Pietenpol-List: wood prop balancing, torqing, and blade tracking
Posted: Mon May 14, 2012 2:45 pm
Original Posted By: "Greg Cardinal"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: wood prop balancing, torqing, and blade trackingBeing somewhat of a lazy sort about some things I've let my annual prop relax-and-retorque of the boltsgo a few years and even more importantly had not balanced or tracked the prop in a while.Last fall I was experiencing some vibrations that were a bit annoying in flight so a few weeks ago I removedmy prop, sanded it all down and refinished it. Ala the Tony Bingelis books I balanced the prop with a simplehome made balancing tool and used appropriate amounts of clear spray lacquer on the light blade (allowing itto dry overnight) to get a perfect balance.I tracked the prop with appropriate shims (brown grocery store bag folded behind the prop works just fine) againala the Bingelis books and boy what a difference after it was all final torqued and done.Smooth and silky on takeoff and in cruise. It really makes a huge difference to take the time to balance, torque,and track your wood prop on a regular basis. Metal props can benefit from the same treatment but with the weatherextremes in temperature and humidity changes in Ohio wood props need a bit more annual TLC. It paid off nicely.Mike C.________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Pietenpol-List: wood prop balancing, torqing, and blade trackingBeing somewhat of a lazy sort about some things I've let my annual prop relax-and-retorque of the boltsgo a few years and even more importantly had not balanced or tracked the prop in a while.Last fall I was experiencing some vibrations that were a bit annoying in flight so a few weeks ago I removedmy prop, sanded it all down and refinished it. Ala the Tony Bingelis books I balanced the prop with a simplehome made balancing tool and used appropriate amounts of clear spray lacquer on the light blade (allowing itto dry overnight) to get a perfect balance.I tracked the prop with appropriate shims (brown grocery store bag folded behind the prop works just fine) againala the Bingelis books and boy what a difference after it was all final torqued and done.Smooth and silky on takeoff and in cruise. It really makes a huge difference to take the time to balance, torque,and track your wood prop on a regular basis. Metal props can benefit from the same treatment but with the weatherextremes in temperature and humidity changes in Ohio wood props need a bit more annual TLC. It paid off nicely.Mike C.________________________________________________________________________________