How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Hi y'all,

How important and critical prop balancing is? I've been using APC, MAS nylon or carbon fiber props in the past never balanced those and have been flying the plane.

I got me a Gasser DLE20 which I still yet to crank it up, I got me Xoar 17X6 Beechwood prop wooden. Do I still have to balance it? or does it come pre-balanced from the factory.

Do the wooden props have to be balanced as well? If they are not balanced and How can I balance my Xoar 17X6 Beechwood prop. If props are not balanced what damages would they cause a plane? engine or airframe? If the prop wiggles through the crank, it also causes damage to the engine?


I'd appreciate your feedback and experiences.

Mody

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

I see armody is learning the language;):):D

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

it is important and critical

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Migrated straight to Texas from Pakistan, gotta learn the ropes and learn how to be Big Texan, though I'm 5' 11" but big in size as everything is big in Texas, so I fitted in pretty well:D, as it's said like Do as Romans do :) or something

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

That's not the answer I was expecting:)

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

And necessary!! Check Tower Hobbies for prop balancers; there are several types available. Check for proper blade tracking also.

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

He does much better at our language than most of us do. Kudos to him![8D]

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Important and should be done to any prop. Some mfrs claim their props are balanced. In my experience finding a balanced prop is practically by accident. They all pretty much need tweeking. I typically spray a bit of clear (Krylon Krystal klear works fine) on the light blade and let it dry and recheck until balanced. The magnetic balancer is possibly the best available today to do really fine, precise work

Blade tracking is also important. Place a pointer at the blade tip and determine how the tips track when the prop is turned....on the bench before you start the engine. If it's off a bit, I typically sand the high side of the hub bottom until tips track true

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

spaceworm, Thank you very much for the kudos and such nice words:D. I really appreciate that. If I were to go to my childhood I'd been speaking English since I was under the age of 10. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, just like USA were British colonies as well, and Brits ruled over 200 years, that's the part of history lol, so I ain't gonna delve much into it. BTW my wife is US born white American and I keep correcting her, for instance if she says " I should have went there" I say no " I should have gone there lol" other than that, have been grasping a lots of slang and American Idioms.:D


Anyway, I gotta get back to the business,

MTK and all OK, it's mandatory to balance the prop, How can I balance a wooden prop, do I have to sand it as well, once I get the prop balancer or what is the best way to balance a Xoar 17X6 beechwood prop.



Thanks and happy flying

Mody

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Please ignore says, I said lol, sorry for the tyops

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

You would use MTK's process, regardless of prop composition.

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Wood props  can be balanced by adding weight to the light side in the form of clear polyurethane, varnish,shellac, nail polish, anything that won't attack the finish. I've also used white-out, which also helps from a safety standpoint when used on the prop tips, making them more visible.

And yes, it is important. Less vibration is good for the airframe, engine and electronics.

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

I know this is a fuel thread and I fly electric only. Does not matter either way. I have yet to buy a prop that was even close to being balanced. I also use Krylon crystal clear on the back side of the lighter blade and don't forget to balance the hub as well. I have actually had to hammer a thin bit of lead using medium CA on the hub to get it to balance. There have been times I gave up and called APC and sent the prop back for an exchange. With electric, there is much less vibration and whatever you can do to minimize vibration on an IC engine would only help. I have the Dubro Tru Spin that will work with any size prop.

<a target="_blank" href="http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&amp;I=LXD712&amp;P=ML">www3.towerhobbies .com/cgi-bin/wti0001p

Harry


By the way, your language is fine considering it is not your native language. Some are rude, please excuse them.
</a>

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

VERY Important! Just laziness if you don't!

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0rgqU7ivyQ

Not the one I was looking for, but might help explain.

Do use clear spray or if painting the prop the color you are going to paint it to balance.

I use sticky sided velcro for the hub then add drops of CA to the Velcro to the side of the HUB that needs the weight.

For sure DONT use TAPE as in Vid.

Hope this helps.

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Awesome feed back guys

I really appreciate it. I gotta buy me a prop balancer in the first place and follow the great advices I've been given.

Thanks a lot.


Mody

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Now I know ARMODY is a very smart guy for two reasons..!! One, he moved to Texas and Two he has an Aurora 9...!!!

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Don't forget the spinner http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_11...tm.htm#1115188 this is also important. A well balanced prop should stay at any position on the balancer that it is set on. If it only balances at 3&9 o'clock or 12 & 6 o'clock but not any where else then you have a hub that is heavy. I use a piece of clay applied to the light side of the hub intil it will balance at any point, then I weigh the clay to see how much its off. More than .5 grams and I would get another prop. If its less then I use a sanding drum on my dremel tool and slowly remove material from the heavy side rechecking the balance as I go. When it's right I recoat the hub with poly u varnish. I use the xoars on my dle 20 also and I have had some be pretty far out of bal. They say that they are balanced but that has never been the case for me. +2 on the Dubro balancer, easy to use on any size prop and spinner. Plenty of good articles around here and also on the Dubro site.

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Lol, :DThank you very much for such great comments Prop Washer 2, I'm still smiling. Honestly speaking, people wanna see the world, and I wish to discover America, and it's beautiful. Having an American wife is not an easy thing lol:D


I liked the video. There are a lots of liquid chemicals including nail polish have been explained here, to use it for prop balancing, so once gotta have a prop balancer, secondly do I have to use the scotch tape or not, then apply little bit nail polish, CA or Krylon crystal clear. I have done balancing at my mentor max size is 12X6 nylon props, haven't done any on wooden prop. This is gonna be my first experience.

BTW, I'm really enjoying the inputs and learning:D;)[8D]

Mody

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

My opinion above............^^^^^^^^

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Roger,

Thank you very much for your input. Is there any particular size and thickness of Velcro do you use and which brand is it. I don't wanna be little demanding, but is there any picture you may be able to post here?:eek:



Mody

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Depends on the size of prop and how out of balance it is on the hub.

I just buy velcro at any hardware store and has worked good for me.

I need to find the other you tube vid, it actually shows the whole process and not using tape.

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

I've got Xoar 17X6 Beechwood prop for DLE20.

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

Guys, really !!! Listen to what the man is saying in the video.
He said he uses tape in the video to quickly demonstrate how the weight effects the prop
He then states to use nail polish or spray varnish when you are to do it properly.
The tape is just for demo purposes only, otherwise the vid would be hours long.
When you use nail polish or spray varnish you need to wait for it to dry before you check the balance again, so it can be a long process.
Just do exactly what he does in the video and use clear nail polish.
If you use a spinner balance that too.
Take your time, do it carefully over a few nights and always have at least one spare balanced prop, in case you need one in a hurry.

RE: How important/ critical is Prop Balancing?
 

3136,

Thanks for pointing it out, I guess I must've gotten distracted and missed that part. :D