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Fiberglass Spinner

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jeff naul

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2010
Messages
228
Location
monroe, la
Anyone used the fiberglass spinner that sonex shows on the site? Will they hold up? My 1981 aluminum is getting pretty rough. Thx, Jeff
 
Thx Fred, I thought years ago there were stories that the rpm and direct drive tore them apart.
 
That’s news to me. If you secure the spinner to both the front and rear bulkheads, there shouldn’t be a problem. One thing about fiberglass is that it doesn’t fatigue like the aluminum spinners do.
 
For those interested, here are some dimensions of my spinner. I am trying to source a polished aluminium spinner if anyone has one I'd be interested.

Cheers

Dugald Boyd
Karratha Australia
 

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I have a aluminum spinner I just went to fiberglass
The F'glas spinner that came with my J3300 engine had 2 bulkheads. I heard something in cruise one flight. After landing half the spinner was missing (one side). So I installed the best clip nuts and NAS #10 screws in an aluminum spinner. Don't like adding weight but it seems necessary
Bill E
 
Had aluminum, now fiberglass. The aluminum always had cracking problems both on the bulkheads and the dome, and had to be patched a few times. Finally got tired of it and bought a new fiberglass spinner. So far so good, but don't have much time on the new one.
 
Had aluminum, now fiberglass. The aluminum always had cracking problems both on the bulkheads and the dome, and had to be patched a few times. Finally got tired of it and bought a new fiberglass spinner. So far so good, but don't have much time on the new one.
If I had it to do again, I'd check the attachment screws on Preflight.
 
If I had it to do again, I'd check the attachment screws on Preflight.
On the aluminum one it was always a problem. Constantly "smokin" screws with the telltale black smudge trailing. On both I have/had standard nutplates and 8-32 machine screws. On this new one I used nylon washers under the screw heads thinking the little crush they have might keep things tight. I'm sure it was the minute movement that cracked the aluminum one. It also didn't track "perfect". It was good but you could see a tiny wiggle of the tip at idle. The new one I was much more careful and it is perfect. The aluminum rear bulkhead cracked right where the prop hub crushes into it, and the from bulkhead did the same where the front plate sat. Those were fixed with 0.032 4130 plates bonded and riveted to the cracked bulkheads outside of the hub an front plate.
 
I ordered the fiberglass spinner from sonex Monday. No shipping confirmation yet..
I had actually bought the sonex spinner/crush plate thingy. But there was just no way to make it look decent without adding atleast six more inches to the already longer force one hub. And the thick Sterba prop didnt help matters. My goal is no vibration!
I've never had to fit a spinner, both props I have for my zodiac I was able to buy pre cut spinners. Jeff
 
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