Does anyone have any experience with Matco Tail Wheel? Curious to hear what you have to say about it.

http://www.aircraftspruce.ca/search/sea ... l&search=1

Cheers

I had the T6 on a small experimental bi-plane. I didn't
care for the steering or full swivel. Sold the plane before I replaced it.
The 6 in Maule on the J3 worked much better.
Dave

J-M,

I have the wheel (not the entire assembly) shown in #5 on the ACS page. I've been using a non-flat wheelchair tire on it, and that tire is not robust enough to stay round if it sits for very long. I tried the matco tire that they sell to fit the wheel, and it's pretty marginal - wears out too quickly IMO. Bottom line is that the wheel is very nice and well-made, suits my purpose well, but the tire is not. Cannot comment about the rest of the assembly. Not sure if this helps.

Cheers,
Greg

I know several people running the #8 from the ACS link, 8" pneumatic wheel. It operates great and is far superior to the Maul wheel I'm saddled with on my current flying Kitfox. I already have one of these Matcos for my project plane.

I have also heard the same gripe about the 7" (wheelchair tire) pneumatic wheel. That tire is not up to the task for an airplane. Even a very light one.

I think emflys had the big 10 inch Matco on the S7 he sold. Pm him if he doesn't see this thread.

I run the dual fork 8" and love it. It's my third TW set up and the best so far. Their new dual fork is sweet.

I know of some that have had problems with debris getting kicked up into the bearings and f'ing the whole thing up landing on sand and gravel. They had to build a boot or skirt to deflect the sand out of the bearings. Don't know if they have resolved that issue with the newer ones.

dirtstrip wrote:I think emflys had the big 10 inch Matco on the S7 he sold. Pm him if he doesn't see this thread.

I have always had good luck with the Matco tailwheels. I think they are well made, relatively lower cost and light. That said, they have a bit of "resistance" in the swivel that some do not like. Never bothered me.

I was running the new extruded dual fork 10/11". The 11" TW is really fat, and has good flotation. I ended up going back to the 10" as I thought it was a bit better match for the S7. The 11" dual fork combo was tested on a Mackey SQ2 though, I think by Wayne but not certain.

Email [email protected] and you will likely get a response directly from the owner - George Happ. He is a great guy, and will give you whatever info you like.

I've had very good results with two MATCO tailwheels on Taylorcrafts. What I liked is that the method of locking, unlocking, etc. is far superior to other designs. There are no small highly loaded pins, or highly loaded steel tabs and slots. The MATCO uses big thick pieces of mild steel and big bolts that will take a lot of abuse, and then can be "field repaired" if necessary using welds, patches, or cutting a new piece of cheap steel plate. The only drawback to the MATCO is that they are not certified, and he does not want to go through the certification process.

Sometimes cross-breeding is better?? Matco tire and wheel, with ABW fork assembly?

... it also makes a fairly effective brake when on skis.

Bumping this thread. I'm about to pull the trigger on a 11" Matco TW for my Bearhawk. Haven't found anyone running one on a BH yet; mostly just small planes.

whee wrote:Bumping this thread. I'm about to pull the trigger on a 11" Matco TW for my Bearhawk. Haven't found anyone running one on a BH yet; mostly just small planes.

iv got the 11" on a ex sc not the best but ok I have had to replace the center piece on it with relatively low time on it. I would not put it on a heavier aircraft. I now whish I would have just went with the ABW baby bush wheel, which is what ill be putting on next. but i worked right with matco to get replacement parts good customer service and vary helpful on getting parts

Whee it's pretty light. Great on the LSA types but I'd be skeptical on a real airplane. They are great people to deal with. They get stuff done, which ain't the norm in the EAB world.

You guys have given me pause. I've talked to George and he said it would handle the weight. I'd like to try it but maybe I shouldn't.

A guy I know just bought s (used) Legend Cub. Nice airplane, ame with a set of 26" ABW Airstreaks mounted and a Matco tailwheel. To my eye, the Matco t/w looks cheesy, although the owner says it works great. The only other Legend Cub I've seen had a Maule t/w.

I've only seen pictures but I do agree that they don't look tough. With the base being machined from a single billet and the forks being hardened 4130 I'm sure it is stronger than it looks. They are rated from 400lbs with a safety factor of 3 so at least on paper it is though.

George is a straight shooter. If he says it will work I would believe him. He is no BS'er. He'd way rather have a satisfied customer as a sale.

whee wrote:You guys have given me pause. I've talked to George and he said it would handle the weight. I'd like to try it but maybe I shouldn't.

I am just saying I my self would have rather put my money now towards an ABW.. the wheel and tire are fine. the center shaft going up through has a lot of play in it now there is a little brass spacer that kicks the ears off of the turning pin once it gets to a certain point, iv had to replace it. the ears on the abw go out and up, on the matco they only go out and the stearing cables really pull the ears up and put them in a bind if u look at johns pix up above u see what I mean about out and up on the ABW. im certainly not trying to hammer matco this is just my experience with the 11" on a super cub. good luck!!!!

I hear ya introuble but $1800 for a tailwheel is never going to happen. If I want a oversized TW im pretty much limited to the Bob Wheel Tundra of the 11"Matco.