Spinner RANT!
 

I have yet to have a spinner that actually fit a prop. Why don't the prop makers and the spinner makers get on the same page? [:@]

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

It's very simple really. A manufacturer makes a mold for a spinner. They make one mold for each size (2", 2.5", etc). They do not know what size prop you will be using. YOU can make it bigger if you need to, but someone using a small prop can't make a hole smaller. So they make the hole to fit the smallest feasible prop for that size spinner and it's up to you to cut it to fit.

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

Because thats what your dremel tool is for.

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

I see your logic Mike, but, who in the world would use a 3" spinner with a 7x4 prop? lol.

I just put a new APC 12x5 prop with a new Du-Bro 2 1/4" spinner on my Magnum .52 FS and it wouldn't fit. Not only did I have to cut those little nipples off, I had to dremel out the cut outs. Same thing with MAS props or any plane, engine, prop/spinner combo I have ever used.

I need a tin foil hat. [8D]

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

A Black and Decker conspiracy?

I can buy into that!

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

Gary, look at it this way, you can always cut the prop clearance bigger, but there is no way to cut it smaller.


Don

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

They could make custom sizes, but you'd pay double for spinners in order to make it worthwhile. Would you like that better?

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

Gary lets see APC alone has over 300 different size props, pretty unlikely any manufacturer for this small market is going to manufacture a different size for every possible propellor then do it all over agine for each cone style. Even more unlikely that some reseller like Tower is going to stock this hugh collection.

Take a common engine size like a .46 now visulise the popular props comonly used on them from a 9x6 for pylon all the way up to a 12.25x3.75 for 3D and the hugh variety in between and its easy to see its impossible.

Two bolt, three bolt and four bolt plastics as well as the no bolt pop offs are all very limited in allowable props and especially pitchs for any given size because of this internal structure.

Single bolt types plastic cone with metal backplate or all metal will provide the widest variety of allowable propellors for any given diameter and style. Of couse you will then have to deal with the prop adaptor thread and size as well as adapter length.

Actually since this is the beginner forum perhaps the very best plan is to use a spinner nut on a trainer, They certainly look better on trainers and many sport airplanes. That of course is just my opinion.

John

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

Since this is the beginner forum, I'm inclined to cut you more slack than some of the others.

Your selection of a 2¼ inch prop for a 12X5 prop is a bit small. Had you chosen a larger spinner, you wouldn't have to cut out so much.

If they cut and sold your 2¼ inch spinner for, say, a 15x6 APC prop, most of the spinner would be gone, but your 12x5 would have lots of clearance. I'm thinking you'd prefer to cut some spinner away.

In a year or two, let's pull this post back up and see if your position is the same.

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

I too am a recent convert to the spinner nut. They make it much easier to change props, they look better, and they are only a couple bucks more than a spinner. I doubt I will buy another plastic spinner.

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

Has anybody ran into a situation where the spinner was too big for a prop?

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

A spinner nut costs about 5 bucks, a good spinner runs from about $20.00 then goes up from there. What type of spinners were you using?? I really thought I found a good deal on spinners!!;)
I have run into spinners that were cut bigger then my props a number of times, not as often as I would like though. Most people buy the spinner size that will fit the planes cowl and not the prop. I have had some planes with cowls that were pretty big for the engine/prop combo I was using so the slots were bigger then what I really needed. That would bring up the question what is too big? I may use the same spinner on more then one plane over the years so the slot may be just right or way too big, they work so it must be the correct size for me. :D
If you order True Turn Spinners direct and tell them the size prop you are using they will cut the slots for you for just a couple of bucks. At one time I ordered some from them and they were cutting them for free. I may know the length of the prop I'm going to use but not the pitch so I have them cut them over size for me.
I started buying a spinner sold under the Magnum name, way cheaper then any of the others I have found but every bit as good. They come with an adapter nut too, sometimes luck is on my side and the nut even fits the engine I'm going to use. I do end up cutting the slots myself though, I don't think they do the custom cutting like Tru Turn.
I also have a box with several spinner nuts form some of my smaller planes I used to have.

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

In addition to John's large number of possibilities, you have the multitude of combinations for 3- and 4-bladed props.
Manufacturers are not going to mass produce that many different spinners.

HTH,
EJ

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

I always used the Great Planes plastic spinners with the aluminum backplate. I think they cost around $5-6. The Dubro aluminum prop nuts that I have bought are about $8, I think. I don't always read my receipt when I leave the LHS [:o].

The only time I would have considered a Tru Turn spinner is if I were building something scale that really deserved one. Since I am now mostly building 3D slabs, I don't see any spinners in my immediate future.

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

Its not the direct cost of a nice spinner nut compared to a cheap Spinner that is the real bottom line here in the beginners forum.

The real bottom line is lost flying time and even not getting any flights at all on any given day especially a busy one. Insistance on using spinners even good ones but mostly cheezy plastics is high on the list of reasons new folks don,t get to fly. They are so often poorly installed and much time is lost dickering with even something simple like changing a nicked prop. A prop change with a good spinner nut can happen in just seconds.

I realize manufacturers include cheezy plastics with many trainers simply because it sells product but actually it does a disfavor to most new folks who will suffer lost time and frustration at some point during a period when they need to concentrate on flying and not spinners.

John

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

I agree, John. How many people have dropped one of those little tiny screws that holds the plastic spinner cone on, and not been able to find it in the grass? It is a really dumb way to end your flying day. And with the frequency of busted props when you are first learning to land, it just makes perfect sense to use a prop nut from day one.

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

I actually read a formula somewhere that told you what size of spinner to buy with the spinner diameter calculated as a derivative of the diameter of the prop you intend to use. I don't remember the formula, though.

Plastic spinners stink; I'd much rather use a safety nut. Thank heaven for ARFs that come packaged with aluminum spinners!

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

If you guys keep this up, Hobbicowill soon introduce the new "spinner modification tool". Hopefullyit will be a power tool !!http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...sn/biggrin.gif

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

Hmm nothing new about that 'spinner modification tools' they have been out there for a really, really long time, well since before I was born and thats a long time. Hmm probably the most basic of must have modeling tools.

http://www.mytoolstore.com/dremel/100.html

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

I just started a build thread in the Kit Building forum for a Tiger 60.  As usual I like to read whats goin on in several forums so thats why I am here.   And I am glad I read this thread.  I am planning on building an enclosed nose cowl for my Tiger and I wanted to use an aluminum spinner.  I never thought about having to modify the spinner to fit the prop since I have been using a spinner nut on my trainer.  That being said, are aluminum spinners made to fit specific props?  I cant imagine modifying an aluminum spinner with my dremel. 

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

I just answered my own question.  I went to Tower's site and looked at their aluminum spinners from Great Planes.  Great Planes says to modify the spinner with a file or mototool if it touches the prop anywhere.  Looks like I got all worked up over nothin. 

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

Steve go here:

http://www.truturn.com/Spinners/By_D..._diameter.html

then select your diameter and go from there, You can also shop by shape and it will walk you thru allowable props sizes as well as avalible odd shape and oversize slots. Or you can simply call and tell the nice lady your cowl size, the engine brand/model, desired prop size and they will fit you up.

You may find a few other companys that do so many as well as custom sizes but mostly the less expensive types including all the plastics you really need to learn to use your dremel. Its one of the most common modeler uses for the tool. Its not that hard to do but a good skill to learn.

Grinding plastics is fine too except you need to remember you cannot open up two or more bolt as well as pop off types as much as you can with single bolt types (which use a propshaft adapter) This be cause of space inside used for these bolts and their respective bosses or the bosses for the pins of the pop off types (Goldberg and some other obsolete types).

John

RE: Spinner RANT!
 

I'm following your thread. :D