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Hartzell prop governor not working with MT Propeller

Luckeyone

Member
I receive the Hartzell S-1-32 prop governor from Vans with my IO 540 fire wall forward kit and it is not working with my MTV-12-B/193-53 propeller. Sent Prop and governor to Prop shop and both are working according to them. Put them on engine and nothing. No prop accusation. No, I did not leave the plug in on the engine or the propeller. I had a local A&P mechanic (who has started hundreds of engines) look at the installation and we are scratching our heads. The only way to get anything out the the Governor is to pull it to full back position and the prop will not overspeed. Any thing other that this and it does not accurate the propellor. Vans says both the Hartzell and the MT governor's will work. Any one have this issue and if so what an I doing wrong....
 
Have you run it at 1800-2000 rpm and cycled prop multiple times to purge the air?
 
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I receive the Hartzell S-1-32 prop governor from Vans with my IO 540 fire wall forward kit and it is not working with my MTV-12-B/193-53 propeller. Sent Prop and governor to Prop shop and both are working according to them. Put them on engine and nothing. No prop accusation. No, I did not leave the plug in on the engine or the propeller. I had a local A&P mechanic (who has started hundreds of engines) look at the installation and we are scratching our heads. The only way to get anything out the the Governor is to pull it to full back position and the prop will not overspeed. Any thing other that this and it does not accurate the propellor. Vans says both the Hartzell and the MT governor's will work. Any one have this issue and if so what an I doing wrong....
Have almost 500 hours on my Hartzell/MTV-9-b...works great. As stated above, you will need at least 2000 rpm to get the prop to cycle on the ground.
 
Thank you both for your comments. Yes we cycled the prop above 2000 many times and nothing. You mentioned you have an MTV-9-b. Does any one have the MTV-12-B? don't know if there is any difference but I am grasping at straws.
 
Not sure what variant your engine is - but a little know issue is the Narrow Deck engines (older engines) have a lower gear ratio for Prop governor drive that the newer Wide Deck engines.
If you bought a new Lyc engine through Van's - it will be a Wide Deck.
 
Not sure what variant your engine is - but a little know issue is the Narrow Deck engines (older engines) have a lower gear ratio for Prop governor drive that the newer Wide Deck engines.
If you bought a new Lyc engine through Van's - it will be a Wide Deck.
It is a brand new YIO-540-D4A5 Thunderbolt and arrived in February this year. I purchased it directly from Lycoming (one of there dealers) because I wanted emags and vans did not offer them at the time but it is the exact same engine Vans sells.
 
Thank you both for your comments. Yes we cycled the prop above 2000 many times and nothing. You mentioned you have an MTV-9-b. Does any one have the MTV-12-B? don't know if there is any difference but I am grasping at straws.
The mtv9 is the heavier hub for engines over 300 hp. This was done at the recommendation of mt, as my engine makes right at 300 which is the max rating on the mtv12.

As others have stated, make sure the governor you installed is appropriate for the engine model. Wide deck and narrow deck engines have different drive ratios for the governor.
 
I had to leave the blue knob fully out for many minutes to initially pump enough into the hub to get everything working the first time. One data point
 
What is many minutes? 2, 5, 10 , 15? We left if open for at least 2 minutes and cycled at least 10 times...
I may be able to dig it out of the original engine log files. I do have all of it saved down.
I couldn’t be sure. But I feel like more than 2 but less than 5.

What you could also try is removing the governor and installing a blanking plate over the pad with one hole. Then use shop air to pressurize the circuit to move the blades to coarse pitch. It dosent take much 30-40PSI is fine.

I did this when I was installing my cowl to make sure I had plenty of clearance between the TE of the fat Hartzell blades and the front of the cowl.

IMG_2988.jpeg
 
Well the plot thickens... I ordered from Vans and installed the MT governor yesterday and am still having problems with it not controlling the RPM's. The only control I have is if I pull the arm to its extreme setting and I will get control of max RPM but anything less and no control.
 
Have flown a F1 rocket for several hours recently and the prop would not cycle during runup. MT prop. Owner said this was normal. Operated fine when airborne.
 
Just a thought, do you perhaps have a governor for a non-counterweighted prop on a counter weighted prop, or vise versa. Counterweighted/aerobatic governors add oil to increase RPM. Non-counterweighted governors remove oil to increase RPM
 
MTV9-B with the Hartzell Governor supplied by Vans.
275 tach time. Has always worked as it should, maintains selected RPM with no issues.....
EXCEPT...Maybe its just me, because I have asked other pilots if they FEEL what I'm feeling and get a "nope" answer.
It's sorta like a very subtle surge in the RPM.
Can't see it, most don't feel it< but I swear its there.
Just a faint pulse that drives me nuts during cruise.
Been that way since day one.
Just thought I would throw it out there just in case someone else......
 
I receive the Hartzell S-1-32 prop governor from Vans with my IO 540 fire wall forward kit and it is not working with my MTV-12-B/193-53 propeller. Sent Prop and governor to Prop shop and both are working according to them. Put them on engine and nothing. No prop accusation. No, I did not leave the plug in on the engine or the propeller. I had a local A&P mechanic (who has started hundreds of engines) look at the installation and we are scratching our heads. The only way to get anything out the the Governor is to pull it to full back position and the prop will not overspeed. Any thing other that this and it does not accurate the propellor. Vans says both the Hartzell and the MT governor's will work. Any one have this issue and if so what an I doing wrong....
The MT requires a high pressure governor. You can add a washer or two under the pressure spring on the Hartzell governor, or send it to a prop shop. The MT has a smaller piston, and therefore needs more pressure.
DAR Gary
 
The MT requires a high pressure governor. You can add a washer or two under the pressure spring on the Hartzell governor, or send it to a prop shop. The MT has a smaller piston, and therefore needs more pressure.
DAR Gary
I’m using a Hartzell governor with my mtv-9 prop. Worked fine right out the box.
 
MTV9-B with the Hartzell Governor supplied by Vans.
275 tach time. Has always worked as it should, maintains selected RPM with no issues.....
EXCEPT...Maybe its just me, because I have asked other pilots if they FEEL what I'm feeling and get a "nope" answer.
It's sorta like a very subtle surge in the RPM.
Can't see it, most don't feel it< but I swear its there.
Just a faint pulse that drives me nuts during cruise.
Been that way since day one.
Just thought I would throw it out there just in case someone else......
I know exactly what you’re talking about. Have an MTV11 and Hartzell gov on my RV4.

Hardly registers on the Dynon, and maybe shows a 10 rpm change, but I certainly feel it.

Always seems to get worse when I’m over mountainous terrain or a cloud layer 🙄 (or any other hyper cognizant times).
 
Have you checked the oil line from your governor to the prop fitting?
The new engine I received from Mattituck back in the day came with the governor oil line packed up with other parts like gaskets and studs. I installed the oil line when done with the baffles. Started up to test it out and the prop would not cycle no matter what the rpm was. Removed the oil line and it was jam packed with some kind of preservation grease. Blew it out with the air compressor and flushed it with acetone to clean it out completely. After it was completely dry I reinstalled it and prop/governor control worked as it should. This is a Hartzell S-1-10 aft mounted governor on an IO360 with a Hartzell prop so your setup may be different.
 
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The MT requires a high pressure governor. You can add a washer or two under the pressure spring on the Hartzell governor, or send it to a prop shop. The MT has a smaller piston, and therefore needs more pressure.
DAR Gary
I switched to the MT governor P-860-5 and have some control with the arm pulled almost all the way back but 7/8 of the stroke does nothing and I can overspeed the propeller in that 7/8 range. I am going to try removing the governor and put a plate on that will allow me to acuate the propeller with air. Thinking their may be an issue between governor and propeller.
 
Have you checked the oil line from your governor to the prop fitting?
The new engine I received from Mattituck back in the day came with the governor oil line packed up with other parts like gaskets and studs. I installed the oil line when done with the baffles. Started up to test it out and the prop would not cycle no matter what the rpm was. Removed the oil line and it was jam packed with some kind of preservation grease. Blew it out with the air compressor and flushed it with acetone to clean it out completely. After it was completely dry I reinstalled it and prop/governor control worked as it should. This is a Hartzell S-1-10 aft mounted governor on an IO360 with a Hartzell prop so your setup may be different.
It is front mounted on the IO-540
 
yes comes with the governor
Just a thought, do you perhaps have a governor for a non-counterweighted prop on a counter weighted prop, or vise versa. Counterweighted/aerobatic governors add oil to increase RPM. Non-counterweighted governors remove oil to increase RPM
The Prop and governor are matched for the IO-540 in their own publications and I have talked to MT's governor guy who confirmed the P-860-5 is correct..
 
I may be able to dig it out of the original engine log files. I do have all of it saved down.
I couldn’t be sure. But I feel like more than 2 but less than 5.

What you could also try is removing the governor and installing a blanking plate over the pad with one hole. Then use shop air to pressurize the circuit to move the blades to coarse pitch. It dosent take much 30-40PSI is fine.

I did this when I was installing my cowl to make sure I had plenty of clearance between the TE of the fat Hartzell blades and the front of the cowl.

View attachment 74610
Thank you I plan on trying this.
 
I think I have the S-1-32 Hartzell Governor on my io540. Don’t know it compares to the P-860-5.
I had the S-1-32 on it first and it didn't work at all. Vans sells both. and they are suppose to be be interchangeable. I see you have an MTV-9B I have an MTV-12B as recommended by MT wonder what is the difference?
 
I had the S-1-32 on it first and it didn't work at all. Vans sells both. and they are suppose to be be interchangeable. I see you have an MTV-9B I have an MTV-12B as recommended by MT wonder what is the difference?
MTV-9 is a heavier hub and rated for 450 hp. MTV-12 is rated for 300 hp with a lighter hub. As my engine is nearly 300 hp, MT recommended the mtg-9 for longevity.
 
Issue ended up being software not hardware. Steinair programed in rpm for 4 cylinder engine not six. Two pulses per revolution. It was supposed to be three per revolution. Never got to high enough rpm to properly operate governor.
That’s embarrassing that nobody could tell the indicated RPM didn’t seem to match the actual RPM :unsure:
 
That’s embarrassing that nobody could tell the indicated RPM didn’t seem to match the actual RPM :unsure:
We tried an RPM meter but couldn't get it to read then moved on to other things. With the power of this engine prop combination it wasn't apparent. As I have learned from another RV-10 guy it is so powerful you have to tie it down when going full power because it will drag along the ground even with full brakes on. Another recommendation is to use truck chocks but they will not work once you have the wheel pants on.
 
On my new YIO-540 my S-1-32 governor would not cycle my MT prop during runups short of around 2200 RPM. The governor was outputting proper pressure (by Hartzell specs), but not enough to cycle the MT at normal run-up RPM's.

Local prop shop had heard of this and dialed up the output pressure of the governor. Now cycles the MT at 1800 RPM.

David
 
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