Lost a keeper

**Cribbs74** Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:32 pm

While flying the Bean this evening the engine conked out coming out of a loop. I was flying over concrete and came down hard on the gear. One of my perfect wheels popped off and I lost it, darn it!!!!!

So is it normal to solder on the spring wheel keepers? Or are they just supposed to stay put?

I am getting tired of tanked reedies. They always cut out when needed most.

Ron

**RknRusty** Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:37 pm

Yep, my favorite saying, they quit before the Captain extinguishes the Fun Light.

Damn, dude, you scared me. I was afraid of what I might read about when I opened this thread.

Get some of the Dubro wheel collars with an allen set screw. Secure them with a dab of epoxy on the threads. If you ever want to unscrew one, heat the set screw with a soldering iron and it melts the glue and comes loose easily.

**Cribbs74** Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:44 pm

Yeah, I have some of those, just using the old spring style at the moment. I may have to rethink that as this is the second time it's happened. Didn't mean to frighten you. The Ring is OK the Bean is too, just a little tilted at the moment lol!

duke.johnson Fri Mar 22, 2013 8:51 pm

Maybe it's a little farmer-ish, but I solder on flat washer to hold the wheels on. If you do a nice job it looks like a hub cap.

**Cribbs74** Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:15 pm

You know Duke, I have done that too on the Ringmaster tail wheel. I was wondering how solder sticks to steel piano wire though.

Ron

Jason_WI Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:18 pm

Ron,

Those spring wheel keepers you got from me had a tail light guarantee lol!

**Cribbs74** Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:30 pm

Jason_WI wrote:Ron,

Those spring wheel keepers you got from me had a tail light guarantee

Ha! They were NIP so I can't complain. Probably worked as well as they did when new. I was bummed that I lost the vintage Perfect balloon wheel.

Kim Fri Mar 22, 2013 10:55 pm

[quote="cribbs74"]You know Duke, I have done that too on the Ringmaster tail wheel. I was wondering how solder sticks to steel piano wire though.

Ron[/quote

If you rough up the end of the wire a bit with q sanding block or Dremel cutting wheel, the solder will flow out and grab it. Also, tinning the washer beforehand will make it bond quickly with the wire.

**Cribbs74** Fri Mar 22, 2013 11:08 pm

[quote="Kim"]

cribbs74 wrote:You know Duke, I have done that too on the Ringmaster tail wheel. I was wondering how solder sticks to steel piano wire though.

Ron[/quote

If you rough up the end of the wire a bit with q sanding block or Dremel cutting wheel, the solder will flow out and grab it. Also, tinning the washer beforehand will make it bond quickly with the wire.

Thanks Kim,

I will give it a shot. One of the local Kansas Wichihawks says he has a bucket of old wheels that I can dig through.

I looked for that stupid wheel for a good 1/2hr. Kicking the grass and walking the perimeter of the circle. Pavement is great in takeoff and textbook landings, but the forced ones are brutal.

Ron

**RknRusty** Sat Mar 23, 2013 2:17 am

That wheel could have rolled a half a mile.
I soldered a stop on a piano wire linkage one time and it's solid. It takes a beating every time i pull down elevator on my first Streak. That was a work-around for a building mistake.

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