Hi folks,
I finally decided I needed a constant speed prop on my RV 8. I have a James cowling, so there are some issues to fitting the new prop. In the mode of in for a penny, in for a pound, I bought the new Hartzell composite from Vans. The blades are quite wide and the hub is somewhat extended to (I assume) compensate for that. The prop itself is gorgeous--a real work of art. Now comes the fun of fitting it.
I have a 4" Saber extension with my fixed pitch prop. The guys at Saber opined that I would need a 2.25" extension with the new prop, but hadn't really seen the new Hartzell composite. With the Sam James cowl, the intakes are on the same line as the spinner plate. I have to extend the prop far enough forward so that at full coarse pitch, the blades have sufficient clearance from the intakes.
Two questions: does anyone know how far back the blades extend at full coarse pitch? If I knew that, I could calculate the correct prop extension length. The folks at Saber suggested making a 2.25" spacer from 3" PVC. Hold it over the flywheel and then rotate the prop blades back and measure the distance. The trick is, there is a really strong spring holding the blades in fine pitch. I cannot turn them with my hands and have been reluctant to make a lever to do so. The prop is really pretty and I am nervous about cracking or damaging the blade.
Question two: is it safe to take a couple of 3X1 boards, pad them excessively, and use them to lever the blades into coarse pitch. I have seen that described here but don't know if it is really okay on the composite prop.
Looking for any advice here.
I finally decided I needed a constant speed prop on my RV 8. I have a James cowling, so there are some issues to fitting the new prop. In the mode of in for a penny, in for a pound, I bought the new Hartzell composite from Vans. The blades are quite wide and the hub is somewhat extended to (I assume) compensate for that. The prop itself is gorgeous--a real work of art. Now comes the fun of fitting it.
I have a 4" Saber extension with my fixed pitch prop. The guys at Saber opined that I would need a 2.25" extension with the new prop, but hadn't really seen the new Hartzell composite. With the Sam James cowl, the intakes are on the same line as the spinner plate. I have to extend the prop far enough forward so that at full coarse pitch, the blades have sufficient clearance from the intakes.
Two questions: does anyone know how far back the blades extend at full coarse pitch? If I knew that, I could calculate the correct prop extension length. The folks at Saber suggested making a 2.25" spacer from 3" PVC. Hold it over the flywheel and then rotate the prop blades back and measure the distance. The trick is, there is a really strong spring holding the blades in fine pitch. I cannot turn them with my hands and have been reluctant to make a lever to do so. The prop is really pretty and I am nervous about cracking or damaging the blade.
Question two: is it safe to take a couple of 3X1 boards, pad them excessively, and use them to lever the blades into coarse pitch. I have seen that described here but don't know if it is really okay on the composite prop.
Looking for any advice here.