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article on cutting cowl for 3 blade prop
LifeofReiley ,
Do you mind sending me a copy of that article too? I should be getting in my 3 blade Catto prop next week and will be able to start the cowl trimming soon! Thanks, Paul |
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I am a lancair driver but guess my input is welcome. I put a 3 blade catto on my lancair 235/320. Loved the prop for smoothness, beautiful, climb much better than my prior 2 blade wood prop, cruise better than my prior wood prop too. I was led to believe from what I read on the catto prop website that I could run it in the rain. The leading edge tape would protect it at WOT in the rain WHERE YOU COULD KEEP THE TAPE ON THE LEADING EDGE. I could not get the tape to adhere to the tip though. I would upload an image of the damage I sustained to mine after just 1 flight but cannot seem to get the upload image button to work. Unfortunately if you are planning on running in the rain, I would look for a prop which has metal leading edge. I now run a MT prop with metal leading edge because the catto just would not hold up to the flying in the rain. I understand craig recently added a leading edge nickel. With the nickel I would say he would have one of the best props out there for planes such as ours. Without the nickel, I would not buy another catto prop unless I intended to use it solely in dry air. |
Rain, rain go away...
JB/LOR,
My original Catto 2 blade was subjected to many threats over 10 years including grass, gravel, mud, sandy strips and lots of rain. I found out after flying through rain at 2400 RPM that the prop chipped easily and paint was removed. I called Craig and as always was very helpful. I experimented with "prop guard" tape back then and it did work with the exception noted above but I lost about 1% performance. I experimented and found the TEAM propeller tape to be even better than PG at half the cost. My current newly designed 2 blade nickel LE Catto is a wonderful prop and performs exceedingly well. However, I have already chipped the inboard leading edge (where the nickel ends) in light rain. My previous MT has a black rubber tape strip there for protection. Craig might take a note from the Whirlwind adjustable design and make his nickel leading edge full length. http://www.whirlwindpropellers.com/g..._lycoming.html Overall, the Catto 2 blade is an excellent prop value and far exceeds anything else out there for the price. Smokey |
Ray
You should have no problem getting the propguard or other tape of your choice to adhere that far inbound. My MTV prop does have the black rubberish moulding you described inboard of the metal leading edge. Back when I was running the catto prop I too experimented with various tapes and ended up using a black 3M tape bought from aircraft spruce. I don't remember the exact number but I believe it was 8672. While it would not hold outboard, it did very well inboard of the nickel where you would need it. |
2 or 3 blade Catto,
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Personally, I really don't like the look of the 3 blade with the o-320. I don't know which engine you have but the blade thickness is rather slender with the 3 blade on the 320.. I think my 2 blade is awesome. I have no regrets and would do the same again.
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