I've got two questions about spinners.

1)How do they stay on the prop?

2)What size should I get for a APC 11x5 on a Thunder Tiger Pro .46?

Thanks

There is a back plate that is on the back side of the prop which the nose cone screws into. A 2'' or 2 1/4'' spinner would work perfect.

A Tiger Stick plane comes with a 2.25" diameter plastic spinner, just right for a Pro 46 except if you use an electric starter you will burn the palstic the first time that slip the starter cone on the thing.

Will that happen to any plastic spinner. Would it be better to get an aluminum one?

Yes. Plastic spinners and electric starters are a bad combo in my experience.

An aluminium spinner would be best if you are using an electric starter. Plastic ones just don't
last when using an electric starter IMO.

Crazyrcer:

If you are planning on using an apc 11x5 prop you most likely have fitment problems with a plastic spinner that is in the 2" - 2 1/2" range as the prop blades are wider than the cutout in the spinner. If you still want to use the plastic spinner you will likely have to trim the opening a bit wider to get the actuall nosecone spinner to fit onto the backplate.

As far as using plastic spinners with electric starters there isn't a problem as long as the insert in your starter is in good condition. I've been using plastic spinners for a little over 2 years with no problems. My biggest problem using plastic spinners on my spa3dt was that while learning to do basic 3d manuevers (and several dirtnaps later) I would crack or bust the spinners and that was getting expensive so I moved up to a du-bro aluminum prop nut...they work in electric starters without having to turn the cone insert around and work great.

[link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXE158&P=ML]Du-Bro Prop Nut[/link] <--- there is the ones I like to use. They are available in several shaft and thread combinations for almost every motor out there and in weighted and non-weighted models as well.

Madd_Maxx

A spinner isn't just there for looks, it serves a couple of aerodynamic functions and a couple of safety functions as well.

It cleans up the nose of the model & reduces drag a bit.

It eliminates the very inefficient propeller root transition zone, reducing parasitic power losses (you will actually have more power with one).

It provides a safe place to fit an electric starter (better than a prop nut) so that you can avoid flip starting -- which keeps fingers away from the prop.

It provides a "crush zone" on impact, & could save your engine (that is why I use plastic spinners, rather than metal).

It spreads the point load on contact & thus may reduce injury in the event of a model-human collision

BritBrat-- I'll agree with all your arguments on spinner advantages but one: spreading " the point load on contact & thus may reduce injury..." Without going into the physics, it ain't gonna matter whether the plane that hits you has a spinner on it or not, you're gonna get chewed up and knocked down in a big way. KE = 1/2 mv squared.

Sullivan make starter cone inserts that fit spinners a lot better than the generic insert in starters like Hobbico's. They have contact area over the whole spinner surface instead of a ring shaped contact that usualy buggers up a plastic spinner.

I like the idea of a spinner/prop nut. Will it fit a Hobbico starter? If not what starters will it fit? It seems like the starter turning it counterclockwise would loosen the spinner/nut though. Would that be a problem?

Thanks

I have used prop nuts for many years. I generally use ones made by Harry Higley. To use one just remove your starter cone. Turn it around and reinstall it. The small hole will be facing outwards. You are now ready to start a nut equipped engine. I feel they are safer and just plain easier than spinners.

I agree whole heartedley with the above poster on inserts. The inserts on Hobbico and the like starters are really kind of poor. Get a Sullivan insert. They come in different colours for different compunds. I like the white ones myself. I have 2 starters with them in. They have never given me problems. The one I have set up for spinners does not chew up plastic spinners. They are well worth the cost.

Mark Shuman

Would either of these be good? [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFT97&P=7]One[/link] and [link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0001P?&I=LXBC75&P=V]two[/link].

Thanks

I use the du-bro prop nuts with my hanger 9 and tower hobbies starters with a standard insert in it and have had no problems. If you tighten the prop nut with a ball driver or small screwdriver (has holes in the tip of the nut for tightening) you won't have any problems of it spinning off during a startup. I had more problems starting my mds 61 the first few times with a plastic spinner than I ever did with a prop nut. The plastic spinner kept coming loose even after I tightened the standard prop nut with a ratchet....went to a prop nut and haven't had any problems since. Bottom line it is a personal preference as to using a plastic spinner or a prop nut I just prefer a prop nut for ease of prop changes (I like to try serval different sizes and pitches) and the durability of them over a 6 dollar hunk of plastic.

Face it if your planes goes in it really won't matter wether it had a plastic spinner or a prop nut on it....your plane still ate dirt!

Madd_Maxx

I used to think aluminum spinners were the way to go. After some noseovers at full throttle on takeoff and a couple of crash landings, I'm now a fan of Higley prop nuts or the Dubro spinner nuts. 3" aluminum spinners are expensive and I destroyed 3 or 4 of them. In every case, the only damage to the plane was the broken prop and cracked spinner I bought a pink Miller insert for my Tower starter and it works great
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXBC75&P=0
The end they should show in the photo has a hole that tapers from 3/4" to 1/2". It grabs the small nuts really well and also works with big spinners if you want.

Please if any of you can measure inside dimension of alum. cone of sullivan and hobbico starters (standard)

thanks

realdo

Hobbico 1-13/32
Sullivan 1-7/16
That little difference is huge. I mistakenly ordered the big one for my Tower (Hobbico) starter. Even after some mods, I hated the way it fit in the cone. The small one fits great.

Hobbico 1-13/32
Sullivan 1-7/16
That little difference is huge. I mistakenly ordered the big one for my Tower (Hobbico) starter. Even after some mods, I hated the way it fit in the cone. The small one fits great.
[/quote]

I have tower starter, and i need this because on tower site under tower starter is COMMENTS: For Rubber Insert: MPRP1310(regular spinners) MPRP1320(spinner nuts)-yes, the same as Sullivan style Starters. But this is abt 9usd.
In my case i will order a cheap rubber insert and i dont know which one: sullivan or hobbico (LXFT90 or LXL401) - under 3usd.

realdo

This one fits Tower starters. It costs $9.29 but work good
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXBC75&P=0

That's funny. No one stated the obvious. It depends on the plane you are flying. If you are flying a trainer then all applies... but if you are flying any scale applications, get the one that fits the airplane. Would be funny to see a Corsair with a plastic spinner or a Mustang with a small prop nut!

hm..., yes, this one must fit tower starter cone (1-13/32), but why on tower site is link from tower starter to sullivan rubber insert with dimension of 1-7/16 (lxbc72 and lxbc73) ???
In my case, and for my work around my hobby and if hobbico and tower starter is same cone dimension (inside) cheap rubber insert is work fine for me. but direct replacement rubber insert for hobbico starter is 1-3/16 outside dimension (lxl401). something here in tower web is wrong, what ?


realdo