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plastic props & rain

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frank.goodnight(at)att.ne
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 6:36 am Post subject: plastic props & rain

I fly a powerfin prop. It came from the factory with  what looks like  

a strip of

heavy plastic tape on the leading edge of the outboard 1/3 of the  

blades.

A week or so ago I go into a light rain shower. I can,t see any blade  

damage, but as I

am starting to go on some longer x countrys ,  I,m sure I will get  

caught in heavy rain for a longer

period of time. As powerfin has gone belly up and Stuart Gort is no  

longer availible to

answer questions. Can someone tell me if the prop as it comes from the  

factory is OK to

fly in rain ? If I need to buy something to rainproof it , would  

someone please tell me what I

need and where I can get it. I really don,t want to buy a new prop ,  

besides the powerfin

does a really good on my A/C.



Frank Goodnight

Firstar 2

Powerfin Prop [ 3 blade ]

HKS engine

Brownsville , TX

rlaird

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 373
Location: Houston

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:48 am Post subject: plastic props & rain

The polyurethane strips you (probably) have are good for light rain, as you've already found out.  I've never flown in anything heavy, so I never had to find out if they'd protect the blades or not.  I think Ivo sells the equivalent blade protection, but in stainless steel.  I'd have to think those would be as good or better. 



  -- Robert



On Sat, Oct 10, 2009 at 9:25 AM, frank.goodnight <frank.goodnight(at)att.net (frank.goodnight(at)att.net)> wrote:

[quote] --> Kolb-List message posted by: "frank.goodnight" <frank.goodnight(at)att.net (frank.goodnight(at)att.net)>

 

 I fly a powerfin prop. It came from the factory with  what looks like a strip of

 heavy plastic tape on the leading edge of the outboard 1/3 of the blades.

 A week or so ago I go into a light rain shower. I can,t see any blade damage, but as I

 am starting to go on some longer x countrys ,  I,m sure I will get caught in heavy rain for a longer

 period of time. As powerfin has gone belly up and Stuart Gort is no longer availible to

 answer questions. Can someone tell me if the prop as it comes from the factory is OK to

 fly in rain ? If I need to buy something to rainproof it , would someone please tell me what I

 need and where I can get it. I really don,t want to buy a new prop , besides the powerfin

 does a really good on my A/C.

 

 Frank Goodnight

 Firstar 2

 Powerfin Prop [ 3 blade ]

 HKS engine

 Brownsville , TX

 

 

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 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]

_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Robert Laird
formerly: MkIIIc w/ 912ULS & Gyrobee
current: Autogyro Cavalon w/ 914ULS
Houston, TX area
http://www.Texas-Flyer.com

slyck(at)frontiernet.net
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 8:49 am Post subject: plastic props & rain

Go to a local office supply store or walmart and get some plastic  

packing tape.  There are differences in quality

so it will take some experimentation.  Usually it comes 2" wide so  

splitting will be necessary.

1" is just right.

If you bring some on the ride you will be able to replace it if there  

is visible wear.

works for me.

BB,  70" 2 blade WD



On 10, Oct 2009, at 10:25 AM, frank.goodnight wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 >



 I fly a powerfin prop. It came from the factory with  what looks  

 like a strip of

 heavy plastic tape on the leading edge of the outboard 1/3 of the  

 blades.

 A week or so ago I go into a light rain shower. I can,t see any  

 blade damage, but as I

 am starting to go on some longer x countrys ,  I,m sure I will get  

 caught in heavy rain for a longer

 period of time. As powerfin has gone belly up and Stuart Gort is no  

 longer availible to

 answer questions. Can someone tell me if the prop as it comes from  

 the factory is OK to

 fly in rain ? If I need to buy something to rainproof it , would  

 someone please tell me what I

 need and where I can get it. I really don,t want to buy a new prop ,  

 besides the powerfin

 does a really good on my A/C.



 Frank Goodnight

 Firstar 2

 Powerfin Prop [ 3 blade ]

 HKS engine

 Brownsville , TX

lcottrell

Joined: 29 May 2006
Posts: 1494
Location: Jordan Valley, Or

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:51 pm Post subject: plastic props & rain

Frank, I have seen your plane, and I can assure you that  if you get into rain, you will be looking for a place to put it down as soon as  you can. The condition of your face will concern you more than your prop.   Not sure how much rain you have experienced at 55 MPH, but it doesn't feel good  at all.

 Take care

 Larry

 [quote]   ---

_________________
do not archive

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject: Re: plastic props & rain

Speaking of rain damaged props....



I got my TN prop back from TN yesterday. I sent it to them to fix the chord-wise rips in the outboard ends of the plastic coating on the prop. The prop was ordered that way by the builder but he never flew it in rain. I flew it once in light shower and the plastic coating started ripping off at the high speed ends. I also wanted them to reduce the pitch of the one blade that was nearly 1.5 degrees greater than the other. I asked them not to put the plastic coating on it so they did their normal clear hard polyurethane finish. The prop also has a hard as nails plastic of some sort leading edge built into the shape, i.e., not stuck on. The prop is a work of art. I should have taken photos of it but didn't. I will soon and post them.



Weather was good enough today, for a change, to re-install the prop and get some test results. Before mounting the prop I checked the pitch and the blades are only about 10 minutes (< 1/4 degree) apart in pitch now. The biggest change in flight is that I now get 3,168 rpm (about 100 more than before) at WOT in level flight and an additional 4 mph airspeed at full throttle level flight. 



I don't intentionally fly through rain showers but sometimes it is unavoidable. I expect the current prop finish with leading edge inlay to survive the rain better than the poorly bonded plastic that was on it before.

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

h20maule(at)hotmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:11 pm Post subject: plastic props & rain

I'm sure powerfin knows about rain and designed their props accordingly...Just check the prop after every rain you pass through. It won't hurt it enough on one flight to do any sort of catastrophic damage...I used warp drive on my FSII amphib and also on my SeaRey

From: lcottrell(at)fmtcblue.com

To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: Kolb-List: plastic props & rain

Date: Sat C 10 Oct 2009 14:48:33 -0600

          Frank C I have seen your plane C and I can assure you that  if you get into rain C you will be looking for a place to put it down as soon as  you can. The condition of your face will concern you more than your prop.   Not sure how much rain you have experienced at 55 MPH C but it doesn't feel good  at all.

 Take care

 Larry

 [quote]   ---

John Hauck

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

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject: plastic props & rain

> I don't intentionally fly through rain showers but sometimes it is 

unavoidable. I expect the current prop finish with leading edge inlay to 

survive the rain better than the poorly bonded plastic that was on it 

before.

 	  Quote: 	
		  

 --------

 Thom Riddle


	




How do you get the bugs off the windshield and leading edges of everything?



I hit the nearest rain shower to do the job for me.



john h

mkIII

Monument Valley, Utah

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

zeprep251(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: plastic props & rain

Thom,

 You should live closer to Akron  and then you could try this Prince 5871 S/N 5871P64BP29K carbon fiber prop.It is lovely.

 G.Aman

 

   

 

   

 

 --

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:42 pm Post subject: Re: plastic props & rain

Gary,



There are a LOT of Akrons, and I am close to one of them. Which one are to talking about?



do not archive

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

zeprep251(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:53 pm Post subject: plastic props & rain

Sorry,

 Thought I included Ohio.

 

   

 

   

 

 --

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 5:04 am Post subject: Re: plastic props & rain

Gary,



Oh THAT Akron. That puts us only about 200 statute miles apart, as the Kolb flies. Sometime we should plan on meeting somewhere between us to check out each other's Kolb. Which airport in Akron do you call home? I'm at KBQR. 



do not archive

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

zeprep251(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:39 am Post subject: plastic props & rain

Thom,

 Home is 1D4,5miles north of CAK under the 5 mile ring.I'm up for that trip.Have to ask John if duct tape will hold a prop to the fuselage tube for 100 miles?

 G.Aman

 

   

 

   

 

 --

Thom Riddle

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1597
Location: Buffalo, NY, USA (9G0)

Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 7:59 am Post subject: Re: plastic props & rain

Gary,



Airnav has your airport (1D4) in their database but it is not actually shown on the sectional but it is shown on the Cleveland TAC. 



Let's remember to plan a meeting trip sometime. I'd send this off-line but you are logged on as a guest so I can't send a PM to you.



do not archive

_________________
Thom Riddle
Buffalo, NY (9G0)

Don't worry about old age... it doesn't last very long.
- Anonymous

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