Prop overhaul

[tracy]

I need some thoughts. My prop, Hartzell Blended Airfoil, has 400 hrs on it, but is now 12 years old. I change the grease in hub every year and have never seen any moisture. So say you.

[Carl Froehlich]

If a hangar airplane - fly on.

Carl

[tracy]

Originally Posted by Carl Froehlich

If a hangar airplane - fly on.

Carl

So far...I like.

[Bob Martin]

I agree with Carl.
I have seen them go 20 yrs.
Mine started leaking at 9 yrs.
BTW...you are not required to OH....just reseal!
Saves a lot of money and they don't shave the blades.
Assuming no damage of course.

[Bavafa]

How do you change the grease in the hub? I wasn't aware of changing only adding 4 pumps or if grease comes out of the other port?

[tracy]

Originally Posted by Bavafa

How do you change the grease in the hub? I wasn't aware of changing only adding 4 pumps or if grease comes out of the other port?

I open both top and bottom fittings and start pumping till the old (dark) grease turns clean. You can see the difference, but it takes a lot more than 4 pumps. Maybe 15?

[Chkaharyer99]

The Hartzell Owners Manual states in part:

B. Lubrication Procedure

WARNING 1: FOLLOW LUBRICATION PROCEDURES CORRECTLY TO MAINTAIN AN ACCURATE BALANCE OF THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY.

WARNING 2: PITCH CONTROL DIFFICULTY COULD RESULT IF THE PROPELLER IS NOT CORRECTLY LUBRICATED.


(6) Pump 1 fl. oz. (30 ml) grease into the fitting located nearest the leading edge of the blade on a tractor installation, or nearest the trailing edge on a pusher installation, or until grease emerges from the hole where the fitting was removed - whichever occurs first.
NOTE: 1 fl. oz. (30 ml) is approximately 6 pumps with a hand-operated grease gun.
(7) Reinstall the removed lubrication fittings. Tighten the fittings until snug.
(a) Make sure that the ball of each lubrication fitting is properly seated.
(8) Reinstall a lubrication fitting cap on each lubrication fitting.

[Bavafa]

Originally Posted by Chkaharyer99

The Hartzell Owners Manual states in part:

B. Lubrication Procedure

WARNING 1: FOLLOW LUBRICATION PROCEDURES CORRECTLY TO MAINTAIN AN ACCURATE BALANCE OF THE PROPELLER ASSEMBLY.

WARNING 2: PITCH CONTROL DIFFICULTY COULD RESULT IF THE PROPELLER IS NOT CORRECTLY LUBRICATED.


(6) Pump 1 fl. oz. (30 ml) grease into the fitting located nearest the leading edge of the blade on a tractor installation, or nearest the trailing edge on a pusher installation, or until grease emerges from the hole where the fitting was removed - whichever occurs first.
NOTE: 1 fl. oz. (30 ml) is approximately 6 pumps with a hand-operated grease gun.
(7) Reinstall the removed lubrication fittings. Tighten the fittings until snug.
(a) Make sure that the ball of each lubrication fitting is properly seated.
(8) Reinstall a lubrication fitting cap on each lubrication fitting.

This has been the procedure that I have used in the past. I have not tried to pump enough grease to get the old one out till the new one comes out.

[tracy]

Apparently the hartzell procedure was the way it had been done before I bought the aircraft. My mechanics flushed the whole system on my first ci and showed me how dirty the grease gets. It was pretty nasty the first time, but every year you can still see a big difference. I would love to hear from other guys on this procedure since it differs from what is stated above.

[Ironflight]

Originally Posted by tracy

Apparently the hartzell procedure was the way it had been done before I bought the aircraft. My mechanics flushed the whole system on my first ci and showed me how dirty the grease gets. It was pretty nasty the first time, but every year you can still see a big difference. I would love to hear from other guys on this procedure since it differs from what is stated above.

Beg your pardon...but you're rather hear from a bunch of guys you don't know on teh internet versus the engineers that built your prop? This has been discussed many, many times in the light airplane world, and while you'll hear all sorts of different ideas in hanagr flying discussions, Hartzell has never changed their position. I think I read that if you try to flush the whole prop, you have a chance of blowing a seal - but that's just something I heard, and don't know if it is right - so I'd ask Hartzell why they recomend what they do.

Props are one thing I never mess aroudn with - a failed blade is likely the end of you.