Radice Folding prop fitting

[cindersailor]

Can anyone tell me how Radice folding props (2-blade) are fitted to the shaft. All I have been able to find out is that they fit onto a conventional taper, but where does the nut go? Are the blades removed first to fit the hub with the nut then located behind the blade gear teeth when the blades are refitted. Is a special (small diameter) nut required so that it will fit into the hub? Any info would be useful. Thanks.

 

[Dipper]

My Radice two blade folding propeller is on a saildrive but I think the shaft fitting is similar.

I have to remove two hexagonal head securing screws, then tap out the blade pivots. Once the blades have been removed, the hub is secured to the shaft by a Nyloc nut. Originally there was no other locking mechanism on the nut but newer versions had a further hexagonal head screw inserted sideways through the hub onto one face of the nut.

Beware of the hexagonal screws as they very easily round off inside and can be difficult to remove. I now remove mine every year to stop them from seizing.

You should be able to get a suitable nut (quite expensive) from Lake Engineering at Poole.

 

[kengill]

You may remove the blades by undoing the small allen key stubs then the other allen key stub you may find within which locks the pin. the pin may then be withdrawn the blade removed and the nut accessed then proceed as normal.

Polish the blades to mirror bright finish and then use lots of grease on the gear teeth when reassembling.

Some people lock the second stub with a sealant such as rtv.

 

[thalassa]

My Radice prop had a nut secured with a hexagonal opening for a 12 mm Allen key. Most common Allen key sets haven't got this size, but they can be had affordably at places like Halford's, as it is a common size for some oil drain plugs.

 

[Dipper]

I have a set that fits my socket wrench probably the same as you are describing. It's amazing how useful it is. Well worth buying. The ordinary Allen key wrenches are often too 'springy' to undo a tight bolt and they are so short you risk hitting your fingers if you tap them with a hammer (I think I have just exposed my engineering skills here /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif).