Does a B18 Tailwheel fit a P47

[station 342]

HI, Anyone know if you could use a Beech 18 tailwheel hub [ 14 1/2 " type ] on a P47 tailwheel axle , I know you would more than likely have to change the bearings ?.
I am having a job finding a real P47 one for my tail wheel assembly .
Many thanks in advance and have a GREAT NEWYEAR

[51fixer]

HI, Anyone know if you could use a Beech 18 tailwheel hub [ 14 1/2 " type ] on a P47 tailwheel axle , I know you would more than likely have to change the bearings ?.
I am having a job finding a real P47 one for my tail wheel assembly .
Many thanks in advance and have a GREAT NEWYEAR

I believe the 18 has a straight axle so bothe bearings are the same.
If the axle is tapered that would require something different.
Later P-51 Tail Wheels were modified by Hayes by machining some other existing wheels and adding steel plates on each side with the required bearing cones for the bearings.
Maybe some known wheel could be modified in a similar way.

[station 342]

Thanks for the reply, I guy I know said he could turn a wheel from billet if all else fails.
Still hoping the real thing may turn up !..

[51fixer]

Thanks for the reply, I guy I know said he could turn a wheel from billet if all else fails.
Still hoping the real thing may turn up !..

What is the P/N, axel diameters if tapered, dimensions, bearings used?
Is it a 14SC tailwheel?

[station 342]

HI Rich,
Iam away from home at the moment , so I can't look up the part #.
I do know from the memory that the wheel is 14.50 S.C and the tyre is the same as the TBM,
I know the TBM tailwheel may or may not be the same but I think I'd have a job finding one in the U.K !.
I may put this problem to one side and get on with some other P47 parts for now , whilst I weigh up the options.
Many Thanks Phil .

[T-28mike]

Talk to John at Lone Star Flight Museum, They use a modern tire arrangement on their P-47.

[station 342]

Thanks for the info, I don't really want to update the wheel if possible , whilst Iam trying to restore what I can of my parts collection to a airworthy condition if I am ever lucky enough to collect manufacture find? all the parts needed to complete a P47 it will surely end up as a static airframe ! ....
many thanks

[jasonp51d]

Station 342,

Can you give us more details of your build & photos?

We at the Bottisham Airfield Museum are putting together a P-51 cockpit section and may one day contemplate a P-47 cockpit build.

Many thanks

Jason
www.bottishamairfieldmuseum.org.uk

[station 342]

HI Jason,
Iam aware of your P51 project and have followed your postings here and over on the Flypast forum.
I will post pics of the build when I get to that stage , at the moment Iam gathering parts and restoring them as and when possible. Iam just about to put the finishing touches to my 3rd P47 instrument panel , I have been building these as trades for other P47 parts !.
I have always thought of the P47 as my retirement proect and by the time I have enough parts to build it may well be.

If you do dicide to build up a P47 I have the drawings on microfilm and all the manuals, we may be able to help each other in the future ?.

Waiting for some serious attention I have 95% of the parts to assemble a complete Malcolm hood .
I can e-mail you more details if you would like .
Best regards

[jasonp51d]

Hi,

Yes we could certainly work together in the future and we would love it if you could display some items at one of our open days.

If you could email me some details to jasonwebb@bottishamairfieldmuseum.org.uk

Cheers

Jason