I am completing my Pulse XT 60 w/ Saito 100 and I am installing a 14x6 APC prop but the spinner is much to small for the prop. Should I buy a spinner that will work with the APC prop and will it look right with the plane, or should I ditch the APC prop and stick a master air screw prop on it and be done with it (if so what MAS prop)?

If it is a plastic spinner just enlarge the openings to let the blades fit.

True. Most spinners are designed with small openings so they can be used with small props.

After all, you can make the opening larger if you have a big prop, but you can't make it smaller if you have a small prop.

A Dremel tool is perfect for this. If you don't have one a round file works best.

Avoid any making any sharp nicks in the plastic.

You can modify a spinner to allow a bigger prop to fit but only up to a point. If the spinner is way too small, no amount of mods will be able to make it work and still have the 2 halves of the spinner mate together properly. If you tell us what size of spinner you have we should be able to tell you if your in the right starting size at least. [8D]

I think this is the problem, my spinner is WAY to small to even "cut to fit". It is the stock spinner that came with the Pulse XT 60, I do not know the exact size. I would like to use a plastic spinner for two reasons, I like the look and I would think the smaller metal spinner nuts are much heavier? The plane is already nose heavy. What is the best solution?

I checked the online manual and the Pulse XT 60 comes with a 2 1/4" (57mm) spinner.

Not familiar with the XT 60 but know the Saito 100.

You do have a ruler of some sort, do you not? One can, rather easily measure across the center of the spinner or backplate and determine the size.

Spinner Nuts such as DuBro, are very very light and when compared with an engine such as the Saito, nearly nothing, and even less than most spinners of 2" or larger. IMO, you're worrying about the wrong thing as concerning weight.

I have a hard time believing that a 2 1/4" spinner is too small to cut for a 14x6 prop - although truthfully, a 2 1/4" spinner seems small for a 60-size plane.

Are you sure you're measuring it at the back of the backplate?

In any case, don't forget that you can (and should) enlarge both sides of the existing slot.

You want to remove the blue area in the picture below.

Actually those dimensions came directly from Horizon's website per Pulse XT 60 manual (2 1/4" 57mm). I can not cut enough off the spinner to clear the blades without cutting into the mounting screw holes. The spinner that came with the plane is not even close to clearing the blades even after I cut it a lot. So, what are my options? Should I buy a larger spinner, aluminum spinner nut, try a master air screw prop?

You can't really go with a bigger spinner or it won't match up with the cowl.

I think I would elect to use a different prop

Thanks Mike. What are your thoughts on APC verses Master Air Screw? I have been told by several people that the APC line of props are better? Will I notice a difference?

APC are probably better, but MAS are good props. Their biggest downfall is that they tend to flex a little which reduces their effectiveness.

If you're beyong the stage where you have to worry about breaking a prop on half of your landings, you may want to go with a wooden prop like a Top-Flite Power Point or Zinger.

You need a different prop anyway. I use 14 X 8 or 15 X 6 on all of my saito 100's. The 14 X 6 is perfect for the .91, but you need more prop on that 100 to keep it from unloading too much in the air.

Having said that, it won't help your spinner situation. The MAS blades are probably thinner at the root, so they may fit the spinner with less modification.

Looks like I am 0 for 2, wrong spinner and prop! I want to thank you guys for your help. If I decided to stay with the APC prop I will have to buy an aluminum spinner (the kind you tighten with a screw driver?) or buy a master air screw prop? What are the pros and cons to each option?

Tru-Turn makes a "120 slot" version of a lot of their spinners. This one says it will fit up to a 16x10 APC.
http://www.truturn.com/cgi-bin/store...exact_match=on
They will custom cut almost any spinner for almost any prop.

THe APC props don't tend to flex as much, and are therefore a little more efficient. If you watch a MAS, especially something like a 14X8 on the end of a saito 100 (the MAS larger props have white tips), you can actually see the prop flex as throttle is applied.
Anyway, MAS also makes a scimitar blade that is shaped more like the apc props (sharp, not blunt on the end)which also makes them more efficient. If you really like the APC shape, but need to go with MAS, then go that route.
Again, I run MAS on all of my saitos with no problems. For that plane, I might suggest you go with a 15 X 6

Thanks 2slow2matter, I would think the 15x6 would slow me down on approach? I am looking for a slow plane as this will be my first low-wing aircraft.

[link]http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=DUB735[/link]

Is this what I would need to run the APC? Would I need to buy anything else?

Well, yes and no.

It will work fine, but the spinner will no longer blend in with the cowl.

So if you don't mind it looking funny, it will work.

On the other hand, if this is your first low-wing plane, go with a MAS, you'll never notice the difference in performance, because the way you'll be flying it, you won't NEED any extra performance

Mike, if I read between the lines you are saying my plane is funny looking and I don't know how to fly! One of those statements are true, depending on what prop I run they both may be true. I think I have decided to by me a MAS 15x6 and a new spinner (I really chopped the last one up). This seems to be the easiest fix.

I don't mean to be condescending, it's just that it would be like putting Premium gasoline in a Ford Taurus. Are you really going to notice a difference?

I understand what you are saying. I will stop at the hobby shop on my way home and pickup a new spinner and a 15x6 and 14x8 MAS prop.