Constant Speed Prop Overhaul?
 

Is there a time limit a constant speed prop can sit (unused) before it needs an overhaul? Found a prop with only 9 hours on it but it has been sitting on a plane for 10 years un-run/uncirculated.

Depends on the prop. If you can find a service manual or information on that model prop from the factory, that's your best guide.

Dave

McCauley props have a time as well as flight-hours limit for TBO. It is either 6 years or 7 years, I don't quite recall.

I don't believe Hartzell props have a time limit. Someone else may correct me.

I can share two experiences regarding McCauley props that suggest that the time limit should be respected.

First was my Whirl Wind 200RV prop which uses a McCauley hub (or a copy of a McCauley hub). It was spitting grease at 300 hrs. and five years. That apparently was from an incompatibility between the o-rings and the grease. So I had it overhauled. Whirl Wind provided a replacement 0-ring kit using Viton o-rings. The overhaul shop found that the bearings and races were all badly pitted and all internals were replaced.

Second was a McCauley 3-blade prop on a Cessna 182 that had 400 hrs, but that was almost 20 years. So I had it overhauled. The overhaul shop found that the bearings and races were all badly pitted and all internals were replaced.

The MT prop on our RV 10 had a 7year inspection period.

I talked to a MT authorized shop and they said this was based on a couple potential issues------grease seals becoming dry/brittle/shrunken and the wood core of the prop drying out and shrinking enough to cause issues at the hub end.

I was told how to check for the above issues, and luckily things were just fine.

I suggest you talk to the prop manufacture or a shop authorized by the manufacture to do service work.

I had a similar situation with my Hartzell. Very low hours, but OH was long ago. Had Sensenich up on Lancaster PA do an IRAN and reseal. Cost about $1200 iirc, but came back looking like new and gave me a lot of confidence in it.

What is the usual prop overhaul on a 3 blade constant speed? McCauley.

I just had one done in December. Mine was an oil-filled type, not sure that matters. D3A36C435 / 80VEA-0
Two prop shops quoted exactly the same price, $4800 + parts. Came out to be $5600.

Thanks everyone! That helps me a ton!

Check if the prop shop can do an "IRAN" instead of an overhaul-----might be lower cost.

We have recently had introduced a low use inspection for c/s props in UK/Europe. It allows for a lot more practicality to be shown towards the calendar overhaul when not a lot of hours have been flown. It also means no blade strip, re roll and subsequent overhaul damage to the blade.

Most manufacturers have a 6 year overhaul period but if you buy new, the first 2 years storage does not start the clock ticking but it does after that.

Unlike engines, props can't go onto 'extension'. Time is the key.

MT have a low use programme, as do Hartzell. If you have a McCauley, expect corrosion with time, my shop said they were far and away the worst on inspection.