserve AOA indicator. It lets you fly final at

 "max performance" safely. My normal approach

 groundspeed is 57-59 knots, something I'm sure you can

 appreciate.

 > 

 > Fair Dinkum!

 > Smokey

 > HR2

 > 

 > 

 > 

 > --- On *Mon, 2/9/09, Larry Schneider

 /<lschneider39(at)cox.net>/* wrote:

 > 

 >     From: Larry Schneider <lschneider39(at)cox.net>

 >     Subject: Re: A cry for help from NZ!

 >     To: rocket-list(at)matronics.com

 >     Date: Monday, February 9, 2009, 3:32 PM

 > 

 >     

 Schneider"

 >     <lschneider39(at)cox.net>

 > 

 >     Fred,

 >      You sure are dating yourself, I remember now,

 Thanks. ))

 >     ---

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