courierguy
MEMBER
Inkom, Idaho
I've had my Datum tail ski mounted up for years, but since I switched over this summer to the T-3 spring, I needed to "engineer" up a new setup.
I bought an additional smaller and wimpier (also lighter and less expensive) Matco tailwheel, the intent being it will stay on the ski, and be just for winter use. One AN-7 bolt and 2 spring rings (just made the term up, but the stainless rings, like on a key chain, that serve as a cotter pin does but are quicker to remove and reusable, common in hang glider and ultralight hardware and very reliable) and the winter wheel is off or on. Not an optimal angle on the marine turnbuckle (had it already in the shop junk drawer, high quality and stainless, plus I had it, this was a project using whatever I had laying around) to the tailwheel bracket, but it should do the job and gives plenty of adjustment range. I think this should work just fine for keep the little ski at a reasonable AOA, I will just need to remember not to do any super high, tail wheel hitting first, type landings while on pavement. When on gravel or mud, the lesser clearance I now have with that smaller tire will just be some extra wear on the ski bottom, no problem as I have a large piece of the type of plastic used on hand, plus I actually taxi little, and lift the tail up often anyway.
I bought an additional smaller and wimpier (also lighter and less expensive) Matco tailwheel, the intent being it will stay on the ski, and be just for winter use. One AN-7 bolt and 2 spring rings (just made the term up, but the stainless rings, like on a key chain, that serve as a cotter pin does but are quicker to remove and reusable, common in hang glider and ultralight hardware and very reliable) and the winter wheel is off or on. Not an optimal angle on the marine turnbuckle (had it already in the shop junk drawer, high quality and stainless, plus I had it, this was a project using whatever I had laying around) to the tailwheel bracket, but it should do the job and gives plenty of adjustment range. I think this should work just fine for keep the little ski at a reasonable AOA, I will just need to remember not to do any super high, tail wheel hitting first, type landings while on pavement. When on gravel or mud, the lesser clearance I now have with that smaller tire will just be some extra wear on the ski bottom, no problem as I have a large piece of the type of plastic used on hand, plus I actually taxi little, and lift the tail up often anyway.