My fix for FW P-51 tail wheel woes.

[rc-eflyer]

Hi, I've seen several references to people having trouble with the tail wheel steering on this bird and thought this could maybe help someone. I just spent several hours "playing" with the tail wheel servo and retract mechanism and came to the conclusion that the steel pin that is screwed into the steering arm was simply too short to allow the steering servo to travel anywhere near full with the gear up. I tried adjusting many ways but the geometry of the retract doesn't allow a satisfactory outcome. The ONLY way I could get it to work was replacing the existing pin with one a little over a 1/4" longer. However, this meant that pin would hit part of the plastic housing that the gear is attached to when in the down position. It's a really tight spot and cost a lot of head scratching before I found a way to cut that piece away. After that though it work flawlessly with full travel and no binding. There are other solutions I'm sure, one would be to separate the rudder and steering servos and use the TX programming to slave the steering to the rudder at a reduced throw.  I could of done this but wanted to save the last channel I had available to operate part of my MrRCSound unit. Actually, it might not even be a problem at the suggested throws for the rudder but that looked like it would affect taxiing with so little travel to me.  Anyway, I'm very happy with my purchase and look forward to showing off the maiden on a video...........if Mother Nature ever decides to stop torturing us here in the midwest :@ .

Steve

[Wingman]

RE: My fix for FW P-51 tail wheel woes.

Hi, I've seen several references to people having trouble with the tail wheel steering on this bird and thought this could maybe help someone. I just spent several hours "playing" with the tail wheel servo and retract mechanism and came to the conclusion that the steel pin that is screwed into the steering arm was simply too short to allow the steering servo to travel anywhere near full with the gear up. I tried adjusting many ways but the geometry of the retract doesn't allow a satisfactory outcome. The ONLY way I could get it to work was replacing the existing pin with one a little over a 1/4" longer. However, this meant that pin would hit part of the plastic housing that the gear is attached to when in the down position. It's a really tight spot and cost a lot of head scratching before I found a way to cut that piece away. After that though it work flawlessly with full travel and no binding. There are other solutions I'm sure, one would be to separate the rudder and steering servos and use the TX programming to slave the steering to the rudder at a reduced throw.  I could of done this but wanted to save the last channel I had available to operate part of my MrRCSound unit. Actually, it might not even be a problem at the suggested throws for the rudder but that looked like it would affect taxiing with so little travel to me.  Anyway, I'm very happy with my purchase and look forward to showing off the maiden on a video...........if Mother Nature ever decides to stop torturing us here in the midwest :@ .

Steve

[hr]
Thanks for the information I got my FW P51 back in December and have been just living with the problem.  During this ugly nasty weather I can take time to fix it right. Again thanks for the info.

[rc-eflyer]

RE: My fix for FW P-51 tail wheel woes.

No problem, I'm usually the one receiving help, good to be on the other end for once. :)

Steve