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06-18-2013, 09:40 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Pomona, ks
Posts: 77
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Wish Id have got conversation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Jones
I called him to order my 3 blade and asked him about nickel edges. I got a 30 minute education on the phone. He claimed the nickel really didn't offer that much advantage in that it was still prone to rock damage and was harder to repair if damaged and also had the possibility of delaminating and cracking at the damaged area where the composite was really easy to fix and more forgiving. The only advantage he mentioned (besides looking cool) was the lack of a restriction flying in moderate precip. He claimed the restriction was a non issue since if you were flying in moderate precip you would reduce power anyway... He did tell me some of the large diameter carbon cub props were delaminating the nickel edge. He solved that problem, and though it was never a problem in smaller diameter rv props it has happened on a few.
Didn't sound like it was worth the extra expense to me so mine doesn't have the nickel. Love the prop too!! Craig is an awesome guy, just give him a call and he will give you a terrific education.
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Wish Id have got that conversation. Id be almost a $1000 the wiser. 
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06-19-2013, 11:11 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: East TN
Posts: 564
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Quote:
Originally Posted by badmrb
Wish Id have got that conversation. Id be almost a $1000 the wiser. 
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I have an older 3 blade Catto prop hanging on the wall of my garage because the leading edge kept eroding. In moisture free air mine worked great. Fly it in moisture as my flying mandated and suffer the results. Leading edge tape worked great where I could keep it on the prop but the tips were near impossible to keep tape on. Throttling back did not work for me; of course I had the older non-carbon fiber composite blades which may be a factor.
I really liked the Catto prop but I would not buy one again without the metal leading edge.
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06-24-2013, 02:06 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,291
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The father of a friend was operating a Catto with nickel leading edges on his float-equipped GlaStar. A chunk of the leading edge delaminated and ending up spearing into the top of the float. Not good. Craig did a great job of making things right for this customer, but still, the thought of losing a chunk of prop is in the back of this owner's mind all the time.
With respect to nickel leading edges, that material is harder than a traditional aluminum prop like the Sensi's and McCauley's we see on many airplanes. It's the quality of the substrate material that dictates how well the nickel holds up. I have a Warp Drive with nickel leading edges and after several years of operation it looks as good as new. I fly from asphalt, gravel and grass and don't throttle back in the rain. The nickel has dulled to a nice flat grey patina (save for the brighter-colored bug splats), but other than that, it's in perfect shape.
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07-05-2013, 12:56 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Pembrokeshire, UK
Posts: 224
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Feedback from my earlier post (#3) Contacted Craig with photos of hairline crack starting from screw head (not on every head) this was his replies:
Reply 1. This crack from the screw hole is somewhat common. Please let me know your engine specs in regards to compression ratio and if you are running an electronic ignition.
The cracks from the screw hole are not considered ?un-airworthy? and are an allowable when it comes to airworthiness. This has been taken from what Hartzell considers allowables for airworthiness. Our Nickel leading edges are made by the same supplier as Hartzells.
We would like to replace the propeller for you as these leading edges were our first produced and in todays production the hole has been eliminated and the Nickel is wider and longer providing more bonding surface area. The blade construction has also changed in regards to increasing the natural frequency of the blade itself, to be more in line with that of the Nickel and the power pulses of the engine.
If the cracks were in the last 6 to 8 inches of the blade, then we would want to replace immediately.
Reply 2. Your engine is good. With this setup [8.5:1 and Dual P-Mags], you are fine. In your preflight inspections, just inspect about 6? from the tip on the Nickel. With the high compression and electronic ignitions, mainly the high compression, this is the region that has the harmonic issue. The areas of the cracks you are seeing are not from harmonics, but a stress forced area from the screw hole.
So back flying and first class customer service in the offing as has so often been said about Craig Catto.
__________________
Bob Ellis
www.rv-8.co.uk
G-JBTR Having a ball flying this wonderful machine
Donation July 2016
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07-09-2013, 06:43 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 536
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Update
Just an update- The guy in Maine with the GlasAir got a new prop and a bill for $2500. No reason was given for the failure. Prop had less than 100 hours.
__________________
Mike
RV-4 #2750
N654ML
IO-360
WW150C Prop
1018 lbs
Flying
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07-09-2013, 08:38 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Pomona, ks
Posts: 77
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Henning
Just an update- The guy in Maine with the GlasAir got a new prop and a bill for $2500. No reason was given for the failure. Prop had less than 100 hours.
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I had less than 30 hrs when my crack formed and had to send it in and pay for repairs.
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07-10-2013, 02:13 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Pembrokeshire, UK
Posts: 224
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Henning
Just an update- The guy in Maine with the GlasAir got a new prop and a bill for $2500. No reason was given for the failure. Prop had less than 100 hours.
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Mike - what compression/mags did the GlasAir owner have?
__________________
Bob Ellis
www.rv-8.co.uk
G-JBTR Having a ball flying this wonderful machine
Donation July 2016
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07-10-2013, 05:58 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: St. Helens OR
Posts: 429
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huh
Quote:
Originally Posted by Michael Henning
Just an update- The guy in Maine with the GlasAir got a new prop and a bill for $2500. No reason was given for the failure. Prop had less than 100 hours.
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I would be buying a different prop if that was the case.
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07-13-2013, 09:05 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 536
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150HP/Lasar ignition (o-320)
__________________
Mike
RV-4 #2750
N654ML
IO-360
WW150C Prop
1018 lbs
Flying
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07-13-2013, 01:46 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Nashua, NH
Posts: 536
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Correction- It was a 2 blade prop.
__________________
Mike
RV-4 #2750
N654ML
IO-360
WW150C Prop
1018 lbs
Flying
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