231 replacement propeller

[fatalflaw]

I am changing a euro-registered 231 over to N-registration, and my current prop (a Hoffmann 3-blade) is not STC-d in the US.

Does anyone have any experience to share with replacement props on 231s? I'm interested in how they perform, as well as any maintenance issues. I am currently considering:

• 
  
• MT: http://www.mt-propeller.com/en/entw/stcs/mooney_4.htm
  
• McCauley BlacMac 3 blade
  
• Hartzell Top Prop 3 blade
  
• Original 2-blade (either 231 or, better, 252)
  

The MT appears to be the best from the weight/performance/noise standpoint, but it's also by far the most expensive.

If anyone is aware of any of the above for sale in any reasonable state, please let me know!

I suspect there will be comments as to the advisability of going N-reg with all the current EASA nonsense, and believe me I have spent some time thinking about that, and I am resigned to possibly having to return to euro-reg in a few years. But I just got my FAA IR and I'm flipping well going to use it!

Thanks

Jim

[Rustler]

Jim--

 

This was posted yesterday in the Vintage Mooney section of our board.

"If anyone is interested I have a 3 blade MT with white and red scimitar blades for sale,  complete with composite spinner for an E or F as is or it can be installed on a J with a different spinner. Asking $5,500 plus shipping

Clarerence Beintema

clarence@tricityaero.com

519-580 -1572"

 

This is a really good deal, as you probably know.

[Vref]

Hi Jim, How many hours on the Hoffman..?

 

[fatalflaw]

The Hoffmann: about 100 hrs since overhauled.

The MT in the earlier post - thanks I spotted that already and I have emailed the address in the posting, but unfortunately I think the E,F and J take a different prop to the one for the K, an MTV-12-B instead of MTV-12-D.

[KSMooniac]

Yes, there are different MT props for the E/F/J vs. the K due to the hub differences between the TCM and Lycoming engines.  That is a great deal on the MT for an E/F, but less of a great deal for a J since a new spinner assy would be required.

[IFlyMooney]

I have a Hartzel 3 blade prop that has about 1200 hours on it since new.  It is about 4 years old.  I am interested in selling it to put an MT on my plane.  The difference is that the MT should give me slightly faster cruiese at high altitudes (above 15K ft) than the Hartzel does.  The climb performance and cruise that I get with the hartzel is good.  Avg 700 ft plus climb rate and I flight plan 170 Kts.  If you do not go high, then there is no real advantage of the MT over the hartzel other than weight.  I will be selling the prop and the hub, since the MT requires a different hub than the hartzel.  If anyone is interested, let me know.

[IFlyMooney]

Forgot to mention that the prop is on a 1979 M20K

[CoachTom]

MT Prop on my 231... NO VIBRATIONS!!! good climb speed, very quiet!, odd whistling sound on the ground (almost turbine-ish), no prop momentum when shutting down (engine just stops-bam!), smooth cruise characteristics.

Can't tell if you gain a few knots or lose a few, but the difference between the McCauley I had prior and this MT in weight and noise difference is worth a few grand difference.

Absolutley no buyers remorse.

Only issue so far and I am trying to send the distributor the photos is a brown discloration to the white spinner at the blade root from the prop deice being on this winter. In speaking with the distributor, they have never had this happen before...

 

[race167]

MT is a great way to go for quiet and initial climb performance. Unfortunately I have experienced a 14 kt speed loss down low. 

I now have the slowest M20-K  in the galaxy : (. 

[jlunseth]

Sigh.  From everything I have read that has been the typical experience when adding more than two blades.  I am perfectly happy with my two blade.