Warp drive props...are they repairable?

[asra]

I have attached a photo of a Warp Drive prop, the chips are on the leading edge and this one is the worst.

[admin]

I have repaired a "Brolga" worst than that with 24hr araldite.Clean it properly before you start glueing, let it set for a day or more, carefully sand back the excess, colour in the repair with a nikko pen or a very light coat of paint.I had a much larger chip repaired that way after a small bolt went through the prop.It was inspected before every flight and 50+ hours later the repair was still perfect and there was no evidence of further damage spreading.

[birdy]

Keith, mate, that blade aint damaged. Iv had dings in blades you could hide 3 fingers in.If it isnt causing any vibes at any engine rpm, then theres no real need to wurry.Just cut/file off any "fethers" so it dont get any worse. I had a lump of wood argue with a WD blade that made a dent big enuff to cause a vibe wen it was at flight rpm. Be"n 1000 miles from the nearest glue shop, all i could do was to cut the same size dents into the other 2 blades at the same spot to equal the balance. Filed um clean and putted round for gawd knows how many hours like that, till i found sum glue.Didnt even notice any change in performance, just a funny whistln sound.

[Mark Horan]

Funny how good every one rekcons araldite is.......And now to the story that has kept me dinning out for the last few years.I bought a machine from a bloke that had never flown it, it sat in his carport for several years, the same carport that he parked his car in.The machine looked fine, but I pulled it apart and rebuilt it...to make sure.The warp drive prop looked nearly new, no chips, no cracks, nice and sharp, and a nice dull black colour.Nothing to check there......After a few hops up the strip, everything going fine, Marko the wonder pilot takes off....Yahoo! It climbed like sir Edmund Hillary on cocaine!!!!I flew over the river paddock, across the mighty Shoalhaven at about 400 ft,started an easy left hand turn to pose to the family watching from the house and then it happened....The machine took on the persona of the worst Bucking horse I had ever been on. The stick flogged forward and backward with the spped of a sewing machine and the power of a D-9 dozer.The gyro cocked up its right leg and started to "fly" towards the ground sideways and Marko the wonder pilot figured out that something had gone wrong.I cut the power, regained some control over the stick and pushed the stick toward the way I was falling. On reflection, the most likely thing people would do, is to pull the stick AWAY from the ground, But good training and the Mantra "air speed is good" probably saved my life.30 ft from the ground the machine started to level out. the rotors smashed into the earth at an angle of 20*, the mast snapped, the gyro crashed like a billy cart along the ground, the dust settled, the fire started, I unclipped the harness (upside down) fell on the ground, crawled away and wondered if my next hobby would be chess.What happened?One of the three blades had departed about 200mm from the hub. When it let go, it attached itself to one of the rotor blades about 2 ft from the end. I guess it acted like a air brake on the rotor, slowing it down enough to create a dissimetry of lift situation, which would explain the flying towards the ground sideways experience.I think that props are repairable..... providing you know their history.Otherwise, shell out for the new itemMarcus.

[birdy]

Bloodyell Markus, you sure got outa the rong side o the bed that day ay. BTW, wot ever happened to that wood paddle?

[asra]

Hi KeithI run an IVO prop. Last year I copped a decent chip about the size of a 10 cent coin. The hole went down through the gel coat and just hit the fibre. I contacted IVO who sent me the attached email (in blue).You may be able to apply some of their advice to your WD. I did as they stated (exactly) and it came out like brand new with no vibration. Was about 30-40 hours ago.Good Luck !!!!

[maulonir]

Have you spoke to rob patroney? I"m sure he would be able to restore it to like brand new.Rob

[bones]

HehHEHEHEHEHE, ummm Warp drive props are pretty good for just cutting the other back to the same lenght as the shortest one, not really the best way but it worked ayyy Birdy. hacksaw and a file and it still flying now, all be it 3" shorter

[asra]

Well thanks guys, the advice is great.....and enjoyed reading the adventures of "Marcus the Wonder Pilot".