Tower just sent me a new adapter for a spinner I bought from them. It is a great planes 2.5" aluminum spinner. When I got it, I noticed that the aluminum bushing was not tight on the prop shaft and I asked them to send a new one and they did.
I got my new spinner adapter yesterday and the bushing is exactly the same size as the one I had to begin with. Is this thing that sloppy? I've read the directions a dozen times to make sure I haven't done anything stupid. This is the way I understand the directions: The aluminum bushing slides upon the prop shaft all the way back to where it isn't threaded up against the drive hub. I'm under the assumption that this is what centers the back plate on the prop shaft. The aluminum back plate then slides upon the adapter. The prop is placed on the shaft against the back plate. The prop washer and prop nut then go on to snug the prop down against the back plate. The spinner then goes on. There is a mile of play between the bushing and the prop shaft. What's the deal here? Surely the bushing is supposed to be tight on the prop shaft. This adapter is supposed to fit the following engines: supertigre .35-.51, O.S. .20-.40 FP, and .25-.46 FX. I'm assuming these all have the same diameter prop shaft. Can anyone verify or dispute this? If they are different, then GP is just selling one that will sorta do for a lot of engines.

What engine are you putting it on? The adapter goes inside the hole on the back plate and should be on the shaft with enough clearance to fit on, but not have movement. You can use brass tube as another spacer to go inside the insert, but you shouldn't have to do that. The insert should fit the shaft correctly to center tha back plate. If not, you need to get one that will. Anyone that has been flying a long time in your club should have them. Ask around and see if you can find one the correct size, otherwise you will have to make one from brass tube, which is doable, but I really don't like to do if I don't have to. I have done it a few times though.

The way you describe doing it is the way I did it. It is for a 46fx engine. I can't believe they put out something that is described as "machined for close tolreance" that has over 1/16" slop in it. There has to be some kind of packaging problem or something because the spinner looks really good and mates up very tight with the backplate.

Yea, that is too much slop. Not good. It won't center propperly. They usually send out a thing with 3 or 4 plastic collars and one usually fits. They only sent you one? That sounds odd.

The spinner assembly came with a bushing and the adapter package came with 2 bushings. All three are the same size.

Well what motor are you using. I dont think you mentioned a tower engine?
I do have a list of all engine shaft sizes, well pretty darn close to all.


support the lhs

Taurus, he mentioned an OS 46 fx

Zetor:
You might try some brass tubing to shim from the shaft size up to the bushing Id. to tighten it up.