Category Archives: Propellor

Club Propeller

Another Two 264's aquired, Club Prop Preparation, Propellor

After getting the 264’s back into our workshops we ripped straight into them and started to strip down the propellers.

PROP 003 PROP 004

Brain kindly lent us his Rotol tools to strip down the hubs

 

PROP 006

 

The first job was to strip down the pitch control mechanism.

PROP 017PROP 020

 

Then remove the blades. We use the removed reduction gear bolted to a couple of beams to allow us to a 20 tonne jack to loosen of the blades.

PROP 023 PROP 024

Once the hub was stripped down Pete soon had it cleaned up, etched primed , then a coat of primer filler ready for top coat.

PROP 029 PROP 030

 

Next job was to cut the blades down, we used the oil feed tube and a piece of wood and a scribe to mark the blades, then a 9″ grinder with a slitting disc to cut them down.

PROP 031

We then fitted the other hub to the engine and test fitted the blades.

prop2 003 prop2 002

As Pete had a couple of days off , he decided to take on the sanding down of the blades, it took a full two days to do!

prop2 004

 

Nice job done Pete, have a beer

prop2 010

 

The next thing to do was make the blades all the same length. First we packed the blades of from the hub using key steel to ensure all the the blades are set the same.

prop2 007

Next we made a die grinder tool holder on the bottom of the engine stand.

prop2 009 prop2 008

 

Slowly we ground down each blade , then move up the die grinder after one full revolution of the engine.

prop2 011

Pete very pleased after half a days work and ten tins of WD40 and two die grinders we had the job done, blades ground down to within a couple of thou. We just need to balance them now then they can be painted.

 

More Engines Acquired

Another Two 264's aquired, Propellor

We had a tip-off from Karl Rodgers from 57 Rescue Canada, that there was a couple of 264’s over in Lancashire that had a prop hubs on them and four blades between them. So we popped over and acquired them as they wear a good source of parts for us and also we could make up a complete club prop from the pair.

John_Robson 009 John_Robson 011

 

First engine loaded on the trailer, they had to use the biggest toy in the yard!

John_Robson 013 John_Robson 016

 

The reduction gear had already been taken off the other engine so on this trip we only brought back the one engine and the reduction gear and prop.

 

New Rotol 4 Blade Prop

Propellor, Wanted

Well look what we have found!

A brand new Rotol 4 blade prop, totally complete. Obviously we will not be running this prop but will trade it for parts we will require.

prop23 prop1 prop3 prop6 prop14 prop16 prop22

We would like to display an engine with the full size fourteen foot prop on next year at a memorial service held by the RCAF only a mile from us at  Skipton on Swale , it should look mighty impressive.