RCU Forums - View Single Post - Is it possible to burn an engine with the wrong size prop?
Old 07-05-2004 | 08:56 AM
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britbrat
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From: Deep River, ON, CANADA
Default RE: Is it possible to burn an engine with the wrong size prop?

YES, but I doubt that you have hurt it much unless you have been running it too leaned out.

Too little load, resulting in excessive rpm (your example), or too much load, resulting in too much heat -- can both damage an engine.

I have several TT.46 Pros & haven't cooked one yet, despite some pretty high rpm operation (the engine reaches its peak HP @ ~15,000 rpm). I have heard of these engines surviving >20,000 rpm, although how long they will live is an interesting question.

Depending upon the specific model type (airspeed achieved), & assuming good lubrication, the usefull range of propellers for that engine is:

9-8
10-6
10-7
10-8
11-4
11-5
11-6
11-7
12-4
12-5
12.25-3.75

You have to match the prop to the flight application & some of the props noted above will be incorrect for particular flight applications. An 11-6 is a good "all around" choice, but not necessarily optimized.