RCU Forums - View Single Post - DP Extra 330L Maiden
View Single Post
Old 04-01-2002 | 04:56 PM
  #11  
bpryor's Avatar
bpryor
My Feedback: (45)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,694
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From: Wilsonville, OR
Default First flight

Congrats Paul, I'm thrilled it went so well.

As far as the prop drilling, yes it is a pain, and it is very important you get it right and then balance the prop very accurately. There's another thread that has several opinions on how to do this, many I disagree with completely, like freehand holding the prop while drilling it. You should not run it in this out of balance state, it can really screw up the engine, and stuff in the airframe too. Remember too, there will be some vibration in a new motor until you get some time on it and can lean down the bottom end. Is it rough throughout the RPM range, or only near the bottom end?

One of the most accurate ways to drill the prop hole is to use an expansion reamer, but they're $50 and you still need a drill press and have to do it carefully to get it right. The best, and easiest way in my book, is to use a drill press(a must), clamp the prop in a fixture that can be clamped to the drill press table, align the prop to the drill press by putting a drill in the the drill press and through the stock prop hole, then drill the hole in a two step process with one intermediate drill size before the final 7/16" hole. The hole will come out perfectly every time. Make sure you are using sharp and straight drill bits.