Propeller Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why doesn't my GWS propeller fit correctly on the motor shaft?

Most of the motors that have a 3mm threaded shaft come with very small prop nuts that do not fit the hub recess on some of the GWS props. The prop will fit anyway - there are two ways to mount them. You can put the small prop nut on the shaft first, followed by the prop, and then a washer, and then the other prop nut. When you tighten the prop nut securely, friction will prevent the prop from spinning on the shaft. The other method is to simply put the prop right up against the motor bell flange. You simply put the prop on (with no nut installed first), and then follow it with a washer and the securing prop nut. The whole front of the motor (the 'bell' or 'rotor') spins anyway, so this works fine. Just be certain the two set screws at the front of the motor are very tight - something you should check anyway. The set screws usually require a 1.5mm Allen wrench.

2. Do I need to balance my propeller?

It's a very good idea to do so. For the larger slow fly propellers such as the GWS EP1047 and EP1147, you can usually do a fairly good job of balancing by simply using a very small screwdriver inserted through the prop hub to determine which end of the prop is lightest, and then adding some 5 minute epoxy on that end. For high RPM applications, it's best to use a prop balancer in order to obtain the needed accuracy.