|
-
POSTING RULES

-
Donate yearly (please).
-
Advertise in here!
-
Today's Posts
|
Insert Pics
|

02-09-2015, 07:19 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 4,218
|
|
Prop Balancing - SE USA
Over the 14 years (!) I've had my RV-6, I've made many modifications - some small, some not-so-small. Occasionally, one of the modifications results in an unintended consequence. Recently, a starter replacement (Prestolite -> Skytec) necessitated the installation of a steel flywheel weight to keep the CG where I wanted it. Unfortunately, the steel weight significantly changed the vibration level in the airplane. Presumably the flywheel weight was machined slightly "off" or the attach hardware had a little variation in it. In any case, what had been a very smooth running engine/prop gained a noticeable vibration.
So I began looking for a shop to perform a dynamic balance on the prop, and ultimately I found VAF Member/Moderator Brian Wallis here in Atlanta who could do the job. So it was a brief flight over to his home field for the prop balance a couple of weekends ago to get everything balanced.
The process was simple. Remove the cowl, chock the airplane, install a piece of reflective tape on a prop blade, and install sensors to measure prop position and vibration. Then run-up the engine with Brian monitoring things on a DynaVibe prop balancer. After that, he added a couple of weights, re-tested, and we were done. The vibration level went from 0.4 IPS to 0.04 IPS in one swell foop*. The difference is very noticeable in flight. I'm back to a very smooth running engine/prop combination which makes for a nicer flying experience.
Highly recommended (prop balancing in general and Brian's work specifically).
__________________
Kyle Boatright
Marietta, GA
2001 RV-6 N46KB
2019(?) RV-10
Last edited by Kyle Boatright : 02-10-2015 at 05:45 PM.
|

02-10-2015, 09:03 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: boynton beach fl
Posts: 210
|
|
great guy
He did my prop two weeks ago and I'm still amazed at how much different it flies.
Brian get ur transponder fixed and let's go catch some Red's.
__________________
Carl Bridges
RV7 N278RV
NOW FLYING
|

02-10-2015, 04:22 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Posts: 184
|
|
Prop Balance
Hello
I'm at PMP where is the fellow located that balanced your prop.
Thanks
716 289 4135
__________________
Aussieflyer
Donation paid for 2016
Ravin 500 completed - SOLD
RV6A QB s/n 60577 Builder -Sold
N654PT First Flight (12/22/2012)
SOLD 12/4/2015
Purchased flying RV4 N173G
Based: KPMP, Fl
|

02-10-2015, 04:43 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 917
|
|
Brian is at 62GA, I was happy volunteer customer Number 1!
__________________
Mike C.
Sierra Nevada
RV-6A bought flying
|

02-10-2015, 05:43 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Kennesaw, Ga
Posts: 825
|
|
Kyle, thanks for posting this. I've been wanting to do this locally and wanted to find someone that came recommended.... and better, a VAF member/moderator.
I will be reaching out to Brian.
Thank you
Amir
__________________
Amir
----------
RV-7
RV-10 - Sold
Supporting VAF since the first visit
|

02-10-2015, 08:15 PM
|
 |
VAF moderator
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: In Walter Mitty's dreams
Posts: 947
|
|
aww shucks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by catmandu
|
Mike caught me sucking my gut in that photo he linked to!! The prop boxes are out for calibration but will be back real soon. Mike was customer number one on the "HIGH DOLLA" Dynavibe unit. All the credit goes to Dynavibe...
Best,
Brian
__________________
Brian Wallis
(Exempt AND VAF dues paid 02 FEB 16)
Callsign: VOODOO sold RV3 to pay for ratings  !!!
AP/IA COM/Multi/IFR/350 type
|

02-10-2015, 08:30 PM
|
 |
VAF moderator
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: In Walter Mitty's dreams
Posts: 947
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kyle Boatright
Over the 14 years (!) I've had my RV-6, I've made many modifications - some small, some not-so-small. Occasionally, one of the modifications results in an unintended consequence. Recently, a starter replacement (Prestolite -> Skytec) necessitated the installation of a steel flywheel weight to keep the CG where I wanted it. Unfortunately, the steel weight significantly changed the vibration level in the airplane. Presumably the flywheel weight was machined slightly "off" or the attach hardware had a little variation in it. In any case, what had been a very smooth running engine/prop gained a noticeable vibration.
So I began looking for a shop to perform a dynamic balance on the prop, and ultimately I found VAF Member/Moderator Brian Wallis here in Atlanta who could do the job. So it was a brief flight over to his home field for the prop balance a couple of weekends ago to get everything balanced.
The process was simple. Remove the cowl, chock the airplane, install a piece of reflective tape on a prop blade, and install sensors to measure prop position and vibration. Then run-up the engine with Brian monitoring things on a DynaVibe prop balancer. After that, he added a couple of weights, re-tested, and we were done. The vibration level went from 0.4 IPS to 0.04 IPS in one swell foop*. The difference is very noticeable in flight. I'm back to a very smooth running engine/prop combination which makes for a nicer flying experience.
Highly recommended (prop balancing in general and Brian's work specifically).
|
Thank you very much for the compliment sir. Kyle's aircraft is SO nice. If your airplane is gone... it's not me but it WILL be back in an hour or so. Kyle was a unique customer for me in that he had a flywheel weight installed. That is not unheard of but made me painfully aware that I did not have any hardware in stock that was as long or longer than the bolts he was using on his flywheel to secure the weight (simply because it is rare to have a customer with a flywheel weight). If I needed to add a bunch of weight, I would probably have to do a split solution (which the machine will do for you) just to have enough threads to be legal. Fortunately we did not have to split the solution and he is a happy and legal camper. When you place a large machined weight on the crank, no matter how precise the CNC machine is, the weight will be slightly off center due to localized weight differences in the metal. All credit goes to Dynavibe for sure. Thank you guys for the good words!!!!
Best,
Brian
__________________
Brian Wallis
(Exempt AND VAF dues paid 02 FEB 16)
Callsign: VOODOO sold RV3 to pay for ratings  !!!
AP/IA COM/Multi/IFR/350 type
Last edited by brianwallis : 02-11-2015 at 05:38 AM.
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:06 AM.
|