I know people in the other thread talked about an easier way of locking down the zero's tail wheel, but I just wasn't understanding the safest way to lock it without breaking it. I've tried but just can't get it to lock like the 21C Corsair. Can anyone give me clearer instructions on locking it and unlocking it? In case I ever want to raise the gear again...
Thanks,
Michael
Zero tail wheel
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tmanthegreat
- Officer - Brigadier General
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- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:38 pm
- Location: Central California
It doesn't lock - unfortunantly. If you want a very simple solution without midifying the plane, make some sort of brace that will hold the gear open when it is retracted and sitting on a surface. I used a little piece of balas wood, but other members have used paper clips, styrafoam, and wire. Hope this helps!
Tail Wheel Problem
I have to agree the tailwheel design is a problem, but I disagree that it DOES lock down with a little help. At the end of the arm (opposite the end with the wheel) there is a "C" shaped yoke that locks the gear down when extended all the way. The problem is...the "C" is supposed to engage a cross-bar...and most A6M's from BBI have the clearance too close. Shine a flashlight into the gearwell and you can see the "C" and the cross-bar. I bent a paperclip straight with a short "L" at one end. I then snaked the "L" inside to pull on the "C" yoke while applying a little pressure down on the tailwheel. It popped into the down and locked position with a little work. I haven't tried to retract the gear since, but I'm confident I can without breaking it. You may have to use another paperclip should you want it down and locked again. I'd give you pictures, but the area is so tight, none have come out that make any sense. Hope that helps you, but it can be done.
US Army MP Corps combat veteran Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
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tmanthegreat
- Officer - Brigadier General
- Posts: 11239
- Joined: Tue Oct 05, 2004 7:38 pm
- Location: Central California
I just got the Zero tail wheel to lock in the downward position 
You just have to pull it down, with a little force, and it locks. There are two prongs on the strut. The first one, closest to the wheel, clips into a semi-cirrcular crossbar to hold the gear up when retracted located in the base of the tail. There is a second prong on the strut behind the first, that when pushed with a little force, pushes past a round cross bar that runs just forward of the semi-cirricular one in the base of the tail. This tightly locks the wheel down. I have extended and retracted it several times now, so it works!
One learns something new every day.
You just have to pull it down, with a little force, and it locks. There are two prongs on the strut. The first one, closest to the wheel, clips into a semi-cirrcular crossbar to hold the gear up when retracted located in the base of the tail. There is a second prong on the strut behind the first, that when pushed with a little force, pushes past a round cross bar that runs just forward of the semi-cirricular one in the base of the tail. This tightly locks the wheel down. I have extended and retracted it several times now, so it works!
One learns something new every day.
