stangflyer
I like 'em "BIG"!
THE BEHEMOTH YAK (2) GETS NEW WHEELS!
As most of you remember, I installed new Airman wheels on the new Behemoth Yak (2) when I put her together. One from the previous Yak was damaged beyond repair so I had to pick up a new set. Well, I used the Dubro 5.00 TL Tires on the new set of wheels for the big Yak. I liked them just fine, but somehow looking at them was rubbing a raw spot on my brain. They looked great, just felt they were a little too small for that size of bird. I acquired my third set of Airman wheels and got to thinking...how about if I go to a larger tire? Should work right? Well, I ordered up some Dubro 5.50TL tires and they finally arrived today.
I got busy installing the new 5.5" tires on the Airman wheels. Wow, what a chore. Who would have known that 1/2" would make that much of a difference? Well it did. A bit difficult getting them off the original plastic wheels. But finally got them off. Installing them on the Airman wheels is not that difficult thankfully. Pretty much like the 4.5" I used on my original design White Rose wheels that are now on the Baby Yak. The same as the 5" originally installed on the replacement wheels. Lube up the outside side walls of the tire with dish soap and slide them over the beads of one side of the wheel and then push them on the rest of the way. Seating the beads and making sure they are uniformly fitting to the wheel.
I was quite surprised to discover that 1/2" does in fact make a "LOT" of difference in appearance and over all looks. I think I like these much better for the big Yak.
Well, now that the first one is out of the way and installed on the Pilot Yak, its time to get busy on the second wheel and tire. Just like before, remove the tire from the original plastic wheel, cut the inside of the tire away at the precise diameter so they fit the new Aluminum Airman Wheels. I used my razor knife to cut both sides of the tire as before. Then my three inch balsa saw to complete the cut. These 5.5" are much wider than the 5".
Once the tire was installed, time for a bath and towel dry.
Bearings installed, tire and wheel dryed off and now ready to install back on the big Yak.
I must say, they do indeed look way nicer on the big yak than the smaller diameter wheels. Now I have a brand new set with axles and bearings that I can use as a back up or install on a new plane in the future. The original wheels from the big Yak only had 11 flights on them with over half of the landings on grass at Huckfest. I am going to use these on the new Pilot 40% Extra 330.
As most of you remember, I installed new Airman wheels on the new Behemoth Yak (2) when I put her together. One from the previous Yak was damaged beyond repair so I had to pick up a new set. Well, I used the Dubro 5.00 TL Tires on the new set of wheels for the big Yak. I liked them just fine, but somehow looking at them was rubbing a raw spot on my brain. They looked great, just felt they were a little too small for that size of bird. I acquired my third set of Airman wheels and got to thinking...how about if I go to a larger tire? Should work right? Well, I ordered up some Dubro 5.50TL tires and they finally arrived today.
I got busy installing the new 5.5" tires on the Airman wheels. Wow, what a chore. Who would have known that 1/2" would make that much of a difference? Well it did. A bit difficult getting them off the original plastic wheels. But finally got them off. Installing them on the Airman wheels is not that difficult thankfully. Pretty much like the 4.5" I used on my original design White Rose wheels that are now on the Baby Yak. The same as the 5" originally installed on the replacement wheels. Lube up the outside side walls of the tire with dish soap and slide them over the beads of one side of the wheel and then push them on the rest of the way. Seating the beads and making sure they are uniformly fitting to the wheel.
I was quite surprised to discover that 1/2" does in fact make a "LOT" of difference in appearance and over all looks. I think I like these much better for the big Yak.
Well, now that the first one is out of the way and installed on the Pilot Yak, its time to get busy on the second wheel and tire. Just like before, remove the tire from the original plastic wheel, cut the inside of the tire away at the precise diameter so they fit the new Aluminum Airman Wheels. I used my razor knife to cut both sides of the tire as before. Then my three inch balsa saw to complete the cut. These 5.5" are much wider than the 5".
Once the tire was installed, time for a bath and towel dry.
Bearings installed, tire and wheel dryed off and now ready to install back on the big Yak.
I must say, they do indeed look way nicer on the big yak than the smaller diameter wheels. Now I have a brand new set with axles and bearings that I can use as a back up or install on a new plane in the future. The original wheels from the big Yak only had 11 flights on them with over half of the landings on grass at Huckfest. I am going to use these on the new Pilot 40% Extra 330.
