LettersFromFlyoverCountry
Well Known Member
Yes, I know this is a stupid question, but hear me out.
I discovered a good-sized nick in the prop while doing the annual, I suspect from the winter detritus that was around the ramp when I pulled it out to heat up the oil a few weeks ago -- the aggregate on the ramp outside the hangar is just falling apart.
Mike Hilger was kind enough to lend his experience yesterday and filed it out.
Now, I had the prop balanced during Phase One but to be honest with you I didn't notice a huge difference, I suspect because I didn't have enough time in the plane when I had it done to have, literally, a good "feel" for things.
I pulled the plane out, sans cowling, afterwards and started the engine. Everything worked fine. The engine monitor showed nothing unusual, but I felt a pulsing vibration that I can't recall feeling before.
Basically, I would get about 10 seconds of that smooth sound and feel --.that sound and feel of a humming aircraft engine that's better than sex for men of a certain age.-- and then about 10 seconds of slight vibration. That would repeat over and over.
There was nothing noticeable on RPM or other readings from one to the next, just a vibration.. A runup showed everything is fine.
I realize that after filing out a nick (and you can certainly tell where it was on the prop) the thing will have to be rebalanced at some point, but I'm curious about whether this sort of vibration is typical in this condition, or am I just highly sensitive?
I discovered a good-sized nick in the prop while doing the annual, I suspect from the winter detritus that was around the ramp when I pulled it out to heat up the oil a few weeks ago -- the aggregate on the ramp outside the hangar is just falling apart.
Mike Hilger was kind enough to lend his experience yesterday and filed it out.
Now, I had the prop balanced during Phase One but to be honest with you I didn't notice a huge difference, I suspect because I didn't have enough time in the plane when I had it done to have, literally, a good "feel" for things.
I pulled the plane out, sans cowling, afterwards and started the engine. Everything worked fine. The engine monitor showed nothing unusual, but I felt a pulsing vibration that I can't recall feeling before.
Basically, I would get about 10 seconds of that smooth sound and feel --.that sound and feel of a humming aircraft engine that's better than sex for men of a certain age.-- and then about 10 seconds of slight vibration. That would repeat over and over.
There was nothing noticeable on RPM or other readings from one to the next, just a vibration.. A runup showed everything is fine.
I realize that after filing out a nick (and you can certainly tell where it was on the prop) the thing will have to be rebalanced at some point, but I'm curious about whether this sort of vibration is typical in this condition, or am I just highly sensitive?
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