[C320-list] Blade falls off of Autoprop propeller!

[jonvez at comcast.net]

Larry,

I appreciate it, but Bruce Heyman was kind enough to send me the information...Thanks though...

Regards,

Jon  Vez

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "WindSwept" <c320_windswept at sbcglobal.net> 

> Jon, 
> 
> I purchased the Autoprop used and cannot say what was provided to the first 
> purchaser. I didn't get any instructions when I bought it. 
> 
> I would be glad to mail you a copy of what I have now - or AB Marine will 
> send it to you. 
> 
> Larry 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: 
> To: "C320-List" 
> Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2006 8:09 AM 
> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Blade falls off of Autoprop propeller! 
> 
> 
> > Larry, 
> > 
> > Did the procedure you mention from AP come with the propeller? I don't 
> > believe I received the procedure you are referring to... 
> > 
> > Regards, 
> > 
> > Jon Vez 
> > 
> > -------------- Original message -------------- 
> > From: "WindSwept" 
> > 
> >> Bruce, 
> >> 
> >> I'll respond here to a couple of things. 
> >> 
> >> You took a hit on the 240 Buicks so I won't comment on that. The correct 
> >> unit on the torque is 14 ft-lbs or 18 NM per the instructions I received. 
> >> My torque wrench is calibrated in inch pounds and NM. 14 ft pounds is 168 
> >> inch-pounds. Any of the three will work. 
> >> 
> >> The website doesn't really talk about bearing adjustment. It really just 
> >> adresses cleaning out of the bearings. 
> >> 
> >> This weekend I checked the bearing adjustment and followed the AB Marine 
> >> procedure where you back off the retaining cap by 1/4 turn. I also have 
> >> the 
> >> procedure recommended by Steve, but decided to go with the procedure 
> >> provided by the designers and manufacturers over the distributor. I have 
> >> no 
> >> reason to believe that Steve's procedure wouldn't be perfectly fine and 
> >> it 
> >> is easier to follow. 
> >> 
> >> When the bearings are adjusted using the procedure provided by the 
> >> designers 
> >> of the autoprop, the blades spin smoothly and there is just a small 
> >> amount 
> >> of play in the bearings. 
> >> 
> >> Larry 
> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> From: 
> >> To: "C320-List" 
> >> Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 6:44 PM 
> >> Subject: Re: [C320-list] Blade falls off of Autoprop propeller! 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> > Larry, 
> >> > Sorry you lost the blade! I'd be very interested in how freely the 
> >> > blades 
> >> > rotate when you get your prop back from the factory. I just rebuilt 
> >> > ours 
> >> > but on the direction of Steve Armitage I did NOT follow the original 
> >> > instructions. The original instructions call for you to tourque down on 
> >> > the adjustments for each blade to 14 nm (I know I have the number right 
> >> > but not sure about the units) and then back off 1/4 turn. Steve told me 
> >> > to just tighten them down until there was no play in any direction and 
> >> > the 
> >> > blades still rotate freely. The rebuild kit was about 240 buicks and 
> >> > fairly easy to do. Hardest part was getting everything good and clean. 
> >> > I 
> >> > also have the H5BB so no grease. 
> >> > Bruce 
> >> > Somerset 671 SoCal 
> >> > Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless 
> >> > 
> >> > -----Original Message----- 
> >> > From: "Robert E. Sloat" 
> >> > Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 09:41:36 
> >> > To:"C320-List" 
> >> > Subject: Re: [C320-list] Blade falls off of Autoprop propeller! 
> >> > 
> >> > Check out their website at http://ab-marine.com/. There is all kind of 
> >> > installation information and 
> >> > maintenance procedures for the various model Autoprop propellers. Mine 
> >> > is 
> >> > the H5 model which does not require any greasing. For the models which 
> >> > require greasing, they suggest every 2 years. The installation 
> >> > instructions 
> >> > for my prop suggest rotating the blades at haul out to make sure they 
> >> > freely 
> >> > move and gives information on bearing replacement kits when needed. 
> >> > 
> >> > 
> >> > 
> >> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> >> > From: "WindSwept" 
> >> > To: "'C320-List'" 
> >> > Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 8:59 AM 
> >> > Subject: [C320-list] Blade falls off of Autoprop propeller! 
> >> > 
> >> > 
> >> > A funny thing happened on the way to the ship yard this spring for my 
> >> > semi-annual bottom job. Well maybe not so funny. 
> >> > 
> >> > Carla and I spent the night at anchor in a cove about 1/2 mile from the 
> >> > yard 
> >> > the prior to dropping off WindSwept. 
> >> > 
> >> > After hauling anchor when we tried to motor over to the yard the boat 
> >> > shook 
> >> > terribly at any RPMs above idle. 
> >> > 
> >> > We quickly anchored again and I dove below the boat to find out what 
> >> > was 
> >> > wrapped around the prop, but was amazed to find that one of the three 
> >> > blades 
> >> > of my Autoprop was just......missing! 
> >> > 
> >> > We managed to sail to the yard which is located up a narrow channel and 
> >> > moor 
> >> > in the haul up slip. Luckily the wind was from a favorable direction. 
> >> > 
> >> > To make a long story shorter, I had the fixed three blade that came 
> >> > with 
> >> > WindSwept reinstalled and sent the Autoprop to AB Marine for analysis 
> >> > and 
> >> > repair. The prop had to be sent back to the factory in the UK so the 
> >> > engineers could look at it and a new blade could be fabricated. 
> >> > 
> >> > The reason for the failure was that the bearings were excessively worn 
> >> > causing too much torque to be applied on the mechanical fastenings that 
> >> > hold 
> >> > the blades on. 
> >> > 
> >> > At this point I think it is relevant to mention that I had purchased 
> >> > the 
> >> > Autoprop used about 7-8 years ago from a 320 owner who had traded up. I 
> >> > do 
> >> > not believe I received all the paperwork that one would normally 
> >> > receive 
> >> > with a new Autoprop. This paperwork discusses the need to inspect and 
> >> > adjust the bearings at each haulout. AB Marine sells a kit for this 
> >> > purpose. 
> >> > 
> >> > I was upset with AB Marine as through the years I have had many 
> >> > discussions 
> >> > on this subject and even though I asked about maintenance, this was 
> >> > never 
> >> > mentioned. In their defense, they probably thought I had the original 
> >> > instruction sheets for installation and maintenance. As an engineer I 
> >> > was 
> >> > amazed that I didn't need to do any maintenance on a bearing in this 
> >> > type 
> >> > of 
> >> > service. The autoprop had been on WindSwept for four years without 
> >> > maintenance before the failure occurred. 
> >> > 
> >> > The point of all this is that I think this was a preventable situation 
> >> > had 
> >> > I 
> >> > know to inspect the bearings for excessive looseness and adjust every 
> >> > year 
> >> > or two as needed. 
> >> > 
> >> > I plan on having the Autoprop put back on in a couple of weeks as I can 
> >> > definitely say it really improves boat speed and handling in all 
> >> > situations. 
> >> > I will inspect it annually and disassemble and adjust bearing 
> >> > clearances 
> >> > every other year at a minimum. 
> >> > 
> >> > I wanted to share my experience with others in the hopes that you don't 
> >> > experience the same problem. In another situation it could have been 
> >> > much 
> >> > more disastrous. 
> >> > 
> >> > Larry 
> >> > WindSwept C320 #246 
> >> > 
> >> > 
> >> > 
> >> 
> >> 
> >> 
> > 
> 
> 
>