Propeller Overhauls

[Mmcmanamey]

Former McCauley factory trainer (who also speaks Hartzell) chiming in. A few notes:

The prop is also a centrifuge. The spinning separates the lubricant from from the clay base. We like to pump grease in until the grease exiting looks like the grease going in. That also helps purge any trapped moisture. Modern Hartzells use Aeroshell 6 unless otherwise placarded or noted in the records.

As far as blade position while parked, we don’t like flat spots where water sits. One blade up will let water get in under the shims where the paint is worn off from constant movement. ANY corrosion in the blade retention area is cause for rejecting the hub.

During a reseal, ask for a widths & thickness check of the blades. That’s fast & easy. I’d also ask for a similar check on a fixed pitch. If blade track is fine (A&P checkable on-wing), a face alignment probably isn’t necessary. If lots of material has been removed while dressing nicks over the years, you may not be getting book performance. Personal experience: I’ve seen sagging tachometers that went undetected because the prop was whittled down enough that the engine was showing a false acceptable static RPM. An optical tach on the glare shield revealed the discrepancy (engine was being severely over-sped).

McCauley now “forbids” polishing props due to corrosion issues. If you are in a low-corrosion area, it’s probably not an issue if you are careful not to remove too much metal. I’d personally clear coat it if running a polished prop, but that paint does give erosion protection, too…

McCauley says any quality paint is fine.

McCauley allows cycling the prop repeatedly to “wash” the o-rings if you have a leak, and continue operation up to 10 hours to see if the leak will stop (if it’s threaded I’d be VERY cautious unless you KNOW exactly where the oil is coming from).

I have seen hangared props 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico eaten up by corrosion and scrapped at first overhaul due to lack of paint & care. I particularly hate stickers.

Easy answer: If you have a 2-digit model number, it’s a threaded hub and should be converted to oil with dye additive. If it’s a 3-digit model (200/300 series 2-blade, 400/500 series 3-blade) it’s threadless.

[Impimpster]

Savvy, that's the Best description of these podcasts! Thank you for both this propeller information and the LOP, "Lean of Peak", Best Cruise, 65% power Information!

[josephmistretta]

Yeah Mike, I understand what you’re saying and you can probably deal with prop repair shops.
But right now they’re three months behind. They can select who they want to take. And they don’t have time for clients that want to call the shots.

[CenturionX]

Thanks for putting this content on YouTube.

[billbrasher]

Great webinar. I’ve watch ever one multiple times.
Agree totally! My plane is in a climate and humidity controlled hangar. Humidity 30% or less and Rate of evaporation exceeding .3 lb/ft/hr. Tampa was .04 lbFtHr on a good day.
I also use cowl plugs to allow temp to cool slowly while temp and humidity stabilize after putting away for the day.

[darrylday]

Perfect timing! Just looking into a prop overhaul. I’ll send a link for this video to the owner.

[dullgeek]

"Where corrosion is outlawed by local statute" LOLOL

[ryanedwards]

just talking prop overhaul yesterday. This clears up alot.

[johnfitzpatrick]

Thankyou for the year of information and technology covering essential components of general aviation planes.
Merry Christmas and happy New year.
🎄🎆🛩️🔍

[bernardc]

SO bummed pre registered
I really wanted to make the live feed, questions experiences with Hartzell How they killed the earlier Aztecs/ Apache's and your "opinion" reguarding their 100hr AD with low time props, adding carb cleaner to an open wound, bought 2 O/H extras with logs never installed, "life" hit me hard, Now the New 1's will hit the calendar time next Mo.! Thanks Mike & AOPA for ALL that you do

[anibalpereira]

Gracias por compartir su conocimiento con nosotros.
Saludos desde la República del Paraguay.

[theancientartofmodernwarfa]

If your insurance company says you have to comply with a certain SB, that is, for all practical purposes, mandatory, too!

[ukrsindicat]

Funny that Mike literally mentioned my home base at KTPF Peter OKnight))))

[zz]

So if not an A&P, then who (what certifications) are required for working on (swapping, installing, repairing) instruments?

[terryterry]

can scara robotic arm be used to overhaul propeller ?

[ShuRugal]

Nicks are removed with a restraining order. Any Nick over 6' or 300 lbs should be considered dangerous.