Can a prop be flipped?

[burmisdog]

Here is a dumb question from a newbie I can't seem to get my head around. I am running a 1600VW direct drive with a 4 blade 48"composite prop 10 pitch.. Not impressed with performance. Tried a 12 pitch, performance got worse, could not achieve WOT. I know the VW is not a lot of power, but have high hopes. I have the chance to pick up a 2 blade 17 pitch RH Clockwise to try. Here is the confusion; Standing at the back of the engine looking forward, the engine rotation is CCW. Looking from the front it is Clockwise. If I mount the 2 RH blade, it of course will not work. Can a prop be flipped and perform correctly? What am I missing?

 

[glades cat]

Naw. They are uní-directional. Even if you flip it, the blade angle will be the same, but the leading edge will be on the trailing side.

 

[burmisdog]

Thanks for reply. Still confused. If I want to use a RH prop on a LH turning engine, it seems that flipping it over allows this? I took a piece of paper, wrote L for leading on the right side, and T for trailing on the left. When I flip it over, the Lead is on the left and the Trail is on the right.
???

 

[Slidin Gator]

Thanks for reply. Still confused. If I want to use a RH prop on a LH turning engine, it seems that flipping it over allows this? I took a piece of paper, wrote L for leading on the right side, and T for trailing on the left. When I flip it over, the Lead is on the left and the Trail is on the right.
???

A 2D model is insufficient for this 3D question. Get a couple of popsicle sticks and make a RH (Turns to Stbd) prop. Flip it over and you will find it remains RH rotation even though the leading and trailing edges switched.

 

[Gary S]

Can you take two of the blades off the prop you have now?

 

[kwanjangnihm]

could not achieve WOT. I know the VW is not a lot of power, but have high hopes.

Follow this link - it has many Southern Airboat threads on VW engine & prop info. Hope this helps!

best vw engine propeller airboat site:southernairboat.com - Google Search

 

[burmisdog]

Thanks for everyones suggestions. I will call competition prop and ask them if I can reduce to 2 blades. Question; On the flywheel side where the prop is mounted, the engine is turning CCW. Because it is a pusher, should the prop be a RH or LH ? I appreciate the education!

 

[boss520]

Thanks for everyones suggestions. I will call competition prop and ask them if I can reduce to 2 blades. Question; On the flywheel side where the prop is mounted, the engine is turning CCW. Because it is a pusher, should the prop be a RH or LH ? I appreciate the education!

LH if looking from back of the engine.