Prop balancing

[Cruiser]

I just had my prop dynamically balanced and oh what a difference.

We started with a reading of .27 ips on the electronic balancer.

The mechanic mounted an Accelerometer on the front of the engine and a laser strobed the back of one blade on the prop.

Took the airplane to an open spot on the ramp and did a runup to cruise RPM.

The balancer did its calculation and identified the heavy spot.

The mechanic added weights to the opposite side of the spinner and tested it again. After several tries the reading was .03 ips.

On the flight home the plane felt so much better. It was hard to believe I couldn't notice the vibrations until they weren't there anymore.

Everyone should have their plane/prop dynamically balanced it is certainly worth it.

[gregwatts]

I concur!

[aviatoreb]

I just had my prop dynamically balanced and oh what a difference.

We started with a reading of .27 ips on the electronic balancer.

The mechanic mounted an Accelerometer on the front of the engine and a laser strobed the back of one blade on the prop.

Took the airplane to an open spot on the ramp and did a runup to cruise RPM.

The balancer did its calculation and identified the heavy spot.

The mechanic added weights to the opposite side of the spinner and tested it again. After several tries the reading was .03 ips.

On the flight home the plane felt so much better. It was hard to believe I couldn't notice the vibrations until they weren't there anymore.

Everyone should have their plane/prop dynamically balanced it is certainly worth it.

I had mine done several months ago. It was previously so smooth - 3 blades, 6 cylinders and purring like a kitten. It was perfect. But I had some tks slinger work done which in theory threw it out of balance. But it seemed so perfect that for a year I thought why bother. But then I had it balanced it is is quite noticeably and immediately improved. Now it is more perfect.

[Lionudakis]

It makes a big difference ! Not to mention the undue additional stress put on everything else bolted to the airframe while out of balance. I just did mine too

[aerobat95]

What does a dynamic prop balance cost? Does anyone do it in Oklahoma City or Wichita?

[BigTex]

It's really pretty inexpensive... ~ $200. Here's a link of a company in the DFW area that will come to you.

http://www.ferrer-av...com/propbal.htm

Aerobat95: Here's a shop that's closer to you... http://www.proamms.com/ProAMMS_TLSZ.php

[aaronk25]

The props are static balenced when overhauled but not dynamically balanced with the spinner attached. The dynamic valence is awesome at getting rod of vibrations under cruise conditions.

I'm sure all planes benefit from it but especially 4 cylinder engines that arnt that smooth to start with.

Good thread! $200 well spent!!!!

Aaron

[Chimpanzee]

I concur,

I had mine done recently and even it is not a massive reduction in cruise, it is noticeable in full power climbs.

Norbert

[Cody Stallings]

I do dynamic balance with a Chadwick 8350. Based in Arkansas, but travel all over. We charge $275 at our hanger at (7m2). Or your place + a lil travel expense..

The dynamic balance is a really good thing. In reality you are takin a prop that is static balanced, an taken it out of balance. An that's ok. Because it is the only thing on the rotating assembly that can have its balanced changed easily. In doing so, you make all parts of the rotating assembly smooth, using the imbalance of the prop.

Every engine an propeller manufacture recommend it...after doing 60 or so balances, the look on a pilots face when you bring it down from .8 (ips) inches per second, to .05 is worth every penny.

With our rough 4 cyld, some people just write it off as " just the way it is "

[carusoam]

Nice details Cody.

Do you have any before and after numbers for an io550 or other six cyl engines with three blade props?

Best regards,

-a-

[Lionudakis]

Nice unit Cody! I have a Aces1015 I've enjoyed using so far, any comparison? you've done way more than I. I checked a twin with 2 blades once and had 1.1 ips

[Cody Stallings]

I have done a couple normalized 550 on A36 an G3 cirrus. Those engines are really smooth. I have seen then start as high as .3 ips. But at that, it's still feels really minor an is easy to get use to an just rite off,as a pilot.

Motor mounts have a lot to do with a balance. That's where a lot of people miss the boat.

I'm sorry but I don't have any exact numbers for your engine prop configuration. But I will make a note next time I balance 1 though.

Do you have the PHC-E3YR or PHC-J3YR or HC-C3YR. The PHC is noticeably smoother cause of its Dow location being different than the HC design.

[Cody Stallings]

The aces are nice. They are really nice to use in the wind,cause they can compensate for the wind (2020HD). Not trying to take anything away from your setup, but I learned on a Chadwick, an I feel like I can do a really good job with it. Weather it's the 8350 or 192A...

1.1 ips... Wow. That needs to be handled.

Some people say the Chadwick is out dated, but I really like it. Just don't like standing in front of the prop with the prop spooled up makin cruise tq.

I was in West Helena Arkansas do a balance on a Airtractor 802. It was fresh out of the shop with new cleaveland breaks.This model has a 116 inch (HC-B5MA-3D) propeller, an a PT6-67AG Turbine (1350shp)..... An there I stand with a strobex light in my hand 15 feet in front of it looking for a target on the blade, with it turning 1400 rpms... When it jumped the chalks an started duck walking right at me.

Needless to say. The stroblight hit the grd. An so did I. The pilot done a great job getting it stopped an prop feathered, while me an my equipment were laying between the 2 front tires.

That was one day I wished I would have brought the Aces.......

[Lionudakis]

I would have needed some new shorts !!!!

The 1.1 ips prop ended up coming off as something wasn't right, ended up it was a low time "new" (read counterfeit) prop by a named shop. Paperwork, s/n and everything. Our shop said the hub was drilled incorrectly (zerk fitting chamfer) and needed to be replaced or looked into further, and good chance the other did too, I checked what he asked me too, sure enough, other side was too... With the two props sitting side by side on his bench is when it was observed the very slight difference in blades of the same p/n and era. One side was overhauled, and the other side was 50 yrs old counterweighted blades with the counter weight cut off in a chop saw, painted and dressed up, assembled, and billed as new ! Even the prop guy said most guys wouldn't have caught it, and he didn't till he saw them side by side and knew what it was, not 15 ft from each other. The Feds and the original shop made it right ........turns out drugs and gambling played a part in the previous shop..........The new hubs and blades balanced beautiful

[Cody Stallings]

Good catch.

We need more people in aviation that address issues like that, rather than just turn a blind eye to it. I have seen something similar, 2 different blade design, in a 3 blade hartzell on a piper lance.

In the future, feel free to contact me, with any prop related question. I have all the latest Manuel's an tech data.

Whaamazng@aol.com

www.midamericapropeller.com

870-208-5198

Visit or site, an read about the steps that are taken with a basic prop overhaul......