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Ok, who's using a scooter tire on the tailwheel?
- Thread starter moespeeds
- Start date
I have a Doug Bell fork and towbar axle for sale.
I looked at this recently and the "kick scooter" wheels and tires look good, but I can't find any details on their strength. I have several spare Van's tailwheels, and just clean and re-grease the bearings and put them on the shelf for the next annual. I know when it's time to re-grease when the GIB asks "what's that gritty sound?"
Interested in trying one. Any info on the wheel? Source, etc?
Are you using the condor 2 wheel hub? Look slike those are out of stock.
Please keep us posted.
Doesn't say how much they weigh. But, for a scooter tire, no one likely would care..........
I have a Condor tailwheel from Flyboys and ditched the pneumatic wheel after 3 flats. The inner tube inflation valves leaked all 3 times after rubbing on the opening in the wheel housing.
I use this solid tire above and it is equally as smooth as the pneumatic version and I feel nothing going over the taxiway expansion cracks and it is very quiet. Hasn’t really worn at all and seems pretty durable so far. I didn’t weigh it but compared it in one hand with the pneumatic tire & tube in the other and didn’t notice much difference.
I use this solid tire above and it is equally as smooth as the pneumatic version and I feel nothing going over the taxiway expansion cracks and it is very quiet. Hasn’t really worn at all and seems pretty durable so far. I didn’t weigh it but compared it in one hand with the pneumatic tire & tube in the other and didn’t notice much difference.
Great! I ditched the Flyboys as well and went to the solid Van's tailwheel. Liked the the Condor though. I'll try it.
I bought the Condor pneumatic tailwheel from Flyboys several years ago for my RV3. Man, those things feel like you're taxiing a 1960's Lincoln! I liked the ride, but chickened out after people started telling me stories of tailwheel flats. I went back to the lightweight tailwheel setup, but it rides rough with all the asphalt expansion joints we have here in Colorado. I'm going to dig out my Condor setup again and try the foam-filled tire @olyolson mentioned in his post above. Amazon already knows the way to my house! 
upperdeck
Well Known Member
this is the one I use.
6 Inch Solid Tire 6 X 2 Wheel Rim And Tires Set With Alloy Rims For Electri MU | eBay
Feature: 1. Solid tire does not require an air chamber, no need to inflate, no repair, no need to worry about a puncture and no need to maintain. Material: Rubber + Aluminum Alloy. If you do not receive our reply within 48 hours, pls.
www.ebay.com
Pilot135pd
Well Known Member
I installed one on my heavy 4 person Wilga and it worked fine. As far as I know it's still installed and working with the new owner.
Research shows a 8mm axle for this one. Is this correct, or were you able to use a 3/8"? I would like to use my Doug Bell arm for a 6" foam filled wheel.this is the one I use.
6 Inch Solid Tire 6 X 2 Wheel Rim And Tires Set With Alloy Rims For Electri MU | eBay
Feature: 1. Solid tire does not require an air chamber, no need to inflate, no repair, no need to worry about a puncture and no need to maintain. Material: Rubber + Aluminum Alloy. If you do not receive our reply within 48 hours, pls.www.ebay.com
Thanks
TS
I’m following this post because I also don’t like the harsh jolts I get when going over expansion joints. I had the pneumatic tire for a while, but after having a flat, I bought a spare to carry with me, negating any weight advantage. The amount of air in that tiny tube was equivalent to a fart, and that was at 60 psi. Checking tire pressure used up about half the volume.
So….. interested in what others have found with the foam filled solids, and how they implemented them.
So….. interested in what others have found with the foam filled solids, and how they implemented them.
upperdeck
Well Known Member
i swapped the bearing out to fit the axle bolt.
Upperdeck, do you recall the source and size of the replacement bearings?
Thanks a bunch,
Chuck Brietigam
RV-6XXL
supercub1999
Member
I have had this one on my Piper Pacer for 10 years, $50. and works great https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pnpages/06-02988.php
I have it mounted on a Scott 3200 tailwheel, had to shim each side of the wheel with about 1/2 inch of stainless steel washers since its not as wide as the 8 inch air tube and tire that the Scott came with, but gets my ground roll at a higher AOA so I can get in the air sooner.
I have it mounted on a Scott 3200 tailwheel, had to shim each side of the wheel with about 1/2 inch of stainless steel washers since its not as wide as the 8 inch air tube and tire that the Scott came with, but gets my ground roll at a higher AOA so I can get in the air sooner.
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upperdeck
Well Known Member
Unfortunately I don’t, a hangar mate had one on hand and I don’t know his source.
Oly PM’d me and I responded to him privately, but the rest of the world might also be interested in my findings…
I purchased the foam-filled tire mentioned by Oly in the post above. I installed it on the tailwheel fork and the wheel that came as part of the pneumatic setup purchased from Flyboys. I tested it on my RV3 and it shook like crazy on landing. It taxied smoother than the solid rubber tire, but just barely not quite as smooth as the real pneumatic tire.
FWIW, and to complete the circle, I didn’t experience any shaking at all with the pneumatic tire when it was installed. The *only* reason I’m not using the pneumatic setup is that I became uncomfortable with the potential failure point.
I purchased the foam-filled tire mentioned by Oly in the post above. I installed it on the tailwheel fork and the wheel that came as part of the pneumatic setup purchased from Flyboys. I tested it on my RV3 and it shook like crazy on landing. It taxied smoother than the solid rubber tire, but just barely not quite as smooth as the real pneumatic tire.
FWIW, and to complete the circle, I didn’t experience any shaking at all with the pneumatic tire when it was installed. The *only* reason I’m not using the pneumatic setup is that I became uncomfortable with the potential failure point.
andoman
Well Known Member
Thanks for closing the loop.
No flats so far after 100 hrs. in service on my pneumatic. Tire wear has been excellent.
For those that have had a flat how did it affect handling?
One user on our field landed with a flat and didn’t know until he hooked up the tow bar to pull into the hangar.
No flats so far after 100 hrs. in service on my pneumatic. Tire wear has been excellent.
For those that have had a flat how did it affect handling?
One user on our field landed with a flat and didn’t know until he hooked up the tow bar to pull into the hangar.
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