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T.N. Props

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captainron1(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:09 am Post subject: T.N. Props

I remember several people talking about Tennessee Propellers, so for my replacement I called them up Wednesday Morning early and see if they got a prop for me. A fellow there Steve was talking with me, gave him all the dimensions and so on, he called later said he has a prop for me. Placed a rush order on it FEX O.N. . Well it came in Today a day late, and with the wrong hole pattern. It seems that they only work there half day as anytime I call after 10am my time, or noon their time, no one is answering the phone.

The prop is nice it came with a nick on the trailing age near the tip of one blade. 

Seems like them boys there are not focused 100% on shop stuff.  Is there anyone else that can do wood props or they are pretty much all we got for vintage wood props.

mdnanwelch7(at)hotmail.co
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:41 am Post subject: T.N. Props

Ron C

  

   You might call Valley Engineering in Rolla C MO.  I just met the whole bunch of them about two weeks ago.  They are truly a family operation C from Gene C the eldest C and his wife C to his son (I think his name was Larry) C and Larry's sons and daughter-in-laws.

   They gave me the dime tour of their entire operation.  They fabricate entire airplanes C convert VW engines C make belt redrive units for VWs and Generac engines C and lastly; they bought out Culver Props awhile back C and now they produce them.

  

   One of the daughter-in-laws was laying out maple planks C for laminating a huge 8 foot prop blank for an order that had to go out that day.  She showed me the order.  I said "hmm C mahogany throughout".  She said "oh my gosh C I didn't see that.  You just saved me from making a maple prop!!"  (cute story C not trying to put them down.  She would have caught it soon enough)

  

   At any rate C do an internet search for Valley Engineering.  They'll fix you up with a good wood prop.  Tell 'em Mike Welch sent ya.

  

 Mike Welch

 

 

 	  Quote: 	
		   Date: Fri C 26 Jun 2009 14:00:31 -0400

 From: captainron1(at)cox.net

 To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: T.N. Props

 

 --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Ron (at) KFHU" <captainron1(at)cox.net>

 

 I remember several people talking about Tennessee Propellers C so for my replacement I called them up Wednesday Morning early and see if they got a prop for me. A fellow there Steve was talking with me C gave him all the dimensions and so on C he called later said he has a prop for me. Placed a rush order on it FEX O.N. . Well it came in Today a day late C and with the wrong hole pattern. It seems that they only work there half day as anytime I call after 10am my time C or noon their time C no one is answering the phone.

 The prop is nice it came with a nick on the trailing age near the tip of one blade. 

 Seems like them boys there are not focused 100% on shop stuff. Is there anyone else that can do wood props or they are pretty much all we got for vintage wood props.

 

&gt======================
	


&gt======

[quote] 

 

 

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		  [b]

aslsa.rng(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Jun 26, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject: T.N. Props

Ron, I second the opinion Mike Welch gave you on the Valley Engineering folks doing Culver Props. About 10 years back I bought a Culver Prop for a LongEZ project  (pre VE Culver). I bought it from a reputable fellow who had been keeping it under the bed for the day he needed a spare. It had been designed using the Don Bates "Prop Optimizer" software and was supposed to be just the ticket for up to 125 HP. Skip ahead a few years and I was getting ready to move and clearing out old projects. I sold the prop to a Varieze owner who wanted a spare prop. He mounted it and said it was okay, just nothing special on his  O-235 C1 Lyc at 108 HP. He called Valley Engineering who had just bought the Culver business and they offered to take a look at it and see if there was anything that could be done to improve it. Mike got the prop back, put it on and was amazed to find the prop was not only perfectly smooth, but his Varieze was now 40 knots faster than before. Best thing was, all it cost was mailing. VE didn't charge him a dime. Skip ahead a few years more and I told this story to someone here on the Kolb list. Forgive me I don't remember who it was, it might have been Grant, but while he didn't get that level of improvement he did get back an improved prop for the same cost as Mike paid.

 So yeah, the guys at Valley Engineering seem to know what they're doing and they treat folks right.

Rick

On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 1:00 PM, Ron  (at)  KFHU <captainron1(at)cox.net (captainron1(at)cox.net)> wrote:

  [quote]--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Ron  (at)  KFHU" <captainron1(at)cox.net (captainron1(at)cox.net)>

   

 I remember several people talking about Tennessee Propellers, so for my replacement I called them up Wednesday Morning early and see if they got a prop for me. A fellow there Steve was talking with me, gave him all the dimensions and so on, he called later said he has a prop for me. Placed a rush order on it FEX O.N. . Well it came in Today a day late, and with the wrong hole pattern. It seems that they only work there half day as anytime I call after 10am my time, or noon their time, no one is answering the phone.

   The prop is nice it came with a nick on the trailing age near the tip of one blade.

 Seems like them boys there are not focused 100% on shop stuff.  Is there anyone else that can do wood props or they are pretty much all we got for vintage wood props.

 

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 http://forums.matronics.com

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captainron1(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:47 am Post subject: T.N. Props

Richard I have not seen a post from Mike Welsh on Valley engineering???



I googled yesterday and got a hold of PPG propellers. Later finally got a hold of someone at T.N. Props and he suggested that I see if the holes line up and if maybe I can drill holes to get the prop on. As it turned out the hub already had about 6 frigging holes in it and by pure chance I guess,  two actually lined up with my hub. I took the backing plates off bolted them in on the two lined up holes, and drilled another two. It is on now fine looking pretty as it gets, with one caveat all the frigging holes in that hub can't do much for strength. I got some other things going but if the whirl can stay on at full power on the Cuyuna then its strong enough. I never use full throttle in that Dack anyway. I was told that I can get another prop and pass on the cost, so now I may buy another one just for grins. I still trust the one I repaired a hell of a lot more than this new one with the cheese hub.



Ron (at) KFHU

=========================

---- Richard Girard <aslsa.rng(at)gmail.com> wrote: 



=============

Ron, I second the opinion Mike Welch gave you on the Valley Engineering

folks doing Culver Props. About 10 years back I bought a Culver Prop for a

LongEZ project  (pre VE Culver). I bought it from a reputable fellow who had

been keeping it under the bed for the day he needed a spare. It had been

designed using the Don Bates "Prop Optimizer" software and was supposed to

be just the ticket for up to 125 HP. Skip ahead a few years and I was

getting ready to move and clearing out old projects. I sold the prop to a

Varieze owner who wanted a spare prop. He mounted it and said it was okay,

just nothing special on his  O-235 C1 Lyc at 108 HP. He called Valley

Engineering who had just bought the Culver business and they offered to take

a look at it and see if there was anything that could be done to improve it.

Mike got the prop back, put it on and was amazed to find the prop was not

only perfectly smooth, but his Varieze was now 40 knots faster than before.

Best thing was, all it cost was mailing. VE didn't charge him a dime.Skip

ahead a few years more and I told this story to someone here on the Kolb

list. Forgive me I don't remember who it was, it might have been Grant, but

while he didn't get that level of improvement he did get back an improved

prop for the same cost as Mike paid.

So yeah, the guys at Valley Engineering seem to know what they're doing and

they treat folks right.



Rick

On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 1:00 PM, Ron (at) KFHU <captainron1(at)cox.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 I remember several people talking about Tennessee Propellers, so for my

 replacement I called them up Wednesday Morning early and see if they got a

 prop for me. A fellow there Steve was talking with me, gave him all the

 dimensions and so on, he called later said he has a prop for me. Placed a

 rush order on it FEX O.N. . Well it came in Today a day late, and with the

 wrong hole pattern. It seems that they only work there half day as anytime I

 call after 10am my time, or noon their time, no one is answering the phone.

 The prop is nice it came with a nick on the trailing age near the tip of

 one blade.

 Seems like them boys there are not focused 100% on shop stuff.  Is there

 anyone else that can do wood props or they are pretty much all we got for

 vintage wood props.




	


--

kugelair.com

captainron1(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:07 am Post subject: T.N. Props

Okay here is your post, thanks I think I'll do that. 



Sounds like they are 100% on the business. I will say this about T.N. Props that if we are not rushed and if we send them a template and not shake their world, than I doubt we can find nicer props than what they make. Marcel Bloch the one that designed the Mirage combat jets said once that when it comes to aerodynamics " if it looks pretty it is good, if it looks very pretty it is very good". T.N. Props are very good looking indeed.



Ron (at) KFHU

========================



---- Mike Welch <mdnanwelch7(at)hotmail.com> wrote: 



=============



Ron,



 



  You might call Valley Engineering in Rolla, MO.  I just met the whole bunch of them about two weeks ago.  They are truly a family operation, from Gene, the eldest, and his wife, to his son (I think his name was Larry), and Larry's sons and daughter-in-laws.



  They gave me the dime tour of their entire operation.  They fabricate entire airplanes, convert VW engines, make belt redrive units for VWs and Generac engines, and lastly; they bought out Culver Props awhile back, and now they produce them.



 



  One of the daughter-in-laws was laying out maple planks, for laminating a huge 8 foot prop blank for an order that had to go out that day.  She showed me the order.  I said "hmm, mahogany throughout".  She said "oh my gosh, I didn't see that.  You just saved me from making a maple prop!!"  (cute story, not trying to put them down.  She would have caught it soon enough)



 



  At any rate, do an internet search for Valley Engineering.  They'll fix you up with a good wood prop.  Tell 'em Mike Welch sent ya.



 



Mike Welch

 

 	  Quote: 	
		   Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:00:31 -0400

 From: captainron1(at)cox.net

 To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: T.N. Props

 

 

 

 I remember several people talking about Tennessee Propellers, so for my replacement I called them up Wednesday Morning early and see if they got a prop for me. A fellow there Steve was talking with me, gave him all the dimensions and so on, he called later said he has a prop for me. Placed a rush order on it FEX O.N. . Well it came in Today a day late, and with the wrong hole pattern. It seems that they only work there half day as anytime I call after 10am my time, or noon their time, no one is answering the phone.

 The prop is nice it came with a nick on the trailing age near the tip of one blade. 

 Seems like them boys there are not focused 100% on shop stuff. Is there anyone else that can do wood props or they are pretty much all we got for vintage wood props.

 

============
	


============

============

============

 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 


	


_________________________________________________________________

Windows Liveâ„¢ SkyDriveâ„¢: Get 25 GB of free online storage.

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kugelair.com

aslsa.rng(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:05 pm Post subject: T.N. Props

Does the hub of the drive have an alignment boss in the center" Is the prop counterbored to locate on it? If so, is the counterbore in the prop centered, i.e. equal distance from each blade tip? I'm asking because I'd venture that without measuring equipment more sophisticated than a tape measure you don't know if the 2 holes through which you can get bolts in mate with the drive hub are keeping the prop centered. I'd do a lot of ground running to make sure it is close to balanced. As for the extra holes, you can plug them with dowel rod slathered with epoxy to seal the holes and prevent cracks from being generated, however, it's your butt on the line here. If you have the option of getting a new or at least better prop you should think strongly about following that route, IMHO. We've lost a couple of members of this forum who are sorely missed, I'd hate to think something as silly as a bum prop could take another. Be careful Ron, this flying stuff can be terribly exacting for seemingly minor mistakes.

Rick

do not archive

On Sat, Jun 27, 2009 at 11:46 AM, Ron  (at)  KFHU <captainron1(at)cox.net (captainron1(at)cox.net)> wrote:

 [quote]--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Ron  (at)  KFHU" <captainron1(at)cox.net (captainron1(at)cox.net)>

 Richard I have not seen a post from Mike Welsh on Valley engineering???

 I googled yesterday and got a hold of PPG propellers. Later finally got a hold of someone at T.N. Props and he suggested that I see if the holes line up and if maybe I can drill holes to get the prop on. As it turned out the hub already had about 6 frigging holes in it and by pure chance I guess,  two actually lined up with my hub. I took the backing plates off bolted them in on the two lined up holes, and drilled another two. It is on now fine looking pretty as it gets, with one caveat all the frigging holes in that hub can't do much for strength. I got some other things going but if the whirl can stay on at full power on the Cuyuna then its strong enough. I never use full throttle in that Dack anyway. I was told that I can get another prop and pass on the cost, so now I may buy another one just for grins. I still trust the one I repaired a hell of a lot more than this new one with the cheese hub.

 Ron (at) KFHU

 ---- Richard Girard <aslsa.rng(at)gmail.com (aslsa.rng(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 =============

 Ron, I second the opinion Mike Welch gave you on the Valley Engineering

 folks doing Culver Props. About 10 years back I bought a Culver Prop for a

 LongEZ project  (pre VE Culver). I bought it from a reputable fellow who had

 been keeping it under the bed for the day he needed a spare. It had been

 designed using the Don Bates "Prop Optimizer" software and was supposed to

 be just the ticket for up to 125 HP. Skip ahead a few years and I was

 getting ready to move and clearing out old projects. I sold the prop to a

 Varieze owner who wanted a spare prop. He mounted it and said it was okay,

 just nothing special on his  O-235 C1 Lyc at 108 HP. He called Valley

 Engineering who had just bought the Culver business and they offered to take

 a look at it and see if there was anything that could be done to improve it.

 Mike got the prop back, put it on and was amazed to find the prop was not

 only perfectly smooth, but his Varieze was now 40 knots faster than before.

 Best thing was, all it cost was mailing. VE didn't charge him a dime.Skip

 ahead a few years more and I told this story to someone here on the Kolb

 list. Forgive me I don't remember who it was, it might have been Grant, but

 while he didn't get that level of improvement he did get back an improved

 prop for the same cost as Mike paid.

 So yeah, the guys at Valley Engineering seem to know what they're doing and

 they treat folks right.

 Rick

 On Fri, Jun 26, 2009 at 1:00 PM, Ron (at) KFHU <captainron1(at)cox.net (captainron1(at)cox.net)> wrote:

 > --> Kolb-List message posted by: "Ron  (at)  KFHU" <captainron1(at)cox.net (captainron1(at)cox.net)>

 >

 > I remember several people talking about Tennessee Propellers, so for my

 > replacement I called them up Wednesday Morning early and see if they got a

 > prop for me. A fellow there Steve was talking with me, gave him all the

 > dimensions and so on, he called later said he has a prop for me. Placed a

 > rush order on it FEX O.N. . Well it came in Today a day late, and with the

 > wrong hole pattern. It seems that they only work there half day as anytime I

 > call after 10am my time, or noon their time, no one is answering the phone.

 > The prop is nice it came with a nick on the trailing age near the tip of

 > one blade.

 > Seems like them boys there are not focused 100% on shop stuff.  Is there

 > anyone else that can do wood props or they are pretty much all we got for

 > vintage wood props.

 >

 >

 >

 >

 >

 --

 kugelair.com

 ===========

 arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List

 ===========

 http://forums.matronics.com

 ===========

 le, List Admin.

 ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution

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 [b]

ulflyer(at)verizon.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 6:42 am Post subject: T.N. Props

Drilling a second set of mounting holes into the hub, would that not 

weaken that area just a mite?

Don't sound right to me, cheese hub prop, I don't like sound of 

that.  Send it back.  Give them the time to do it right or order a 

Culver from Valley Engineering.

jerb

At 09:46 AM 6/27/2009, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



Richard I have not seen a post from Mike Welsh on Valley engineering???



I googled yesterday and got a hold of PPG propellers. Later finally 

got a hold of someone at T.N. Props and he suggested that I see if 

the holes line up and if maybe I can drill holes to get the prop on. 

As it turned out the hub already had about 6 frigging holes in it 

and by pure chance I guess,  two actually lined up with my hub. I 

took the backing plates off bolted them in on the two lined up 

holes, and drilled another two. It is on now fine looking pretty as 

it gets, with one caveat all the frigging holes in that hub can't do 

much for strength. I got some other things going but if the whirl 

can stay on at full power on the Cuyuna then its strong enough. I 

never use full throttle in that Dack anyway. I was told that I can 

get another prop and pass on the cost, so now I may buy another one 

just for grins. I still trust the one I repaired a hell of a lot 

more than this new one with the cheese hub.



Ron (at) KFHU

=========================

herbgh(at)nctc.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:10 am Post subject: T.N. Props

Some guys just glue maple dowells in the old holes and start over... 

Recall that the glue is stronger than the wood...



   fwiw...I have a friend who got a prop from a well known co...with 

the holes mis aligned... He went down there to show them the problem 

and came home shaking his head ...They use an old , in his words; 

worn out drill press...to drill the holes.. He plugged the holes and 

drilled new ones...Herb

At 09:40 AM 6/28/2009, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



Drilling a second set of mounting holes into the hub, would that not 

weaken that area just a mite?

Don't sound right to me, cheese hub prop, I don't like sound of 

that.  Send it back.  Give them the time to do it right or order a 

Culver from Valley Engineering.

jerb

At 09:46 AM 6/27/2009, you wrote:

>

>

>Richard I have not seen a post from Mike Welsh on Valley engineering???

>

>I googled yesterday and got a hold of PPG propellers. Later finally 

>got a hold of someone at T.N. Props and he suggested that I see if 

>the holes line up and if maybe I can drill holes to get the prop 

>on. As it turned out the hub already had about 6 frigging holes in 

>it and by pure chance I guess,  two actually lined up with my hub. 

>I took the backing plates off bolted them in on the two lined up 

>holes, and drilled another two. It is on now fine looking pretty as 

>it gets, with one caveat all the frigging holes in that hub can't 

>do much for strength. I got some other things going but if the 

>whirl can stay on at full power on the Cuyuna then its strong 

>enough. I never use full throttle in that Dack anyway. I was told 

>that I can get another prop and pass on the cost, so now I may buy 

>another one just for grins. I still trust the one I repaired a hell 

>of a lot more than this new one with the cheese hub.

>

>Ron (at) KFHU

>=========================



Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

06/27/09 17:55:00

John Hauck

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:18 am Post subject: T.N. Props

 	  Quote: 	
		     fwiw...I have a friend who got a prop from a well known co...with the 

 holes mis aligned... He went down there to show them the problem and came 

 home shaking his head ...They use an old , in his words; worn out drill 

 press...to drill the holes.. He plugged the holes and drilled new 

 ones...Herb


	




For the benefit of list members, could you tell us who this well known 

company is, please?



john h

mkIII

_________________
John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama

herbgh(at)nctc.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:31 am Post subject: T.N. Props

I live in Ky...so down there is south...     Go fly John!!    Herb

At 02:16 PM 6/28/2009, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  



>   fwiw...I have a friend who got a prop from a well known 

> co...with the holes mis aligned... He went down there to show them 

> the problem and came home shaking his head ...They use an old , in 

> his words; worn out drill press...to drill the holes.. He plugged 

> the holes and drilled new ones...Herb

For the benefit of list members, could you tell us who this well 

known company is, please?



john h

mkIII



Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

06/27/09 17:55:00

captainron1(at)cox.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 4:49 pm Post subject: T.N. Props

Well checked the new prop today at full power for some extended period. That prop is good!

Cheese hub or not. I could feel the pull of the air into the prop real good. It looks to me like that hub has enough strength margin to where two more holes did not bother it at all. Out of curiosity I need to find some serious fish scale and see what is the difference if any between this T.N prop and the old one. It sure felt smoother obviously, it was balanced more recently. If that canard was repaired ( need an eye bolt,, on order) I would have taken it up just to see what I can see. Iow I am okay with this new cheese hub prop.

===================================

---- Herb <herbgh(at)nctc.com> wrote: 

=============

Some guys just glue maple dowells in the old holes and start over... 

Recall that the glue is stronger than the wood...

   fwiw...I have a friend who got a prop from a well known co...with 

the holes mis aligned... He went down there to show them the problem 

and came home shaking his head ...They use an old , in his words; 

worn out drill press...to drill the holes.. He plugged the holes and 

drilled new ones...Herb

At 09:40 AM 6/28/2009, you wrote:

 	  Quote: 	

Drilling a second set of mounting holes into the hub, would that not 

weaken that area just a mite?

Don't sound right to me, cheese hub prop, I don't like sound of 

that.  Send it back.  Give them the time to do it right or order a 

Culver from Valley Engineering.

jerb

At 09:46 AM 6/27/2009, you wrote:

>

>

>Richard I have not seen a post from Mike Welsh on Valley engineering???

>

>I googled yesterday and got a hold of PPG propellers. Later finally 

>got a hold of someone at T.N. Props and he suggested that I see if 

>the holes line up and if maybe I can drill holes to get the prop 

>on. As it turned out the hub already had about 6 frigging holes in 

>it and by pure chance I guess,  two actually lined up with my hub. 

>I took the backing plates off bolted them in on the two lined up 

>holes, and drilled another two. It is on now fine looking pretty as 

>it gets, with one caveat all the frigging holes in that hub can't 

>do much for strength. I got some other things going but if the 

>whirl can stay on at full power on the Cuyuna then its strong 

>enough. I never use full throttle in that Dack anyway. I was told 

>that I can get another prop and pass on the cost, so now I may buy 

>another one just for grins. I still trust the one I repaired a hell 

>of a lot more than this new one with the cheese hub.

>

>Ron (at) KFHU

>=========================

Checked by AVG - www.avg.com

06/27/09 17:55:00

--

kugelair.com

Dana

Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Posts: 1047
Location: Connecticut, USA

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 6:23 pm Post subject: T.N. Props

At 12:46 PM 6/27/2009, Ron  (at)  KFHU wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  I googled yesterday and got a hold of PPG propellers...


	


If you're talking about <http://www.ppgprops.com/> (Mike Hay) I can say he 

does beautiful work and is very highly respected in the PPG community.  I 

don't know how big a prop he can make but he made a prop for the 

Quicksilver I had before I got my UltraStar... he copied it from the 

splintered prop I got with the plane when I got it, it looked gorgeous and 

performed great too.



-Dana



--

  I only drink to make other people more interesting.

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