I saw this tail wheel installation on Denny Sleen’s Legal Eagle at Oshkosh 2018. This is my version and it seems to work quite well. Saves weight, simple to build.

Hand proping the 3 cylinder radial is not difficult, it is a bit strange until you get used to it because one blade will be in a natural position, (depending where prop is mounted to hub, clock position), next blade will be low and third blade will be high, then back to natural position. If it is out of comfort range adjust prop in hub, clock position. It is not hard to prop but if it is not at idle make sure it is very firmly tied down and tied in such manner as tail cannot raise up when it starts. The torque this engine has if started above low idle is unreal and it can eat you up. If hand proping and it is difficult to start, requiring advancing throttle, make sure you check to voltage going to system.

This includes the radio antenna and wire, starter motor, big tires, EGT Belite ASI-VSI-AS, Voltmeter. I was at 242 before changing engine mount to one like on ORV. Everything adds weight.

Kept it close to runway because of all the problems that I have had with engine mounting and oil tank mounting. Made 3 passes down runway, all seemed good, a bit nose heavy but adjustments to horizontal stablizer should take care of this. Max. RPM out of engine was 2,000, prop needs some adjusting. I am running a Warp drive ground adjustable prop on this machine until I get everything dialed in, then going to a Performance Propeller wood prop.