Learn - How to Install and Remove a Carbon Fiber Spinner

How to Install and Remove a Carbon Fiber Spinner
When installing your CF spinner, special techniques must be employed. Just tightening up the screws won't do it! You will lose your spinner after a few flights otherwise! If you overtighten the screws, the spinner cone will come off leaving CF donuts under each screw. When you lose your spinner, you may damage your propeller too!! Check out the video of a prop coming off in flight. Go to the video page.
Proper procedure for installing the spinner screws:
1) Install the spinner cone after you have completed the installation of your propeller! See how to install your propeller first!
2) The spinner screws are 4-40 button head screws which use a 1/16" allen wrench. If you replace these screws with 4-40 socket head screws you will use a much larger 3/32" allen wrench. The larger wrench allows for higher tightening and (more importantly) higher loosening forces. The socket head screws do protrude up so you may not like the appearance. Socket head screws are not required! It just makes things a little easier.
3) Install the spinner cone and be sure that it does not touch the propeller. There is no need for balancing the spinner cone. Follow the HOW TO CUT YOUR CF SPINNER instructions (below) if you have interference.
4) Install all 6 screws about 1/2 way.
5) Tighten all screws very gently.
6) Remove each screw one at a time and use a very light thread locking compound. Do not use RED!! Tighten, but not too tight or you will crush the CF. If you crush the CF, the cone will come off leaving donuts of CF under all the screw heads. It's not easy to overtighten the button heads, but it's very easy to overtighten the socket heads.
Proper procedure for removing the spinner screws:
1) Assuming you have screws installed with thread locker, then heat an allen wrench red hot with a propane torch.
2) Insert the red hot allen wrench into a screw. (Don't slip and touch the spinner!!)
3) Apply light pressure on the screw to loosen the screw. It will take 5 seconds for the heat from the allen wrench to transfer to the screw. The heat will loosen the thread locker and the screw will come right out.
Proper procedure for removing stripped spinner screws:
1) Assuming you have tried removing screws held in with thread locker and stripped out the allen head screw, first cut a slot in the screw head with a dremel.
2) Using a propane torch, heat a flat blade screwdriver which fits into the slot you just made.
3) Insert the hot screwdriver into the slot and apply pressure. When the screw moves out a little, immediately remove the screwdriver to stop heating the screw.
4) The screw should come out normally now that it's loosened.
WARNING - Gasoline and Turbine powered R/C model aircraft are not manufactured to withstand unlimited G's. Any R/C model aircraft can fail, be it a wing folding up or a fuselage breaking in half under too high of a load. Just as any full size aircraft, model R/C aircraft have a maximum G rating. Because you are not in the plane flying it and experiencing the G's and reading the G-meter, it is more difficult to judge the G's on the aircraft, and it is very easy to exceed the limits of the aircraft. Understand that if you perform a snap roll, parachute, wall, blender, knife edge loop, or pull hard on the elevator at almost any speed, you can be putting in excess of 15 G's, even in excess of 30 G's, and most aircraft can only designed to take 10-12 G's. If you perform any violent maneuver, you can break your plane. When I perform hard maneuvers, especially for the first time on an airframe, I am prepared for a failure and am prepared for it as best I can be. This mainly includes performing the maneuver far enough away from spectators that in event of a failure that I am not endangering others. In addition, be prepared for the manufacturer to not pay for a new airframe which is broken during flight. It is common practice for any manufacturer to not replace an airframe which breaks in the air or upon landing. I have only seen manufacturers replace airframes when they have received many of the same failures and the manufacturer determines that there was a design or manufacturing error. If you break an airframe, and you are the only one to do so, then it is probably not the fault of the manufacturer. Please fly safely, and avoid full throttle operation other than at low airspeeds.
R/C model jets, warbirds, aerobatic planes and UAV Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to name a few are not a toy! If misused, it can cause serious bodily harm and property damage. Fly only in open areas, and AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) approved flying sites. Follow all manufacturer instructions included with your plane, radio, servo's, batteries and engine. Aircraft manufacturers guarantees each kit to be free from defects in both material and workmanship at the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover any component assembled by the customer. All parts of high stress must be inspected and reinforced if necessary by a competent builder. Some parts should be glued again. High stress areas such as firewalls, motor boxes, wing mounts, landing gear mounts, etc., are areas of high concern. Seek help if necessary. In not case shall TBM be liable for the cost of any product it offers which is not manufactured by TBM. The liability to the manufacturer cannot exceed the original cost of the purchased item. Further, TBM reserves the right to change or modify this warranty without notice. In that TBM has no control over the final assembly or materials used for final assembly, no liability shall be assumed nor accepted for any damage resulting from the use by the user of the final user-assembled product. By the act of using the user assembled product, the user accepts all resulting liability. The kit manufacturers have provided you with a top quality, thoroughly tested kit and instructions, but ultimately the quality and fly ability of your finished model depends on how you build it; therefore, we cannot in any way guarantee the performance of your completed model, and no representations are expressed or implied as to the performance or safety of your completed model. It is the user's responsibility to inspect each component for worthiness.
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