Author Topic: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners? (Read 2530 times)

Ken Deboy · « **on:** March 18, 2007, 10:31:48 PM »

OK, the pros are I can get a nice Dubro plastic spinner, it's inexpensive, the color and shape are perfect for the airplane I want to put it on. The cons are, I've been told that running a plastic spinner is a recipe for disaster, cause it might put my eye out, wear out my engine because plastic spinners aren't balanced, etc. I'm just looking for something simple that will work on a Brodak 25 powered Shoestring. What's the skinny on plastic spinners?

thanks,
Ken

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2007, 10:57:42 PM »

Experts have more experience, but I would say at the very least to avoid the kind that "snap" into place, I have seen lots used that use screws to hold them. No obvious signs of imbalance, though they can be balanced with a good balancer and the distance from axis of rotation isnt all that great so its not as radical as a prop being out of balance. Just my two cents worth

raglafart · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2007, 12:47:14 AM »

Not worth worrying about with the rpm's that your Brodak 25 will make. Plastic spinners are only a no no on racing motors where the revs are very much higher.
Cheers John

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2007, 02:26:23 AM »

I've been using the Goldberg plastic snap on spinners for years. Never had one fly off yet. Never even entered my mind that it could. I don't think balance has been a problem either.
A plastic screw on spinner saved my FP20 from a bent crank last week. The engine quit while inverted at 45 degrees heading up wind. Hard landing on blacktop shattered the spinner but the FP was unhurt and the plane had minimal damage.

Dick Fowler · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2007, 05:49:39 AM »

Quote from: Clint Ormosen on March 19, 2007, 02:26:23 AM

I've been using the Goldberg plastic snap on spinners for years. Never had one fly off yet. Never even entered my mind that it could. I don't think balance has been a problem either.
A plastic screw on spinner saved my FP20 from a bent crank last week. The engine quit while inverted at 45 degrees heading up wind. Hard landing on blacktop shattered the spinner but the FP was unhurt and the plane had minimal damage.

Kewl! Maybe we can get "airbags" installed in the spinner! What do ya think?

Jim Oliver · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2007, 07:34:05 AM »

Tower Hobbies has recently begun to sell "Nylon" spinners with an aluminum back plate; two machine screws hold the spinner to the back plate. The back plates have several lightening holes. Several sizes available--the two inch dia. weighs 3/4 ounce complete.

Several of our guys have been using them on .40 thru .61 size engines with no problems. They are fairly cheap, too. I use them on ST G51 and Brodak 40 engines. The only problem that I know about is limited color selection.

Cheers,
Jim

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2007, 10:07:53 AM »

Quote from: Dick Fowler on March 19, 2007, 05:49:39 AM

Kewl! Maybe we can get "airbags" installed in the spinner! What do ya think?

Dick, if you can make it work, put me down for 3 of 'em!

Bill Little · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2007, 09:59:45 PM »

Quote from: Ken Deboy on March 18, 2007, 10:31:48 PM

OK, the pros are I can get a nice Dubro plastic spinner, it's inexpensive, the color and shape are perfect for the airplane I want to put it on. The cons are, I've been told that running a plastic spinner is a recipe for disaster, cause it might put my eye out, wear out my engine because plastic spinners aren't balanced, etc. I'm just looking for something simple that will work on a Brodak 25 powered Shoestring. What's the skinny on plastic spinners?

thanks,
Ken

Hi Ken,

A certain three time World Champion has used a lot of plastic spinners. Look at some pictures of the Geo XL, Vulcan, Ares and others, that Mr Bill Werwage flies.

You can definitely use the plastic spinner.

Bill <><

Bill Gruby · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2007, 06:13:41 AM »

Ken;

I don't see the problem' I used a "Goldberg" 2 1/2 on my ST .60 for a long time and never had a problem. That's my 2 cents worth.

"Billy G"

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #9 on:** April 06, 2007, 09:01:41 PM »

Quote from: Dick Fowler on March 19, 2007, 05:49:39 AM

Kewl! Maybe we can get "airbags" installed in the spinner! What do ya think?

Just use a YELLOW spinner, cuz yellow noses are afraid of the ground...!

Randy Powell · « **Reply #10 on:** April 06, 2007, 09:14:10 PM »

I've used the Great Planes jobs with the aluminum back plate. They work very well.

But no yellow ones, more's the pity

Jim Thomerson · « **Reply #11 on:** April 08, 2007, 10:37:44 AM »

I went to the bolt on kind on TD 09's because the snap together spinners would come apart in the air. Used snap togethers on Fox stunt 35's and the like with no problem.

Mike Greb · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2007, 10:13:00 AM »

I use a small plastic spinner on my sport goodyears that run at about 20k in the air no problem. Softer on the hands that catching a bare prop stud. The only real problem I have had with a plastic spinner was the one that came with my score. My cowel slipped, rubbed on the spinner backpalate and the spinner blew up. Took a chunk out of a rev-up prop. I like tru-turn spinners on my stunt planes because I take my prop off when I put the model in my truck. The plastic spinners aren't so eazy to get off in a hurry.

Kim Doherty · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2007, 02:19:45 PM »

Ken,

I can think of absolutely no reason to not use a plastic spinner. The issue you want to be addressing, is whether the model is nose or tail heavy. If nose heavy, use a plastic spinner. if tail heavy, use a metal one. Different spinners weigh different amounts. If you are going to use one anyways, it might as well serve some purpose other than looking pretty.

Kim.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2007, 06:20:16 PM »

The bad thing about all-plastic spinners is that the backplate is very thick and may cause a shortage of crankshaft thread. The aluminum backplate/nylon cone spinners are a good cure for that common problem, plus they are VERY light. Great Planes/Tower Hobby has 'em.

Steve

Howard Rush · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2007, 01:19:44 AM »

I use them-- DuBro, I think. They come off if you forget the 4-40 screws that hold them to the backplate. Otherwise they stay on. If you use an electric starter, friction can melt a groove in them if you aren't careful.

Leo Mehl · « **Reply #16 on:** May 11, 2007, 10:07:50 PM »

I am with Dennis on this one. I love yellow spinners. They make the plane pull out at the right altitude, must be the way they are made!

Louis Rankin · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2007, 11:17:16 AM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on April 06, 2007, 09:14:10 PM

I've used the Great Planes jobs with the aluminum back plate. They work very well.

But no yellow ones, more's the pity

They have yellow ones now: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBMY3&P=7

Author Topic: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners? (Read 2530 times)

Ken Deboy

Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Mark Scarborough

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

raglafart

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Clint Ormosen

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Dick Fowler

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Jim Oliver

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Clint Ormosen

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Bill Little

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Bill Gruby

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Dennis Adamisin

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Randy Powell

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Jim Thomerson

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Mike Greb

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Kim Doherty

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Steve Helmick

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Howard Rush

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Leo Mehl

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?

Louis Rankin

Re: Pros and Cons of plastic spinners?