1 2 THE HANDLING, CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF PROPELLERS Copyright Pieter de Necker 1995 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission from the Publisher in writing. First publication in South Africa March 1995. Second publication March 1995 Third publication January 1996 Fourth publication August 1996 Fifth publication August 1997 Sixth publication August 1998 Seventh publication August 1999 Eighth publication August 2000 Ninth publication(Twice) August2001 10TH publication August 2012 11TH publication March 2017 WHAT THEY SAID " THE GREATER THE IGNORANCE, THE GREATER THE DOGMATISM "- Sir William Osler " Some Books are to be Tasted, others to be Swallowed, and some few to be Chewed and Digested; that is, some Books are to be read only in Parts; others to be read but not curiously; and some few to be read wholly, and with Diligence and Attention." - Francis Bacon 1561 - 1626 Penser, c`est voir! " Honore de Balzac 1799 - 1850 " PROPELLER " Literally, an air screw. The airfoil-shaped rotary wing typically located at the front of an airplane that is used to convert torque horsepower into thrust horsepower. Definition by MICHAEL MARKOWSKI author OF:- "THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT 3 PPROP PROPELLER CERTIFICATE PPROP, hereby certify that propeller N__________________________ LENGTH_________ PITCH _________ pusher/tractor configuration Suitable for AIRCRAFT________________________________________ ENGINE___________________ direct/belt/gearbox ratio/drive _______ REGISTRATION______________________________________________ OWNER____________________________________________________ MANUFACTURED DATE ______________________________________ SERVICE RECORD __________________________________________________________ 4 INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This manual is dedicated to pilots who take to the air in all types of craft driven by wood propellers. It represents the basic facts of what is happening in and around the immediate surroundings of a wood propeller so that aviators may understand the limits of their prop, and take appropriate avoiding action before things go wrong, as sometimes happens. I also dedicate this manual to all the amateur aircraft builders throughout S.A. with the hope that it will foster safety through education in all aspects of our hobby and sport. I would like to hear from the aviators true stories regarding wood propellers so that it may be published in future editions. You could contribute greatly to the advancement of safety concerning propellers. I have tried to bring all the experience I have learned through trial and error, comments and criticism, together so that you, as a pilot, may fly safely and securely, having knowledge based on fact and experience available at your finger tips. May I suggest that you keep this manual in the same location as your airframe logbook, pilot's license, maps etc.?. This manual serves as a guideline to the care and maintenance of wood propellers and may differ from other publications in various aspects. Before any deviation from the prescribed steps is attempted, or difficulty in the understanding of the various procedures are encountered, please contact the original manufacturer of the propeller for help and guidance . A PROPELLER IS ONE OF THE THREE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF ANY AIRCRAFT, SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE. PILOTS WORRY A LOT ABOUT LOAD AND STRESS FACTORS, PERFORMANCE, THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT PROPS AND THEIR CORRECT INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO FLYING SAFETY AND ENJOYMENT. A great, big, THANK YOU!! to my family and friends for reading and correcting parts and pieces of the manuscript. ------- oOo ------ CONTACT DETAILS: P PROP 385 LONG AVE, FERNDALE, RANDBURG, 2194 PIETER & BETS DE NECKER 011-793-5235 082-925-5834 [email protected] [email protected] www.p-propeller.co.za PO BOX 446, RANDBURG, 2125 5 CONTENTS PAGE Propeller Certificate and Service Record……………………………………………………….3 Propeller Inspection NBNB………………………………………………………………………..7 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………………….4 PROLOGUE ....................................................................................................................................8 P.PROPELLER HISTORY ....................................................................................................................9 WHY WOOD? WOOD ....................................................................................................................................9 ADHESIVE ....................................................................................................................................9 CUTTING ....................................................................................................................................9 LEADING EDGE ....................................................................................................................9 FINISHING ...................................................................................................................................10 P.PROP DESIGN ...................................................................................................................................10 PROPELLER IDENTIFICATION ....................................................................................................10 FINALLY ...................................................................................................................................10 ON RECEIVING YOU'RE PROP ....................................................................................................10 SOME PROPELLER THEORY ....................................................................................................11 CONSTRUCTION AND SHAPE ....................................................................................................11 TRACTOR/PUSHER PROPELLERS ....................................................................................11 TYPES OF PROPELLERS ....................................................................................................................11 FIXED PITCH PROPELLER ....................................................................................................11 V.P. PROPELLER ....................................................................................................................11 CONSTANT SPEED PROPELLER ....................................................................................11 HYDROMATIC PROPELLER ....................................................................................................11 CONTRA ROTATING PROPELLER ....................................................................................11 SCIMITAR PROPELLER ....................................................................................................11 PITCHING ...................................................................................................................................12 EFFICIENCY AND THRUST ...................................................................................................................12 INSTALLATION PROCEDURES ...................................................................................................112,13,14 BOLT HOLES DRILLING PROCEDURE ...................................................................................14 COUPLING PROP TO DRIVESHAFT ...................................................................................................15 TRACKING SETTING THE TRACKING...............................................................................................................15 WHY SET THE TRACKING?............................................................................................................16 PRE\AFTER FLIGHT INSPECTIONS.........................................................................................................17 ASSESSING THE CONDITION OF THE PROPELLER..............................................................................17,18 STAGE 1 ....................................................................................................................................18 STAGE 2 ....................................................................................................................................18 STAGE 3 ....................................................................................................................................18 STAGE 4 BEYOND REPAIR............................................................................................................18 STORAGE CARE ....................................................................................................................................16 RE-INSTALLING PROP AFTER STORAGE CARE .....................................................................19 "BOY, DO I HAVE A PROBLEM!!" ....................................................................................................19 VIBRATION ....................................................................................................................................19 ENGINE RELATED VIBRATION ....................................................................................................20 HARMONIC VIBRATION..................................................................................................................20 PULSE TYPE VIBRATION...............................................................................................................20