LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
the boat, ask for this information in
writing. If the response is, “All of
them,” this is rare indeed (although
not impossible) and is worthy of
further elaboration, in writing.
—Steve D’Antonio
PROPSMITH CORRECTION
I was pleased to read the
September “Gearhead” column, in
which Steve D’Antonio did his usual
thorough job of reviewing a product
that meets a particular need, in this
case the PropSmith propeller
installation and removal tool.
However, there was one minor
error that we, as the company that
markets the PropSmith worldwide,
have an interest in correcting. Steve
refers to “two threaded holes”
required in the aft side of the hub to
accept the “puller” bolts by which the
tools hold onto the prop in the
removal phase. In fact, there are
three such puller holes used.
This might seem like a trivial
matter, but it embodies an important
engineering principle and explains
why virtually all the major propeller
manufacturers are now supplying
new props with three—not two—
such threaded puller holes in the hub.
First, three puller holds divide the
very substantial pulling force that’s
generated among three, rather than
just two, bolts. This reduces the risk
of breaking a bolt or stripping the
thread out of a hold. Secondly, three
puller holes make an inherently more
stable pulling base, eliminating the
risk of cocking or bending the tool
(think of the stability of a stool with
three legs versus two).
With this small correction, I would
like to emphasize to your readers that
while pulling props is a well-known
task, pushing them back onto the
taper is not usually given as much
thought, even though failure to do so
properly can be a source of vibration
or inadvertent damage to a prop.
The PropSmith is the only tool that
combines the function of installation
with that of removal and does so
in a way that is safe, measurable,
and repeatable.
Wilson Cross
PropSmith
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