OR75 Posted September 1, 2013 Report Posted September 1, 2013 anyone installed a Top Prop (2 blades) care to share feedback ? impact on performance and noise ?
Ned Gravel Posted September 1, 2013 Report Posted September 1, 2013 My friend Clarence, who owned a tricked out E-model before he decided to get a whole IO 720 and bought a Commanche 400, went through the trouble of getting a three-bladed MT prop for his Mooney. I don't know why but it was noisy. Anyway, the speed bugged him so one day, while my plane was in his shop for some work (about three week's worth) he took the prop off of mine and tried it out on his. +6mph. He was shocked. So he did some more digging and eventually put a Top Prop on his E-model. In his opinion (all hearsay of course) was that it was quieter than his MT and gave as good in the climb and was faster in cruise by about 6+ mph. YMMV.
flight2000 Posted September 1, 2013 Report Posted September 1, 2013 I put the 2-blade Top Prop on mine about a year ago and have way better climb performance and a very, very small increase in speed. Biggest thing for me was getting rid of the reoccuring AD with the old hub. This is on a 67E model. Didn't notice any changes in noise level or vibration. My old prop didn't have much and neither does the new one. Brian
Bob_Belville Posted September 1, 2013 Report Posted September 1, 2013 My '66E already had a Top Prop (installed 4/09) when I bought it so I have no comparison but the performance seems to be fine. TAS 150k @ 7000' & 65%; 155k @ 9500 & 68%. Combined with PFS exhaust the shop owner who works on several Mooneys @ KMRN has mentioned several times that my E is much quieter, from the outside, than a friend's stock '67F.
jetdriven Posted September 1, 2013 Report Posted September 1, 2013 I can believe that, the 3-blade hartzell's are rumored to be 3 knots slower than a McCauley C212/214 and the Hartzell Top Prop (BA) is rumored to be two knots faster than the McCauley. IIRC Testwest documented this.
flyby201 Posted September 1, 2013 Report Posted September 1, 2013 I installed one several years ago at the same time I did an overhaul. Since they were done at the same time I can't say whether it was the prop or the overhaul, but have better climb, maybe a couple of knots, but now I run LOP almost all thte time so I'm giving up a little speed there. I did notice a reverberation type sound with the top prop which only occurred on take off about 15 to 20 feet AGL, then it was gone. Isn't a loud sign, just different.
captainglen Posted September 2, 2013 Report Posted September 2, 2013 The AD on the hartzel is a nusiance, I had one fittes on a previous aircraft and found the blade attachments tend to retain water if exposed and will pit the hub shanks that go into the blades. The tolerances on the pitting is unforgiving and the part expensive. The McCauley propeller has far fewer SB'S and fewer inspections. I currently have the Hartzel and plan eventually to replace the bastard.
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