Question about Superskeg TA4 Turnaround

[rogerflies]

I'm sure there are some here who use the TA4 turnaround ( http://www.superskeg.com/ ). I've got several questions about it:

Does the line ever get caught between the snap link and the side plates at the back of the pulley?

Does the three-legged stand ever tip forward and pull up the rear stake? Do you use additional ropes and stakes to hold it?

Have you ever "launched" a TA4? :eek:

Do you like the TA4 better than other turnarounds you've used? Why?

Thanks,
Roger

[KevinSheen]

Roger,

The only time I've ever had a line problem at the turnaround was when tensioned line after a zoom launch had somehow made its way through the pulley and created a rats nest on the 'lower' side of the pulley. I think this happened once.

The other issue I have had was when I didn't pound the stakes into the ground so they were flush with the tripod base, the line can catch on the head of the spike (clearly user fault on this one). I would like to say this has happpened once but sadly it hasn't....

Never had the tripod lift using 3 - 12" spikes to keep it secure. I normally pound the two front spikes in toward each other and the back one is usually toward the pulley. I also use a good sized washer on the spike.

I wanted a turnaround which would help keep the line out of the weeds, works pretty good for that as opposed to the T-3 which sits on the ground. The really nice thing about the T3 is that it will pass a chute, retriever bridle, etc - the T4 will pass very little other than the line.

The times I've disassembled the pulley on the T4, it has had very little 'gunk' in it, between the pulley and the side plates. The bearing is sealed but I still like to occassionally look.

I don't know if you can go wrong with either ta - just understand what each can and can't do.

Other ta's I've used, bicycle hub on a wood slab - works but a pain, jumps off the hub anytime it wants, burns the line, etc. Cheap though...

good luck, Kevin

[Hostage-46]

I'm sure there are some here who use the TA4 turnaround ( http://www.superskeg.com/ ). I've got several questions about it:

Does the line ever get caught between the snap link and the side plates at the back of the pulley?

Does the three-legged stand ever tip forward and pull up the rear stake? Do you use additional ropes and stakes to hold it?

Have you ever "launched" a TA4? :eek:

Do you like the TA4 better than other turnarounds you've used? Why?

Thanks,
Roger

I've had the TA-4 for two seasons and I've never had a problem with line tangles.

I did have an issue keeping things put in soft ground in the spring, but that was not the turnaround's fault, had I used more manly stakes, things would have been fine.

[Robglover]

Roger -

We used a dozen of the TA4 turnarounds for 5 days at the Nats. They worked flawlessly for thousands of launches. No line hangs, no pullouts, no launched turnarounds.

Are they better than any other turnaround that has ever or will ever exist? Who knows. I don't care. They work just fine and are more than good enough to launch any plane I have.

Having said all this, the folks who set up and operate the equipment at the Nats are moderately competent in most cases. I'm sure that a really talented individual could manage to screw up a TA4.