REFLECTOR: CATTO

[Velocity_AZ]

I am also having a problem with grease accumulating inside the spinner of my
MT.  I spoke with MT about this and they informed me that there is a hub
modification to correct this issue.  With only 170 hours on my prop, they
initiatially informed me that I needed to pay for the overhaual (about
$1200) and they would pay for the hub modification ($250) - because my prop
is out of warranty.  I said that the prop only had 170 hours on it and an
overhaul wasn't needed, but they said that the hub modification can't be
done without it.  After many emails back and forth, they finally agreed to
pick up labor for the overhaul - still this is going to cost ME about
$600+Shipping AND $210 per blade overhaul (if needed). Even though my prop
is in great shape, I am also expecting to be charged for blade overhauls.
All of this just for some leaking grease.
 
The MT has performed very well (outside of this issue), but performance is
not cheap.
 
Kevin

  _____  

From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org] On
Behalf Of HYTEC45 at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 7:23 AM
To: reflector at tvbf.org
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: CATTO


In a message dated 5/24/2005 5:49:56 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
cjensen at dts9000.com writes:

What won't change is the tradeoffs....climb, cruise, weight and money...you
pick your pleasure.

Forgotten is RELIABILITY.  I would not fly my mt out of my state.  After the
6 returns for major warranty repair over 240hrs of operation, and being told
that all my problems (grease leaks, bearings literally beating there self's
apart, blade fractures are due to my electronic ignition, 10 to 1 pistons,
and operating it on a IO-360.  I elected to spend an additional 4.5K
(blades, installation, and damaged parts due to vibration in 45hrs of
operation) on the "new and improved" blades. I was told that these blades
would solve all my problems.   After one hour of operation with the new
blades, I noticed 3 blisters at the tip on one blade, followed by two
additional blisters on a another blade after an additional 2 hours of
operation.  mt said that it was probably wood sap that was trapped in the
laminates and worked it self out to the tip.  One blister is approximately
3/8" X 3/4" long.  There fix was to drill 1/16" holes in the blisters, fly
it to let the sap sing out, then use 5 min. epoxy to fill the holes.
However, the de-lamination is still present.  This is what I spent an extra
4.5K for?????  When I pulled the spinner off after 5 hours, the inside of
the spinner again was covered with grease, along with the inside of the
blade root.  The spinner will trap the initial leakage, then it will "run
over" and start appearing on the blades.  They said that "normal" leakage is
to be expected.  This is the same rate as before the "new and improved"
blades were purchased that were suppose to fix all this.  They said now to
"clean the prop, and fly for 5 hours to measure leakage".  To date, I have
around $17,000 in my mt with only 240 hours of operation, and over 8 failure
of components that grounded the prop.  Again, the prop will be coming off in
short order to address the grease problem that mt has not been able to fix
in three try's, including advising me to replace the blades at MY expense.
Fortunately, my "Performance" propeller has picked up the slack during all
this.  Call me stupid, but at some point, I guess I should through in the
towel, and cut my losses.  With $17,000 I could of bought my dream shotgun.
 
With all my problems with my mt over the years, I don't think I am an
isolated case.  I think that Velocity is "looking the other way" in regards
to pushing the mt.  Without a CS propeller, there product has a limited
performance, and as of now, mt is the only game in town.
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