Dynamic balancing of small Continentals

[PA1195]

Re: Terry Bowden still in busness ? or has the rain closed him down ?

Gary. I'm not sure I quite understand. Are the weights attached to the skullcap spinner attach bracket? If so, there are only two orientations to fit them. What happens if those orientations do not coincide with the bracket?

Sorry to be a pain, but if you have some pics of where the weights attach, that would help.

As an aside, I don't like the Ercoupe spinner; it's not original to the Taylorcraft and looks ugly, in my personal opinion.

Yes the weights were attached to that bracket. The bracket was first re-clocked to coincide with the suggested location needing weight, which was added to the light side after initial testing determined a starting amount. There's nothing magic about the orientation of that bracket on the prop providing several $$$$ of equipment and skilled techs are involved.

I suggest to you and others that if interested you develop an approach to propeller balancing consistent with your training, skills, and standards of airworthiness.

As far as cosmetic changes to an aircraft, I'm in the camp that supports form for function. If retaining OEM is your goal then that's a personal choice. Others may choose to alter form to fit the intended mission of the airplane.

Gary

[astjp2]

Re: Terry Bowden still in busness ? or has the rain closed him down ?

Rob, I think he meant that they stack up washers under the prop bolts since there is no place to put the AN hardware on a normal spinner backing plate. Tim

Never mind, I just read that the orient the bracket to put the weight. My balancer does not allow for that in their approved data, it would crack the bracket with that much weight in my opinion. That is why I now have an earcoupe spinner. I can get that approved and balanced with my data. tim

[Robert Lees]

Re: Terry Bowden still in busness ? or has the rain closed him down ?

Gary & Tim,

Thanks for your responses.

Rob

[PA1195]

Re: Terry Bowden still in busness ? or has the rain closed him down ?

Gary & Tim,

Thanks for your responses.

Rob

My goal is minimizing wear and tear to my plane, not creating it. If balancing the propeller assembly helps then that's positive. Periodic inspection will determine the integrity of the process. We pilots can ask for little more.

FWIW I had a freshly overhauled 2-blade prop on a C-185 develop a crack on a flight from Dillingham to Anchorage to Fairbanks, AK.. A stress point developed on the blade's leading edge about 6-8" inboard from the tip. No rocks, dings, or visual wear was involved. Maintenance personnel caught it after right the flight in planned inspection. It was about 1/2" deep and heading for the trailing edge.

Missing prop tips tend to create a problem in flight. This was prior to subsequent prop balancing and that prop had experienced atypical vibration until its normal overhaul interval.

No lives were lost and nobody was fired. But after that I've always paid particular attention to vibration and the health of the engine and propeller.

Gary