Prince props?? - Page 2

breister · #11 08-21-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luebben

I have had a prince prop for a few years. Very smooth and had no problems except that rain erodes the leading edge. I just can not pull the throttle back when I run through some rain. I do have leading edge protectors on it. I sent it back in to Lonnie and he replaced the leading edge protectors, and repainted the prop and it looks like new again. I have since converted to constant speed prop which has increased my climb but the top end speed is the same. I have the propeller for sale if interested. It is for a 360 lycoming. New price $2000. I just paid $500 last summer for the re-condition. I'll sell it for $1000.

I had the same experience. Loved the prop (and the way the black carbon version looked) but, at least at that time, they did not have nickel leading edges available and heavy rain would abrade their "edge protector." They will re-finish for a modest charge if you don't wait until it gets bad, but until they start using a metal leading edge protector I would classify it as a VFR-only prop.

MikeS · #12 12-14-2009, 11:14 AM

> "but until they start using a metal leading edge protector I would classify it as a VFR-only prop."

I'll second that. Very light rain trashed the outside leading edges of my Prince recently. I've run through similar rain with a Sterba with the urethane leading edge protection with no damage. Prince needs to do some better leading edge protection engineering - it's actually a manufacturing defect if you pay extra for leading edge protection and then ruin your edges with light rain . . . and then get charged to fix it on top of it all. Lonnie is a nice guy, but that's plain bad business.

twsurveyor · #13 12-14-2009, 03:21 PM

I have a Prince "P-Tip" on my O-360 RV-6A. I recently had occasion to put an 85" Sensenich on my RV and test it against my Prince. The Prince is rated as an 80" pitch as opposed to an 85" pitch for the Sensenich. Long and short of it is that @ 2450RPM and 7500' DA the Prince was 1 MPH faster (and smoother) than the Sensenich! The Sensenich did seem to have more torque than the Prince (probably becauce of the weight) but the Prince was more responsive and climbed better than the Sensenich. Conclusion......... I'll stick w/ the Prince!

Tommy Walker
RV-6A, N 350 TW
470 Hrs &"Climbing!

cguarino · #14 12-14-2009, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeS

> "but until they start using a metal leading edge protector I would classify it as a VFR-only prop."

I'll second that. Very light rain trashed the outside leading edges of my Prince recently. I've run through similar rain with a Sterba with the urethane leading edge protection with no damage. Prince needs to do some better leading edge protection engineering - it's actually a manufacturing defect if you pay extra for leading edge protection and then ruin your edges with light rain . . . and then get charged to fix it on top of it all. Lonnie is a nice guy, but that's plain bad business.

I love my P-Tip but it is water soluble. In fact it is at Prince right now getting redone. Lonnie said he is installing a new and improved leading edge protector. We will see. I never had that problem with either a Sterba or Performance props but then again they didn't have the T/O power of the P-Tip either. I guess everything is a comprimise.

n5lp · #15 12-14-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twsurveyor

...The Sensenich did seem to have more torque than the Prince (probably becauce of the weight) but the Prince was more responsive...

Maybe more responsive means that RPM changes more quickly due to less rotating mass, I can't figure out what the "more torque" means, at all.

twsurveyor · #16 12-14-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n5lp

Maybe more responsive means that RPM changes more quickly due to less rotating mass, I can't figure out what the "more torque" means, at all.

"More torque" (when it comes to the Sensenich prop) means that RPM changes more slowly, due to more rotating mass!

Thanks for asking!
Tommy Walker

Mike Stansbury · #17 12-14-2009, 07:57 PM

I never knew you fella's could use such big words like torque

Just the same. Tommy is the prince a 3 blade prop?

twsurveyor · #18 12-14-2009, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Stansbury

Tommy is the prince a 3 blade prop?

No, Just 2 blades. Not having "deep pockets" I couldn't afford 3.

Tommy

carguy614 · #19 12-15-2009, 05:43 AM

a Prince 3 blade prop. Anyone else?? Have seen a few 2 bladers on Sonex, and a couple of RV's. Met a guy with a Smith Super Cub (BIG HP monster...) that told me it was the ONLY prop that ever worked good on his plane. Looked odd screwed to the front of that big tall Cub. It was beat up so bad it scared me, but the old timer was unconcerned. "It'll look a lot worse than that after I get back from Alaska..."
Never heard a bad thing about them.

Regards,
Chris

MikeS · #20 12-15-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cguarino

I love my P-Tip but it is water soluble. In fact it is at Prince right now getting redone. Lonnie said he is installing a new and improved leading edge protector. We will see. I never had that problem with either a Sterba or Performance props but then again they didn't have the T/O power of the P-Tip either. I guess everything is a comprimise.

My Sterba turns faster than the Prince since it has less pitch. That means it is hitting the rain harder and still I never have noticed damage to the urethane leading edge protection that came with it. It took very little rain to dissolve the outside leading edges of the Prince. Lonnie has told me also that he has improved the leading edge material. We'll see. I could buy a new Sterba for what it's costing me to get the repair done.

But then I'd just have a Sterba. I have been very pleased with the performance of the Prince, until I ran into the rain recently back East.