What Does This Prop Spider Fit?

Good thread this.

Merlin Pete – Yes, there were 6000-size bracket props. They were fitted to the early Beaufighters and all Hercules engines had the 6000/SBAC60 prop shaft.

Anon.

Yes, the 6000 series bracket prop is mentioned in the lists I have, but the question mark is over the shaft size and shank size in that instance. I assume it is as you say, a No6 shaft, and probably an E shank, making it similar to a 43-E-60.
Hercules had three shaft types, tapered, No5 and No6, but I think the Beau would have been a No6 from the start in August 1940.

Pete

The important think to remember about the DH props is that, lets say a ‘1,000 Series’ refers to the size of the blade root only. Thus a ‘1,000 Series’ could be for a DHGQII with a Number 1 SBAC spline, or a DHGQ30(etc.) with a Number 2 SBAC spline.
I can’t speak with regard to the other manufacturers, but the list below seems to indicate a similar arrangement.

As far as I understand it:
Bracket types:
1000 ?
4000 No4 shaft, D shank
5000 No5 shaft, E shank
6000 ?

Hydromatic:
4000 No6 shaft, D shank 4 blade
4500 No5 shaft, D shank
5000 No5 shaft, E shank
5500 No6 shaft, E shank
6000 No6 shaft, shank ?

The Spitfire photo you linked tends to back up that the 4500 is a D shank hub, because there are 9 barrel bolts.

Post war they went over to a completely different numbering system!

Pete

Good thread this.

Merlin Pete – Yes, there were 6000-size bracket props. They were fitted to the early Beaufighters and all Hercules engines had the 6000/SBAC60 prop shaft.

Anon.

Ah, yes. Thanks.

‘its not for a Merlin engine’

Where did that bit go from the original ad?

Where indeed. I was going to apologise for my sarcastic comments above, but I don’t feel the need to now.

Matt, the reason for going to smaller blades could have been because it is a shorter blade (10′ 9″ dia), so a lighter blade shank could be used. The Ham Standard equivalent would be the 33D50 for the T-28.

Pete

‘its not for a Merlin engine’

Where did that bit go from the original ad?

Thank you Pete, that really helped, and explained a few other things as well. Also raised another question – Curiously the Spit went down a shank size, from E to D, when it ‘went Hydromatic’. Can’t think of the reason for this.

[I”]This item needs to be collect as it is too heavy to post!”[/I]

Quite a long way to come for it then….

As far as I understand it:
Bracket types:
1000 ?
4000 No4 shaft, D shank
5000 No5 shaft, E shank
6000 ?

Hydromatic:
4000 No6 shaft, D shank 4 blade
4500 No5 shaft, D shank
5000 No5 shaft, E shank
5500 No6 shaft, E shank
6000 No6 shaft, shank ?

The Spitfire photo you linked tends to back up that the 4500 is a D shank hub, because there are 9 barrel bolts.

Post war they went over to a completely different numbering system!

Pete

It seems that only a few Spit V’s destined specifically for foreign parts had the Hydromatic.. please see this (from another forum – apologies to Feropete and GingerBob):

O7 to DDAP1, etc 26/5/42 (O.3326)

48 Mk.Vb Spits required packed for new special destination not connected with any previous special commitments. A/C are to be packed on highest priority. Request 53 wing HQ signal at which packing depot work will be undertaken. These to be trop fitted Merlin 46 VHF (TR.1133), IFF, Long range 90 gallon tanks and Rotol (RX 5/10) props. TR9D wireless and 2 30 gal jettison tanks to be included in packing case of each a/c. Crystals will be supplied on arrival at overseas destination. A/C are required packed by 16/6/42.

Qty 15 similar Trop Spits will be required each month starting in July. To ensure supply to beginning of ’43 last 75 trop Spit V’s due off production in Sept/Oct should be earmarked against Sept/Oct quotas of 15 with balance of 45 covering Nov-Jan quotas

O7 to DDAP1 etc 29/5/42 (O.4196)

The qty 48 Spits for new special destination must now be Mk.Vc. Other requirements identical except prop will be Hydromatic instead of Rotol.

Also, this picture:http://s150.photobucket.com/user/feropete/media/ZZ-Britmodeller/A58-142_03_zps77d91677.jpg.html

I know nowt about Mosquitoes though.

Folks, what was the difference between a 4500 and a 5000?

Thanks Anne, fair comment. The confusion in the ad was in calling it a “size 4” which clearly means No4 shaft.
4500 and 5000 type spiders both fit a standardised No5 necked down shaft.
It’s a rare piece.

Pete

And hats off to you (again) Anneorac. Now, what makes it a 4500 not a 5000? Not a different shaft for those types, surely? Or are we really talking 45000 series, with the 4 at the front signifying Hydromatic?

Well hats off to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre as they got the ID more or less correct. The only bit they got wrong was that it’s not a 4000 size spider but a 4500 size one. P40609 is the drawing number for the spider fitted to the 45/2 props used on the Mosquito and the 45/4 props used on the Spitfire Mk V.

Anne

Something ain’t right 🙂

As Sherlock Holmes once said, when doing his eBay listings, ‘…when you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be Spitfire.”

…or something like that.

Pete

Something ain’t right 🙂

If it’s a No.5 spline then it’s from a Hurricane/Lanc/Mossie.

It looks like it is from the later 23EX (hydromatic) rather than the earlier (bracket) hub fitted to the Spitfire.

Anon.

It’s from a Spitfire and has gone to the Bomber Command Museum of Canada for their replica.

So it must be SBAC No5 then, right?

Pete

Then it is either not a size 4 as described or they have bought the wrong thing.

It’s from a Spitfire and has gone to the Bomber Command Museum of Canada for their replica.

Checked my sources.. the Bristol Mercury had an SBAC 4 shaft. Otherwise Gypsy 12.. or a British prop for an American radial. Otherwise I am out..