Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

I always use 2 nuts on a 4 stroke. I have two on my YS91 with the TruTurn spinner.

Chris

spinner
 

I used a CBA/Taone 2 1/4 spinner. It's plastic but has an aluminum backplate. it was easy to trim for the larger prop. I used the TruTurn double nut adapter with it.

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

I don't know which Vortec spinner Chris had but it sure wasn't from the same Dave Brown I get mine from.I've been using them since they became available,and have been very pleased.They look smooth to me and have never yet got one out of balance.If you want to spend top dollar 4 a spinner and still have to cut and "TRY"to balance it,have at it. I am sure your dremel and file and two steel toothpicks on a magnet do a much better job than a CNC machine could do!!Until DB gives me a reason to change I'm sticking with them.
Mike.

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

I tried the Dave Brown Vortec spinner first and used it for a little while. However, with my YS91, the prop nuts would hit the inside of the spinner, not allowing it to make full contact with the back plate. It was also my first attempt and the cut-outs did not go as well. The TruTurn is a little deeper/longer and uses a slightly thicker back-plate. When I tried an APC 16x4w, I ran out of threads on the shaft before the prop was tight. A thicker washer just made it hit the inside of the spinner. The Dave Brown spinner had to be cut as well. The price difference at Tower is $18.39 vs $24.49. I wished the Dave Brown had worked out better it just didn't fit right for me.

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

I never said I could do it better than a machine. I tried the Dave Brown Vortec spinner first and used it for a little while. However, with my YS91, the prop nuts would hit the inside of the spinner, not allowing it to make full contact with the back plate. It was also my first attempt and the cut-outs did not go as well. The TruTurn is a little deeper/longer and uses a slightly thicker back-plate. When I tried an APC 16x4w, I ran out of threads on the shaft before the prop was tight. A thicker washer just made it hit the inside of the spinner. The Dave Brown spinner had to be cut as well. The price difference at Tower is $18.39 vs $24.49. I wished the Dave Brown had worked out better it just didn't fit right for me. I had to try combinations of prop nuts/adapters and washers to make it fit. I should have just used a 2 1/2" spinner, that way clearance would not have been an issue. I wish they had designed the nose around the 2 1/2". It makes more sense. I don't know of any prop in the .90 size range which would fit in the 2 1/4 inch spinners without modification. I haven't had any vibration problems.

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

I cut mine. Its not too difficult, if you measure and make straight cuts, its tougher if you try to make curves. Balance just like you would balance a propeller on the mag balancer, you have to mark the backplate to ensure balance when installed. Its not as critical on the small spinners to get it "perfect" because there is so little total weight so close to the center, its got to be pretty far off before noticable vibration ocurs.

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

1.6 ounces???

Take a look; 2.87 ounces.

The Tru-Turn I bought after buying this pig is on my Kaos, and I'm not going to pull it to weigh it; but it was noticeably lighter in the hand. I got the scale some time afterward, BTW. And this a 2.25"; that's what goes on a Kaos 40.

I've had this thing for several years. After trying to get five bucks for it at a swap meet, I couldn't even GIVE it away. The "finish" you see is after some polishing on a lathe with a Flitz cloth. The backplate is still rough as a cob, but this digital camera doesn't have enough pixel count to really show it.

The walls of this spinner are almost twice as thick as the Tru-Turn.

I'm glad some of you are satisfied with your DB product; I'll never buy another one.

Steve

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

I got the 1.5oz from Towers website here

Knowing Tower they are probably wrong, but since you say your spinner is old it is possible the the newer Vortech spinners weigh less than the old ones. The wall of the spinner in the picture from towers site looks rather thin. Is that that your looks like?

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

Steve,I have read many of your post and in most all cases I agree with you and respect your opinions.In this case i have to disagree.I have a 4" Vortec spinner on my 33% Cap and I just purchased a 4"Tru Turn for my 33%Extra,I haven't weighed either yet(I will as soon as I can)But my Vortec has a very nice finish and is very light.I know it is lighter than the Tru Turn.I personally like the Vortec better,eventhough I have replaced the DB and the TT with CF ones.I have many Vortec's and none of them look like yours in the pic,unless it's just the camera.Sorry you are dissapointed with yours.BTW,I think we have a mutual friend,Vince Hayward.
Mike

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

Chris,I owe you an apology for my comments about your balancing your spinner.I tend to get emotional when I read some of these post.I was thinking it was you that was dogging Vortec so much,but when I thought about it,I reread the post and found out I was wrong..I guess I should not be so quick to get typing when something irritates me,LOL.Everyone has their own experiences and opinons and we need to respect that.Please accept my apology.
Mike

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

No problem, Mike. One man's drink is another man's poison.

This is definitely a Dave Brown VorTech, though. I bought it at Hobby Hut in Metairie. Yeah, I haven't seen Vince in a while. How's he doing?

Coomarlin, the walls of this spinner are at least 2mm thick. If you really want to know, post back and I'll measure it when I get home tonight.

FWIW, I learned long ago to take manufacturer/vendor supplied weight figures with a large dose of salt. I bought my scale to do main rotor blades, but it comes in real handy for stuff like this.

Steve

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

Steve,Vince is doing pretty good.I don't think he's flying much anymore.Ever since Dan died it seems he kinda lost interest,but I could be wrong.I know he's got his son involved in moto-cross racing,so that's taking up alot of his weekends.I'll tell him you said hello.
Mike

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

I ordered a 2 1/4" standard. I'll weigh it when it comes in. I also found this info off of Dave Browns site. I'd almost bet that the Vortechs that are sold now aren't the same as the one you have. The picture I linked to at Tower shows a fairly thin wall. It doesn't appear to be even close to 2 mm thick.

I'll let you know how much mine weighs and how well it works.

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

Hey guys, it's just a thought, but I saw a Harry Higley's prop lock (it's just a pretty nut) on tower's site and figured you could use one of those and something like a dubro aluminum prop nut. I think it would look a lot better than just a couple of nuts on the shaft and a lot cheaper than a spinner too. Is there any down side to this? My UCANDO should be in later this week and I was thinking about this setup for my YS91.

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

Coomarlin,

I just put a mike on that puppy; would you believe THREE millimeters thick??? No wonder its so heavy.

Mike,

I haven't spoken with Vince since the funeral, but Gordon had mentioned that he was taking Dan's death very hard; especially the circumstances. Sorry to hear he's dropping out. Is he still a distributor for those Czech blades?

Steve

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

Steve,last I heard Vince was still selling the blades,I don't believe he quit for good,probablly just on hiatus.
Mike

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

I checked out my DB 2.25" standard spinner last night. It seems to be balanced. The cone is nicely polished, but one of the prop cutouts is a little rough, with some machining flash still visible. The backplate is a little rough, but who cares what a backplate looks like?

The slots were indeed too small to fit just about all the 15x6 props I tried in it - APC, MA, Zinger, etc. The only one in that size range that fit was an old Expert 15x6 wood prop - its got real narrow blades as compared with all the other props I tried.

The other problem - Even though I was using the 'short' DB adapter with no locknut the spinner cone is too short - the adapter was nearly contacting the spinner, and could only be used with an extremely short screw.

I now have the appropriate $70 Tru-Turn spinner & adapter on order. http://home.earthlink.net/~dojbofh/i...ile/boring.gif

On the plus side the spinner (A) is the correct size for my WM Zen (B) can be used with the steep-pitched props I like on my WM Zen, and (C) has to be better balanced than the POS Dubro spinner that I have on it now :)

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

Mike,

it seems that Vince has turned over the operation to his sister in Waveland (outside of Bay St. Louis).

Steve

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

Yeah,thats what he told me,I think she keeps the stock and does the shipping for him.He's got way too much going on for one person.
Mike

Anyone using 2.5" spinner on UCD?
 

I finally received my 2.25" vortech spinner. I found the quality to be pretty good. Not quite as nice as the truturns I've seen, but it was balanced and the custom cut they put on it works fine with the APC 15x6. The cut is also supposed to house a 16x4w, but since I don't have the prop yet I couldn't verify that.

Now my only issue. They sent a propnut that was about 4mm too short. I called them back and they are sending me a new propnut free of charge that should fit. We'll see.

Now here is the interesting thing. I weighed it on a scale at work. It weighed 1.51 ounces. Dave Brown states in their manual that the spinner weighs 1.5 ounces. This is pretty close. But since they did cut the spinner to fit my props that removed enough metal that the original spinner probably weighed another tenth of an ounce. Not bad considering Steve's weighed 2.87 ounces! I measured the thickness of the spinner near the cutout and it was ~1.3mm. Thats as close as I could get with my cheap gauge. As long as the new nut works, I'll be statisfied. Especially considering the cheap nylon spinner that came with the UCD weighs about the same amount.

Spinner balancing
 

Hi:

I used Spin Rite ( cheap ) polished aluminum spinner on my UCD.
It required enlarging to fit so you must balance it afterwards.

Even if you do not modify, you should still balance them as the machining is never perfect.

Tools needed.

Top Flight magnetic balancer.
hand drill with 1/8 bit
dremel with carbide cutter

step 1

balance the back plate only. Mark the heavy spot and put drill hole(s) on heavy side from inside the back plate but do not drill through. drill couple more on either side of the hole if you still can't balance. do this until the back plate will stop at any spot.

step 2

balance the cone with the just balanced back plate as a guide hub. ( without the back plate you can't center the cone properly)
mark the heavy spot and carve out some material from inside the cone. balance until the spinner will stop at any spot.

try this new balanced spinner on BALANCED prop. you will notice how smoother your engine is running.