ORIGINAL: L_Vader
ORIGINAL: -pkh-
I typically don't balance props 12" and smaller, but then I use APC and MAS props that are usually balanced fairly well. For props larger than 12", I am more likely to take the time to balance them.
so... it is not necessary to balance props smaller than that? I have an OS .40 LA and I was told bye the club members that it was "mandatory" to balance the prop; it uses a 10 X 6... but I actually found a website that said the same thing, that it was not necessary with small props... do you think an unbalanced prop can damage this engine?
It never hurts to check the balance. The glow engines we use are not perfectly balanced, and we get lots of vibration just from the engine. IMO, as long as the smaller props are fairly well balanced (as most APC and MAS props are), then fine tuning the balance won't get you a noticeable reduction in vibration. The larger props have a greater weight and a much larger moment, and balancing them can be much more important. I use 12" limit as a rule of thumb because most of my .40-.60 size planes only use up to about a 12" prop, and I've never worried too much about checking balance for them. With my larger planes, using 16" props and larger, I always check the prop balance. Oh, and with helicopter blades, regardless of size, I always balance them!