Wheels!

[witchfingers]

Hey I do have several that the tread is worn completely off. They are pretty much smooth!

I don't know how farms can afford those. I worked with a relative down in Oklahoma that has a mobile business changing tractor flats. Has a hoist on his truck because those weigh so much. We put tubes in some of them and they pinch the tubes half the time. Most are filled with water and the bead on the rims get rusty. He showed me the invoice for the cost of those tires. BIG BUCKS.

 

[Flyingjon]

Unfortunately they're about $3500-4500 depending if you go with China made or Michelin.

 

[witchfingers]

We put a china made one on a guys tractor that was in the middle of a field he was brushing. It was an open tractor and he was doing it in 102 degree heat. Tough work. I respect where my food comes from, thats for sure. The chinese radials are stiffer but half the cost almost.

 

[witchfingers]

Experiment 52-7. "Operation groundloop". So here is how the wheels fair when you skid sideways. Wheel.....perfect. Landing gear........paint flakey but perfect. Axle.......not so good but they bent and in my opinion saved the plane from damage. Ordering up new pau axles.

 

[Terryscustom]

Ouch!

 

[dhal22]

Was the loop the wheels fault?

 

[witchfingers]

The loop was my fault. I have not modified the tailwheel spring for more athority in a crosswind. It's lumpy on one part of our grass field and the back wheel bounces like a pinball. I may do the rubber tubing setup.

 

[dhal22]

Good to hear of no plane damage.

 

[Skyluc]

you are lucky not to break the landing gear

 

[witchfingers]

I am actually glad I inadvertently got to test out the strength of the gear and the axles with the skinny inline wheels. I think I will take the bearings out and clean the grease out of the bearings and let them get rusty so the plane doesn't roll out so long.