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Czech Tail Cradle

 
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skyking76t(at)verizon.net
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 5:44 pm    Post subject: Czech Tail Cradle Reply with quote

Hey you guys that have a Czech tail cradle. I need to pick your brain and gleen some of your knowledge. I bought a Czech L29 tail cradle couple of months ago. In really good to excellent shape for something 40+ years old. I've never used an original cradle so I have some questions.
I guess the first question is where do you locate the cradle pads? I used the hd box rib that is about 8"-12" from the front of the tail parting line for the front pads and the rear pads located on the heavy reinforced box rib to the rear of the speed brakes, just forward of the lower inspection door. Whole thing seemed a little far forward to me. Is that the correct position or should it be farther toward the rear? Tail/cradle didn't tip over when the tail came off which was good.
I had to jack the aircraft so the main gear tires were 6-8 or possibly more inches off the ground to get the front pads under the fuselage.The jack screws on the cradle were all the way down. I then lowered the jacks till the front of the tail section was on the front pads. Then raised the rear pads till they supported the rear of the tail (about 4 threads). The front pads fit the contour of the tail perfectly. The rear pads, however, fit fine vertically but horizontally, only half of the pads touched. Nothing is bent on the cradle.  Should the rear pads fit the contour of the tail in the horizontal plane as well as the vertical, same as the front pads? Should I modify the rear pad bracketry so the pads fit flush/full contact horizontally?
When one tried to remove the tail by pulling only the cradle handle, the tail would slide on the cradle pads. Parting line was same gap distance top and bottom so didn't seem to be in a bind. Had 2 straps holding the tail to the cradle also. Had the front of the aircraft supported so the front didn't drop when the tail came off. Finally, had one person pulling on the cradle handle and two pushing rearward on the tail so it wouldn't slide on the pads. When the tail finally came off the airframe, the exhaust pipe was perfectly centered in the tail section and came off without any problem.
The manual says two people can take the tail off in about 2.5 hours. Took us quite a bit longer, about double, for me and two other people. Would anyone have any advise or guidance for the next time? Thanks for your input.
Tony


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2017 6:38 pm    Post subject: Czech Tail Cradle Reply with quote

the tail stand has a support that attaches thru the tail skid? You have this installed? Avoid tail sliding.
The spacing of the tail stand can be adjusted by loosening the bolts. You can set it next to tail to adjust this pipe before placing under the tail. Also some stands have safety.locking bolts to keep the end pieces from sliding on the pipe shaft.


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PostPosted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 5:30 am    Post subject: Czech Tail Cradle Reply with quote

It goes behind the belly inspection pan. The main pipe of the tail dolly has a hole in it that goes directly under the tail skid and keep the tail from rotating off the dolly.I need to see my airplane or a pix to tell you exactly where it goes.

Quote:
On Mar 20, 2017, at 19:41, Anthony Royal <skyking76t(at)verizon.net (skyking76t(at)verizon.net)> wrote:
Hey you guys that have a Czech tail cradle. I need to pick your brain and gleen some of your knowledge. I bought a Czech L29 tail cradle couple of months ago. In really good to excellent shape for something 40+ years old. I've never used an original cradle so I have some questions.

I guess the first question is where do you locate the cradle pads? I used the hd box rib that is about 8"-12" from the front of the tail parting line for the front pads and the rear pads located on the heavy reinforced box rib to the rear of the speed brakes, just forward of the lower inspection door. Whole thing seemed a little far forward to me. Is that the correct position or should it be farther toward the rear? Tail/cradle didn't tip over when the tail came off which was good.

I had to jack the aircraft so the main gear tires were 6-8 or possibly more inches off the ground to get the front pads under the fuselage.The jack screws on the cradle were all the way down. I then lowered the jacks till the front of the tail section was on the front pads. Then raised the rear pads till they supported the rear of the tail (about 4 threads). The front pads fit the contour of the tail perfectly. The rear pads, however, fit fine vertically but horizontally, only half of the pads touched. Nothing is bent on the cradle. Should the rear pads fit the contour of the tail in the horizontal plane as well as the vertical, same as the front pads? Should I modify the rear pad bracketry so the pads fit flush/full contact horizontally?

When one tried to remove the tail by pulling only the cradle handle, the tail would slide on the cradle pads. Parting line was same gap distance top and bottom so didn't seem to be in a bind. Had 2 straps holding the tail to the cradle also. Had the front of the aircraft supported so the front didn't drop when the tail came off. Finally, had one person pulling on the cradle handle and two pushing rearward on the tail so it wouldn't slide on the pads. When the tail finally came off the airframe, the exhaust pipe was perfectly centered in the tail section and came off without any problem.

The manual says two people can take the tail off in about 2.5 hours. Took us quite a bit longer, about double, for me and two other people. Would anyone have any advise or guidance for the next time? Thanks for your input.

Tony



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PostPosted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 5:33 am    Post subject: Czech Tail Cradle Reply with quote

By myself, I can get it off in under 1 hour. (30 to 45 minutes)Jack it up about 4-6 inches and don’t touch the jacks until the tail is back on.
Send pix, or send video.
Quote:
On Mar 20, 2017, at 19:41, Anthony Royal <skyking76t(at)verizon.net (skyking76t(at)verizon.net)> wrote:
Hey you guys that have a Czech tail cradle. I need to pick your brain and gleen some of your knowledge. I bought a Czech L29 tail cradle couple of months ago. In really good to excellent shape for something 40+ years old. I've never used an original cradle so I have some questions.

I guess the first question is where do you locate the cradle pads? I used the hd box rib that is about 8"-12" from the front of the tail parting line for the front pads and the rear pads located on the heavy reinforced box rib to the rear of the speed brakes, just forward of the lower inspection door. Whole thing seemed a little far forward to me. Is that the correct position or should it be farther toward the rear? Tail/cradle didn't tip over when the tail came off which was good.

I had to jack the aircraft so the main gear tires were 6-8 or possibly more inches off the ground to get the front pads under the fuselage.The jack screws on the cradle were all the way down. I then lowered the jacks till the front of the tail section was on the front pads. Then raised the rear pads till they supported the rear of the tail (about 4 threads). The front pads fit the contour of the tail perfectly. The rear pads, however, fit fine vertically but horizontally, only half of the pads touched. Nothing is bent on the cradle. Should the rear pads fit the contour of the tail in the horizontal plane as well as the vertical, same as the front pads? Should I modify the rear pad bracketry so the pads fit flush/full contact horizontally?

When one tried to remove the tail by pulling only the cradle handle, the tail would slide on the cradle pads. Parting line was same gap distance top and bottom so didn't seem to be in a bind. Had 2 straps holding the tail to the cradle also. Had the front of the aircraft supported so the front didn't drop when the tail came off. Finally, had one person pulling on the cradle handle and two pushing rearward on the tail so it wouldn't slide on the pads. When the tail finally came off the airframe, the exhaust pipe was perfectly centered in the tail section and came off without any problem.

The manual says two people can take the tail off in about 2.5 hours. Took us quite a bit longer, about double, for me and two other people. Would anyone have any advise or guidance for the next time? Thanks for your input.

Tony



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PostPosted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 6:06 am    Post subject: Czech Tail Cradle Reply with quote

My tail cradle does not have a support or anyway to attach to the tail skid.  When assembling the cradle the connecting tube could not be changed. Barely could get the tube in to line up the one set of holes on each end. Mine has the safety bolts. One bolt in one end and two, horizontal and vertical in the other end. using the other set of holes would only lengthen the cradle a few inches. Sounds like I need to do a little modification. Would someone be kind enough to send me a photo of their cradle that has the tail skid securing support?
If it goes behind the belly pan, then I'm way far forward but it is positioned on the the box ribs that have the double rivet.. My skid has no way to secure the tail skid to the cradle.
I'll send some pics. Had to take the plane off the jacks to put both tail and plane into hangar due to bad weather.
Any comment on whether the rear pads should fit the contour of the tail as opposed to only half the pad touching?
Thanks for all the input.
Tony

On Tuesday, March 21, 2017 9:36 AM, William Geipel <l129bs(at)gmail.com> wrote:



By myself, I can get it off in under 1 hour. (30 to 45 minutes)Jack it up about 4-6 inches and don’t touch the jacks until the tail is back on.
Send pix, or send video.
Quote:
On Mar 20, 2017, at 19:41, Anthony Royal <skyking76t(at)verizon.net (skyking76t(at)verizon.net)> wrote:
Hey you guys that have a Czech tail cradle. I need to pick your brain and gleen some of your knowledge. I bought a Czech L29 tail cradle couple of months ago. In really good to excellent shape for something 40+ years old. I've never used an original cradle so I have some questions.

I guess the first question is where do you locate the cradle pads? I used the hd box rib that is about 8"-12" from the front of the tail parting line for the front pads and the rear pads located on the heavy reinforced box rib to the rear of the speed brakes, just forward of the lower inspection door. Whole thing seemed a little far forward to me. Is that the correct position or should it be farther toward the rear? Tail/cradle didn't tip over when the tail came off which was good.

I had to jack the aircraft so the main gear tires were 6-8 or possibly more inches off the ground to get the front pads under the fuselage.The jack screws on the cradle were all the way down. I then lowered the jacks till the front of the tail section was on the front pads. Then raised the rear pads till they supported the rear of the tail (about 4 threads). The front pads fit the contour of the tail perfectly. The rear pads, however, fit fine vertically but horizontally, only half of the pads touched. Nothing is bent on the cradle. Should the rear pads fit the contour of the tail in the horizontal plane as well as the vertical, same as the front pads? Should I modify the rear pad bracketry so the pads fit flush/full contact horizontally?  

When one tried to remove the tail by pulling only the cradle handle, the tail would slide on the cradle pads. Parting line was same gap distance top and bottom so didn't seem to be in a bind. Had 2 straps holding the tail to the cradle also. Had the front of the aircraft supported so the front didn't drop when the tail came off. Finally, had one person pulling on the cradle handle and two pushing rearward on the tail so it wouldn't slide on the pads. When the tail finally came off the airframe, the exhaust pipe was perfectly centered in the tail section and came off without any problem.

The manual says two people can take the tail off in about 2.5 hours. Took us quite a bit longer, about double, for me and two other people. Would anyone have any advise or guidance for the next time? Thanks for your input.

Tony



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