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How to Attach a Prop to an RC Motor

Building and flying remote control airplanes is a common hobby across North America. Many communities have clubs in which members gather to fly their homemade airplanes. Most RC airplanes are built from kits sold at hobby stores, while some are assembled from scratch. You need to attach a propeller to your plane as you're building it. When a propeller is damaged during a minor crash, you can remove it and add a new one.

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the diameter of the remote control airplane's propeller shaft with a digital caliper and compare it with the hole on your propeller. If the hole and shaft diameters are equal, the propeller can be installed. If the propeller hole is too small (propeller manufacturers often err on the side of caution and make prop holes small), the hole will have to be widened.
- 2
  Select a drill bit that corresponds with the size of the airplane's propeller shaft. Mount the drill bit in your drill press.
- 3
  Clamp the propeller to the center of your drill press table and lower the drill bit to the hole to ensure everything lines up. It is crucial to use a drill bit to ensure a smooth hole is drilled perpendicular to the propeller blades. If the hole is off-center or not square, the propeller will not turn correctly and your airplane will crash. Drill the hole.
- 4
  Remove the nut on the end of the propeller shaft with an appropriate-sized wrench. Often, small wrenches are sold with remote control engines. If this isn't the case with your engine, simply use any wrench that fits the nut.
- 5
  Slide the propeller onto the propeller shaft, making sure it rubs up against the back plate close to the engine. The propeller should be installed with its lettering facing away from the body of the airplane.
- 6
  Tighten the nut back into position against the propeller. Do not over-tighten the nut and risk stripping the propeller shaft. If this happens, you will have to replace the shaft.

Aviation