The International Cessna^® 170 Association

A Scott pneumatic tail wheel being so expensive, I adapted an inexpensive similar sized industrial wheel from Harbor Freight to carry as an emergency spare.
It was used once by a friend to get home from Idaho and worked fine. The hub in those wheels is off center so a spacer system has to be adapted to center the tire in the fork. The Scott 1/2 in. axle can be bushed up to 5/8 in. to fit the industrial hub by using a piece of 1/2 in. copper pipe. I used 5/8 in. washers to center the wheel.
The Harbor Freight wheel, including tire, tube, and bearings, all assembled, costs about $4.00.

Of course I only related part of the story. Some other tidbits. The USFWS pilot was given instructions to relay a message to my buddy that I had 2-3 days worth of food water and shelter and I could wait for proper repair if not simply extraction. My pal knew the weather for the following day called for 50 mph winds rain and snow at the top of the canyon. Could easily have been 70mph at the bottom. The Missouri Breaks is notorious for its mud. One drop of rain and you will be stuck for a week even in a 4 wheeler. The plane was in a spot where my tie downs probably would not have held. Since that event 3 weeks ago I believe the strip has been unusable since and currently is buried in snow and sub zero temps. My pal and I gave careful thought to each and every decision and action that day. We felt there was no risk to human injury but the plane was at risk with our fix. He had built and rebuilt more planes and engines under supervision than I can begin to count. All the work on my plane is done by me under the supervision of the mechanics. They love me as it is the only time they can be the boss, They just sit around and supervise. That includes my last engine overhaul. The last time the spring was changed I did it supervised. When the plane got home guess who did it - me. My mechanics and I have a great relationship - I don't trust them and they don't trust me. Since that event I walk around stunned that I was so lucky. Lucky for the USFW pilot to be able to relay my needs. You know your out there when not even an airliner responds to 121.5. Lucky to have a pal who was able to help with parts, experience and the ability to get to me. Lucky to still have a plane and not just a crumpled ball of aluminum at the bottom of a canyon. Unfortunately I had to break a rule or two but these were extraordinary circumstances. Saved the insurance company 30k in hull and probably 20k in extraction costs. Would have been willing to walk away that day and let insurance pay but if I could save my 170 safely I was going to get er done.

I thought this pic (previously posted) might again be appropo:
Another inexpensive "spare" can be found for about $17 at HF and Northern Tool, using bluEldr's bushing (or not.):

Krines, Everything you say makes sense to me. Thanks for telling us. Always good to hear about success!

George, I gotta laugh. Thanks for posting that pic. During the couple hour wait for help I kept trying to remember that pic and how it worked. I kept running it through my mind but could not remember the way in which the wood blocks were secured to the spring. Where I was there was all kinds of junk in which to rig something up but I just couldn't figure it out. Now I won't forget the details of that pic.

Hey!!! Do not knock Aerohabor Freight. Not long ago a " friend " purchased a tire and tube from them as spare for his " wheel barrow" This tire and tube was put on a shelf in the hangar for about 6 months and forgotten about . It was going to be a emergency spare ( for his wheel barrow ) . A friend of his ( who leaves the decathlon in the hangar) borrowed a tire and tube from the spares shelf as his aircraft (decathlon) was needed over the weekend for training . Time passed and then the decathlon owner then informed my friend about the borrowed item . The wheel was inspected and the tire has suffered about 260 landings and was still in reasonable shape . The tire was 6 ply and was pressured to about 45 psi .
So do not knock Aero Habor Freight.

There are no current specifications, mil-spec or otherwise, for aircraft inner tubes. (The AF specification was declared "obsolete" in 1962.)

blueldr wrote:A Scott pneumatic tail wheel being so expensive, I adapted an inexpensive similar sized industrial wheel from Harbor Freight to carry as an emergency spare.
It was used once by a friend to get home from Idaho and worked fine. The hub in those wheels is off center so a spacer system has to be adapted to center the tire in the fork. The Scott 1/2 in. axle can be bushed up to 5/8 in. to fit the industrial hub by using a piece of 1/2 in. copper pipe. I used 5/8 in. washers to center the wheel.
The Harbor Freight wheel, including tire, tube, and bearings, all assembled, costs about $4.00.

I went to the Northern "Chinese tool store" today and found this solid tire/wheel combination for $19.99. It is the right size with the correct 1/2" axle with greasable ball bearings centered on the wheel so no bushings required, it should be a direct slip in place. The tread is even the same. No load or speed ratings are given, I'm expecting not much of either.

ghostflyer wrote:Hey!!! Do not knock Aerohabor Freight. Not long ago a " friend " purchased a tire and tube from them as spare for his " wheel barrow".................The wheel was inspected and the tire has suffered about 260 landings and was still in reasonable shape.............

So your "friend" has a flying wheelbarrow? I want to see that Youtube!

Richard P.,

How do you keep that $19.99 wheel with the 1/2 " axle hole centered in the tail wheel fork?

Dick, I haven't measured it yet but it looks like the width is identical to the Scott tailwheel. You might need spacers if it is too narrow, or just let it float. It's only for emergency use anyway.

hilltop170 wrote:So your "friend" has a flying wheelbarrow? I want to see that Youtube!

It's not a wheelbarrow, but ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26PpA1kFIWw

Dave-
I saw a flying lawnmower at Old Rhinebeck, couldn't figure out how it worked other than bolt on enough hp and you can fly a concrete block. It actually was very maneuverable. I still want to see a wheelbarrow fly!

hilltop170 wrote:... bolt on enough hp and you can fly a concrete block....!

McDonnell-Douglas Phantoms come to mind.....

blueldr wrote:Richard P.,

How do you keep that $19.99 wheel with the 1/2 " axle hole centered in the tail wheel fork?

I went to the airport today to compare the Scott tailwheel with the new $19.99 solid tailwheel/tire from the Chinese Tool Store. It matched up almost perfectly so it's a direct bolt-in replacement for emergency purposes, no spacers required. The Scott tailwheel tire was a little under inflated. The side to side picture looks like the solid tire is not symmetrical but that is just the angle of the picture, the solid tire is symmetrical side to side.