TF Score has a very dangerous spinner!

[Andrew Borgogna]

I thought about putting this in the ARF section but I believe it is important enough to place it in the general forum.  While flying on Saturday the spinner that came with the TF Score flew off.  After I landed I recovered the spinner and to my suprise the two standoffs from the backplate both broke off letting the spinner fly free.   The attachment screws were still in the standoffs and they were still attached to the spinner.

What really scares me this could have happened when I was standing near the engine making adjustments.  Larry or I could have have been injured if this had happened on the ground.  Now one could argue this was a one off and not to worry, except that another flier who saw the incident said the exact same thing happened to the spinner on his score.  He examined my spinner and said that it looked just like his.  If you have a Score and you are using the spinner that came with the plane I would highly recommend removing it and tossing it in the trash.
Andy

[Bob Reeves]

Ya have to be really carefull tightening the screws on the cheap ARF spinners.. My Score has a Brodak spinner on it and it looks really good. Was a little tricky as I had to modify the adaptor nut to fit the Saito but it turned out great.

[don Burke]

The allen screws holding the spinner on will cut into the plastic if tightened to much, be aware!

[Andrew Borgogna]

Mine didn't have allen screws just cheap machine screws.  I agree that tighening the screws puts undo stress in the standoffs but I was carefull not to overtighen them.  I just got a True Turn spinnder and I still advise anybody using the spinner that comes with the Score to get rid of it.
Andy

[Joe Yau]

Could it be cause by a slightly loose prop sheering off the standoffs?

[Andrew Borgogna]

Joe
Believe me the prop was not loose this is a ST 51 I use a cresent wrinch to tighten the prop nut.  I must remind you this was not a one off incident the failure occured at least twice that I know of.  Now I know that it takes at least three data points to make a trend but I get very careful when I have two data points on something this dangerous.
Andy

[John Rakes]

Be sure to forward this to Tye M. This will give him something else to complain about for the next 6 months pertaining to the poor quality of hardware or accessories thats included in the ARF/ARC kits

[Mike Greb]

My score spinner blew up on about the third flight.  Took a hunk out of a rev-up prop too.  On mine I think the cowling was not attached well and rubbing  the back of the spinner.

[Scott Hartford]

In the RC world this is common knowlege. When you slap the starter on an ABS spinner it WILL break sooner than later! I ditch 'em from the git go.

[Rudy Taube]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for posting this safety notice to the open forum.

I agree with you: ALL ARF spinners (CL or RC) should be tossed!

I stopped using ALL plastic spinners decades ago on any wet engine. I have seen too many accidents in the pits, even with name brand plastic spinners. I have been hit in the head with a guys large plastic spinner that came off his 1.20 4S in the pits. I know some are much better than others, but IMHO they are an accident waiting to happen. They do not work well with an elec. starter, ugly ring too. ;-)

TruTurn makes beautiful, well balanced, strong spinners. They make a light weight version that is perfect for the small engines we use in CLPA.  I have used these spinners in many sizes, 2" to 6", for many years and have never had any problems. They can be easily polished to look like chrome, see their web site for the "how to" polish. :-)

[Andrew Borgogna]

Rudy
Thanks for your input, it seems I am not alone with this problem.  With Mike Greb's input we now have three failures and as I said before three data points make a trend.  This morning put a True Turn spinner on my plane.  I will now send an email to Top Flite and let them know what has happened.
Andy

[Paul Taylor]

WOW, @ 25 bucks a pop! Not sure I will be getting any of those TT spinners.

Seems like someone should make a good plastic spinner???

The only time I use a electric starter is on my hard to start OS LA .15. Not sure why but I can not get one flip starts with this little blue engine. But that is for another thread.

So if we keep the electric starters away from out plastic spinners maybe we will not see this problem?

Paul 

[Scott Hartford]

No, they tend to break anyway and they are easily identified because most solvents will melt them and whiten them.

[Andrew Hathaway]

The spinners, like the bulk of the hardware included with most ARF's, are very low quality.  It's easier and safer just to substitute quality hardware then to take chances with the imported garbage they throw in for free.

TruTurn makes a VERY nice spinner.  I run them on some of my stuff, and they're worth the expense.  Great Planes makes a cheap clone that isn't as nicely made, but it seems to be safe.  For plastic spinners, I like the CB Associates spinners.  They use an aluminum backplate, with a plastic cone, and a retaining screw that threads into an adapter nut.  Several years ago they became a MECOA product, so they might be hard to get.  I bought a bunch of them on close out, and buy them when I come across them.  I don't own an electric starter.

[Bob Reeves]

I have Dubro plastic spinners on several engines, typically use a starter to start all the 4 strokes and have never had a problem. I did have the stock spinner on my Score for a while always using a starter on the Saito 56 but never was comfortable with the way it was held together. The Brodak aluminum spinner on it now is well built, light and looks much better than the plastic thing that came with it.

SIG makes a good plastic spinner that works fine with starters as does Dubro. I really dislike the ones with the aluminum back plate and plastic front. You have no way to index the prop and the prop will move on the back plate when you tighten it. Makes aligning it for the screws a real PTA and the little sandpaper disks do not help.

If you use an electric starter with a plastic spinner, or any spinner for that matter get the correct cone for your starter (one that fits the spinner) and you won't mar the spinner. I have Dubro plastic spinners on Saito 40's that have always been started with a starter but you can't tell it by looking.

[Andrew Borgogna]

One thing I would like to add, I never once put a starter to this spinner.  The ST .51 has always been hand started.  I have used plastic spinners in the past and never had a problem.  Well except for one that split the plastic but it was on a piped K&B 6.5cc (read bad A$$ .40) that turned in the area of 20K.  Everybody warned me not to use a plastic spinner and everybody was right.  But for general use the CB Associates and Dubro plastic spinners seemed OK.  I think for the future I will spend the money and just use metal, I saw the new Brodak metal spinners they look very much like the old Veco spinners of my youth.  I was very impressed with their quality, at least they give the appearance of high quality.
Andy

[Steve Helmick]

The Great Planes nylon spinner with aluminum backplate (about $7) is a neat little unit, MUCH lighter than the CB Associates spinners (they are extra heavy!). They're pretty popular for serious stunters, but they are not available for 3 blade props. I've used them, with no problems, and have seen them on lots of stunters at contests, with no problems I've seen. See your Tower catalog. The only lighter spinners are Randy's, Windy's, and Brodak's, for a few more gallons of gasoline...  Steve