whats the best way to balance a 3 blade warp drive

[nickjaxe]

Hi guys could do with some advise re how to check the balance a 3 blade pusher warp drive prop, I bought a gadget from CPS in the states it has a small spirit level but I am not sure if it suitable for a std warp drive hub with 3 blades,

I have been experimenting with parallel bars and the prop mounted upright with a tube through the prop hub and seeing which blade ends up at the bottom without much luck

What method do you guys use.

Nick.

[Duck Rogers]

Hi Nick.....I'm no expert on 3 bladers but I think they have to be balanced individually. Ground adjustable I presume. You have to remove each blade seperately. I have a tutorial somewhere. Will dig it up for you.
Gerrie

[nickjaxe]

Ok thanks Gerrie that will be interesting to read, I hope I have not buggered mine up then cos I have used the device I got from the states and used paint to adjust the balance.

Nick.

[Duck Rogers]

Naww....don't think so. Paint can be removed easily

[ystervark7]

Paint does not work well. We have tried it:
Problem number 1: some paint, especially if applied relatively thick, appears to be dry but even after more than a week the paint start to 'move or flow' due to the centrifugal acceleration when the prop spins.
Problem 2: quick drying paint sprayed on lightly flaked off after a while on the one side of the props. I do not think that it had anything to do with the binding of the paint to the prop but more with the 'erosion' taking place when the air 'rubs' against the paint.

My 2c

[nickjaxe]

The tips were already painted white for visibility I have just gone over that, the old stuff seemed ok.

Nick.

[Sukkelaar]

phone Nigel Couts at N C Prop tel no 011 7883297 im sure he will help with the best advice or even be able to do it for you at a nominal fee.

regards

[Duck Rogers]

phone Nigel Couts at N C Prop tel no 011 7883297 im sure he will help with the best advice or even be able to do it for you at a nominal fee.

regards

Sukkelaar.........oops!
Take a look under Nick's avatar...........I don't think he's going to phone Nigel from where he is

[Sukkelaar]

Sorry I did not see

I am going to try and explain how Nigel does it.

Before assembling the three blades into the hub he drills a hole into the blade from the back of it about 2 to 3 mm in diametre and about 20cm deep down the length of it,

He then assembles the blades on to the hub.

You then need a pin or spike on which you put the centre of the hub to balance on the tip or point of this spike.

The heaviest blade will then be lower than the others.

you then 2 or 3 mm diametre weights in 5 mm lengths wich you place on the lightest blade to force it down untill all the blades are even in height (measure the tips from the surface up) remember the prop is parralell to the surface you are working on.

Place as many weights on the blades as needed to get them all the same height

dismantle and put those weights in the holes drilled.

fill holes behind the weights with plastic tube and cover with glue.

Assemble again with blades in same position on hub as when balancing them.

Hope it makes sense

regards

[nickjaxe]

Ok I see the theory and it makes sense but I am not brave enough to drill holes in my prop, I have had a go with paint now so I will see how that shapes up fingers crossed.

Nick.