Well crud... Unwrapped my prop bolts and they are too rusty.
They were only installed for a year, but I do recall that when the guys put them in at that time there was no protection applied. When they came out for the prop change 3 years ago they were coated with something tacky like LPS3 or such to prevent corrosion.
Texas Air Salvage has decent looking set of 6 (of the old part number) for $75. I'd be getting them NDT checked, but I am inclined to follow your advice Brian - they're kind-of important. Like the wing attach bolts - I put all new ones in there too.
Ok, NDT is not relevent, most check for surface cracks only. A bolt is stretched when it is torqued, and you dont or wont know the service life of them, how many time they have been torqued -removed - torqued - removed etc. The cad plating will probably be all worn off too. How much stress on them if it was a wrecked plane where the propeller turned into a pretzel? Pay the $200 or so for NEW
I could get my set of 6 cleaned up, checked and re-plated for $125 CAD (less than 1 benjamin for you yanks...) but that still didn't seem like the best course. So new ones are on the way. Duncan aviation gave me a fair price - $30 USD each, came to $300 CAD all-in. Reasonable, still not cheap. Still the smart move considering what they hold on - but I'm ready to be done spending and start flying!
I got a qoute from one source via their online request form - $150 each.
That pic of "used" bolts were the ones off my airplane at overhaul, I bought new...but back then they were "only" about $25 each. I dug these out yesterday to "clean up" and there are so many nicks and gouges in shanks that these would be red tagged and scrapped, I would certainly never use them again....for aircraft, that is. Might make good fence post bolts.....
I think I would find somewhere else to save a few bucks .
$30 is by far the best price out there. Yingling is just over $40ea, so is Airpower. Then there's a couple really out there sources at $90 and $150. Each. I got an email quote back from Duncan at $35, but on the phone a different guy quoted and sold them to me at $30ea.
I'm happy.
Originally Posted by Eric_Peterson
I think what Stacey meant was if you want to save a few bucks, the prop bolts ain't the best place to look
Oh. Duh... I get it now.
Yes, agreed 100%. Maybe we'll skip the safety wire on the turnbuckles. What could go wrong there?
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