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  #1  
Old 03-12-2012, 02:59 PM
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flyboy1963 flyboy1963 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lake Country, B.C. Canada
Posts: 2,416
Default how to pick a prop? value & other considerations?

Hey guys, at risk of starting another thread, this may actually be informative for existing AND builders who have yet to buy a prop.
there are 100 threads on props, but I'd like to see if someone can share their research on this.
for example: If someone has a 150 hp Lyc., and wanted a prop for a -7, what were the choices?
fixed pitch:
hartzell wood $2000
sense wood $1100
Prince wood/comp $2000

Sense metal $2500
Hatzell metal $3000

ground adjustable:
Ivo $3000
Whirlwind $5000

you get the drift....

personally i have a Sense fixed, and love the low maintenance and long TBO, but of course, wonder if I had one inch less pitch if it would spin up better and give me more overall performance!

there.....I've kicked the nest...let's see what comes out!
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Perry Y.
RV-9a - SOLD!....
Lake Country, BC
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  #2  
Old 03-12-2012, 04:29 PM
Rupester Rupester is offline
 
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Location: Mahomet, Illinois
Posts: 2,195
Default Catto is the way to go ...

Catto props have spectacular performance and you'll pay no more (or even less0 than you would a "standard brand" prop. Personally, I wouldn't go any other way.
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Terry Ruprecht
RV-9A Tip-up; IO-320 D2A
S. James cowl/plenum
(Dues paid thru Nov '18)
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  #3  
Old 03-12-2012, 05:21 PM
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cln1owner cln1owner is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ehprata, WA
Posts: 318
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by flyboy1963 View Post
ground adjustable:
Ivo $3000
Whirlwind $5000
Has the Wirlwind gone up that much? I paid $3300.00 a year ago.
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Nate Benson
Ephrata, WA
RV9A/Slider N608MA
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"If you think you can do a thing, or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
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  #4  
Old 03-12-2012, 06:00 PM
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flyboy1963 flyboy1963 is offline
 
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Location: Lake Country, B.C. Canada
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Default really? no-one has done this?

Nate, you win the prize for being first to do exactly what I feared.
I am looking for someone who has some numbers to share with all of us, from their research.
I HAVEN'T DONE IT! these are NOT real prices, just an example of what I'd like to do if I had, oh, say, a bit more free time.
thanks
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RV-9a - SOLD!....
Lake Country, BC
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  #5  
Old 03-14-2012, 07:17 AM
Phlyan Pan Phlyan Pan is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 174
Default Sterba

A Sterba fixed pitch wood prop was less than $600 last time I checked. If you're not really sure what you'll want ultimately or if you're running out of money and just want to get into the air, seems like a great option to me.

How long does it take to change a prop? At that price, it wouldn't be out of the question to have one pitched for climb and one pitched for cruise and change them out depending on the mission.
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  #6  
Old 03-14-2012, 08:44 AM
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Neal@F14 Neal@F14 is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Wichita Falls, TX
Posts: 2,182
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by flyboy1963 View Post
personally i have a Sense fixed, and love the low maintenance and long TBO, but of course, wonder if I had one inch less pitch if it would spin up better and give me more overall performance
Seems like all the Sensenich fixed pitch metal props for all O-320 equipped RVs have the 2600 RPM limitation, which may be a problem if you want to want to "spin up better". Their metal prop offerings for 180hp O-360, and 118hp O-235 engines on RVs don't have that RPM restriction.

See their application guide here: http://www.sensenich.com/files/docum...1266529729.pdf
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Airplaneless once again...
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  #7  
Old 03-14-2012, 01:18 PM
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MauiLvrs MauiLvrs is offline
 
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Location: KTCY
Posts: 643
Default

3 choices.

MT $10k+ (and other similar)
Hartzell $6k+ (ours)
Catto $2+
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Dave & Trina
RV-9A Flying - 330 Hrs. Painted Finishing the interior.
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  #8  
Old 03-14-2012, 05:48 PM
painless painless is offline
 
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Location: Peshtigo, Wisconsin
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rupester View Post
Catto props have spectacular performance and you'll pay no more (or even less0 than you would a "standard brand" prop. Personally, I wouldn't go any other way.
+1. Extremely happy Catto owner here.
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RV6A N782P
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  #9  
Old 03-14-2012, 06:00 PM
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FORANE FORANE is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: East TN
Posts: 564
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Quote:
Originally Posted by painless View Post
+1. Extremely happy Catto owner here.
If I were looking for another prop, I would likely get a 3 blade Catto prop. I loved that prop - smooth, good climb (not as good as constant speed but still good), good cruise, etc.
I would insist on the metal leading edge option though. I have a Catto prop hanging on the wall in my garage because the leading edge did not hold up to the abuse my type of flying would subject it to.
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  #10  
Old 03-14-2012, 06:01 PM
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lockeed lockeed is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Gaspe, Qc
Posts: 139
Default

Can anyone shed some light on some "real" performance numbers with a Catto / O-360 combo in a RV6 or 7 ?

I own a Sterba, and I can assure anyone that the price shouldn't let you build a negative opinion of it. It's very smooth, I get Van's published performance numbers dead on. Also, a wood prop as a way of bending and flexing that is very diffferent than a metal or composite one... At higher speed, it feels like it adjust itself to the power setting almost as a CS speed prop would do...

But, I've heard a great deal of satisfied Catto owners and would really like to compare numbers. Real numbers that is! Often, when people pay much more, they instinctly feel like their getting much more... not always the case!!
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