Prop Shop Recommendation

[Chuck Hazekamp]

I used H & S Propeller, 8220 Old White Lake Rd, White Lake Charter Township, MI 48386 for a Sensenich standard prop IRAN. Very happy with the service and the prop came back looking like new. They do a lot of commercial work from what I saw.

[propjoe]

Originally Posted by Skid

I used Aircraft Propellor Service in the Chicago area. They were next to PWK at that time but I see they are now in Lake Zurich. They also had a pickup and delivery service which I found out about after I drove my prop down to them, however they did deliver it back to my hangar. Not sure if the delivery service goes as far as Racine.

I work there, Aircraft Propeller Service. I wish I would have seen this sooner. Our driver lives in Racine, so pick would be no problem. We usually go throughout the tri-state area for FOC pickups, even further if we are going out that far, or can group pickups together. We like to group them together if possible to save gas and diving time. If you would like to drop it off and get the nickel tour send me a note and I'll give you the tour.

[KayS]

Originally Posted by vic syracuse

I hate to call things out, but this is REALLY bad advice on 2 counts. We have single engine airplanes with one prop. We probably should try to adhere to the manufacturer's recomendations. The 2 most common props on our RV's, the Hartzell and the MT have BOTH a recommended Time period (2000 hours as an example) AND a Calendar time period, usually 7-8 years. We do a lot of CI's at Base Leg Aviation, sometimes 3 or more per week. I have removed props, with almost the exact same time and hours on them off of RV's the same week and have seen them come back with one passing and one needing lots of internal work to pass. To me, and my customers, it is not worth the risk of not having them overhauled.

Second, NEVER try to replenish the grease by pumping it all out. You will definitely damage the interior of the prop. THe MT's do not require any servicing, but the Hartzell's specifically tell you to only put grease in them until you start to see it come out the other fitting, not to exceed 1 0Z, which is usually about 6 pumps on the grease gun. And always put the grease in from front to back on the blade. Use Aeroshell number 6.

Vic

Hi Vic/Carl,
yesterday i pumped aeroshell #5 into my Hartzell CS BA. i removed the fittings on the other side and pumped until there was a good amount of grease squeezing out the openings. Can't remember how many times i pumped but it was sure more than 1 oz. is my propeller now over-serviced and needs disassembley in an overhaul shop?
Cheers
Kay

[swordtail]

I just drove my prop last week to East Coast Propeller Shop in Lititz PA. The complete overhaul for my 2 blade Hartzel CS was quoted at $2700. A local charter company recommended this shop, he swears by them so I gave it a try. I didn't want to box it and ship it so a three hour drive didn't seem bad to me. I should have it back next week.

[RandyAB]

Maybe a bit off topic but just how complicated are these props to assemble? Is there a lot of places to mess stuff up. I just received my MT unassembled and there is really only one option nearby me to have it assembled. As a surgeon I know that some procedures are more delicate than others and require vast experience to get it right. I’m wondering where constant speed prop assembly fits into that spectrum.

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by RandyAB

Maybe a bit off topic but just how complicated are these props to assemble? Is there a lot of places to mess stuff up. I just received my MT unassembled and there is really only one option nearby me to have it assembled. As a surgeon I know that some procedures are more delicate than others and require vast experience to get it right. I’m wondering where constant speed prop assembly fits into that spectrum.

Like anything else on an airplane, its not complicated once you have the experience. Most prop shops I have visited have (some) folks working there that don't have extensive aviation maintenance training - they came off the street and were trained to do what they do. They started simple and moved on to more complicated tasks, being mentored all the way by the folks at the shop that had certifications.

You probably learned surgery the same way - simple stuff leads to harder and more complex stuff and before you know it, you can’t explain why the easy stuff seems so easy!

The problem for the homebuilder is that we won’t ever build Up lots and lots of props under the supervision of an expert. So yeah - most folks can learn the tasks, but they wont get it right the first time...and the problem with a prop is that failures can easily be catastrophic. I’d rather have an engine failure than a prop failure!

[RandyAB]

Originally Posted by Ironflight

Like anything else on an airplane, its not complicated once you have the experience. Most prop shops I have visited have (some) folks working there that don't have extensive aviation maintenance training - they came off the street and were trained to do what they do. They started simple and moved on to more complicated tasks, being mentored all the way by the folks at the shop that had certifications.

You probably learned surgery the same way - simple stuff leads to harder and more complex stuff and before you know it, you can’t explain why the easy stuff seems so easy!

The problem for the homebuilder is that we won’t ever build Up lots and lots of props under the supervision of an expert. So yeah - most folks can learn the tasks, but they wont get it right the first time...and the problem with a prop is that failures can easily be catastrophic. I’d rather have an engine failure than a prop failure!

Thanks Paul. You are completely right. Surgery is learned one simple step at a time.

I have no intention of assembling my prop as a home builder. I’m just wondering how much faith I should have in the local prop shop.