It's a steerable full swivel that breaks away >when full rudder is pushed, then locks back in place when the plane >straightens out a little. The bellcrank is 6" on center, so I had to >redrill mine to 5" on center so it would break at the end of the rudder >travel. >Mark Langford +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I'm using the same unit as Mark described only I didn't modify it in any way and it works GREAT. It's the 4", single fork unit. It's the side loading that does the "break-away" so it doesn't matter if it's at the end of the rudder travel or not. The break-away feature is only used at VERY LOW taxi speeds. I wouldn't trade my unit for a dozen direct steer units. I'm using "Maule" tailwheel springs ordered from either Wick's or AS&S on the steering cables. My tailspring is from a automobile from the 1920's or 30's. I found it in the attic of a blacksmith shop. My tailblock is per plans except I made it thinner to drop the tail a bit. It's really nice when on the runway, at the turnaround area, on the ramp, or at the hangar, to be able to touch a brake and do a 180 while you pivot on one of the main wheels. I'm still enough of a kid to enjoy taxiing in to where the airport "bums" are hanging out, coast in with the engine shut down, touch a brake at the last second, let the KR do a 180 on one of the mains, open the canopy and yell YEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAA. As always, your results may vary........ Larry Flesner
