Propeller - Overhaul or New

[Bill Casey]

Hello All,

My (new to me) Turbo PA39 will be getting prop overhauls, or new props, at next annual in a few months.
I am considering a number of choices, including overhaul the Hartzells, buy new Hartzell "speed" props, or buy the new MT 3 Blade recently certified for the PA39.

Overhaul is the least expensive, Speed Props are next, and the MT 3 blade looks to be the most expensive option.

I would appreciate feedback from others regarding the value proposition of overhaul -vs- new, and also of going with the new MT prop. There are supposed to be some performance benefits along with quieter operation, especially with the MT props.

Will the added cost of the 3 blade enhance the value of the plane?
Do the old props have much value as a "trade-in" or sale?

Thanks in advance for the advice and comments.

- Bill

[N3322G]

Unless you have to have new props, my personal opinion is to O/H with a reputable shop and make sure they are re-installed according to Hartzell instruction for that model. Make sure they do a great job at balancing or you will feel the vibration.

If you want a couple more knots at cruise, the Knots2U 'speed' props are nice. My Mom, Marion Jayne, got the 337 for them for our Twin for the world races when Hartzelll was a sponsor - later K2U got the STC - the current models may require a change to the backplates as the new hubs are bigger - have forgotten the specs on that just recall the change was about 1997 and they re-used the same part numbers so it wasn't obvious. If it wasn't for the world race, we wouldn't have gone to that expense.

No opinion on the 3 blade from a tech view ... personally I think they look clunky on our sleek Twins but other may have a different opinion.