ETLB Squawk Forums — Archive

A small question on how to keep the tail in down position in storage, when wings are removed. Due to the engine's weight the nose tends to drop if not balanced by the weight of the wings. As a temporary measure, I have added some weight at the top of the tail section ( presently empennage is not mounted on fuselage ).

Also, I need to run the engine for a few hours after installation, and would like to do it on my drive-way without installing the wings. So tail needs to be forced into down position for that also.  I know there are several ways to do this, but this must be a common issue, and so if i can do it without having to re-invent the wheel, that would be nice.

Thanks for suggestions.

Further to my last message, I now get a feeling that had my tail (weighing 11 lbs) been bolted on to the fuselage, this problem of tail lifting on a wing-less fuselage should not happen. Is that correct ?

Correct, at least on mine, tail on it's fine. Tail off I set a 25lbs scale calibration weight  under the tail wheel spring and loop a rope around it a couple times.   Wether  it is right or wrong, for engine run up with without the wings on I have the tail on, stick tied back, weight tied to the tail wheel spring arm as close as possible to where it bolts to the airframe, and use tall steep wheel chocks staked to the ground on the main wheels

Quoted from Stilson Correct, at least on mine, tail on it's fine. Tail off I set a 25lbs scale calibration weight  under the tail wheel spring and loop a rope around it a couple times.   Wether  it is right or wrong, for engine run up with without the wings on I have the tail on, stick tied back, weight tied to the tail wheel spring arm as close as possible to where it bolts to the airframe, and use tall steep wheel chocks staked to the ground on the main wheels

Stilson, great information. Precisely what I was looking for.
Thanks for sharing.

Keith
Just a thought. Do all the above and then tie it to something that will not move. Your neighbors will not love you if it gets loose. Just a safety measure. I have a 1200 pound lawn mower that will not let anything move, LOL.
Bob

I forgot to also mention that I sit in it if I take it over idle, for added weight behind the mains and god for bid it did jump the chocks, I can shut it down.

do your ground run ups with the elevator functional or you will destroy your airplane.

Quoted from Bob Hoskins Keith
Just a thought. Do all the above and then tie it to something that will not move. Your neighbors will not love you if it gets loose. Just a safety measure. I have a 1200 pound lawn mower that will not let anything move, LOL.
Bob

Thank you Bob, good idea.

The thrust of the engine will pull it level or over center if the tail is not actually tied to something that wont move.
Tie it down low, or possibility of a prop strike becomes a probability.....

Quoted from Keith103 A small question on how to keep the tail in down position in storage, when wings are removed. Due to the engine's weight the nose tends to drop if not balanced by the weight of the wings. As a temporary measure, I have added some weight at the top of the tail section ( presently empennage is not mounted on fuselage ).

Thanks for suggestions.

I have stored 1100R, 1500R, Himax, and Eros all without wings and/or empennage. I always put weight on tail when doing do so.  It doesn't take much of a nudge of sitting, wingless (and especially tailless) max to rotate around altered COG, causing nose/prop to crash to ground. I haven't performed run-up without wings.

I am doing the break-in of the engine on my driveway. Done about 1.2 hrs so far. Usually I am alone when I do this. I make sure to sit in the cockpit before turning on the motor. Having electric start surely helps.

I noticed that with wings off, but empennage mounted and bolted on, tail is just barely heavy enough to stay grounded. But as soon as I put more than 1 gal fuel in the nose tank, nose again gets heavy enough to lift the tail. So I have a used motor cycle battery ( 14 lbs ) tied to the tail spring with a 15 inch rope so it does not lift more than 15 inches. Also I park my SUV ( curb weight 3550 lbs , in Park, and with brakes locked) just aft of the tail, and connect the tail spring with a rope to the tow/tie-down point just under the engine of the car. So far it seems to be working out alright.

This is probably unnecessary advice, but keep a close eye on your temps, prop wash is not the same as free flight as far as cooling is concerned, and a new rebuild is going to run a bit hotter as the parts hone themselves in.