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P Morel
09-30-2014, 05:00 PM
Does anyone that uses the IVO have the same problem as me? I replace leading edge tapes around every 25 hours because they just don't want to stay on much longer than that. Does anyone have a secret they use to keep the stainless steel tapes on?

Av8r_Sed
09-30-2014, 05:27 PM
Retorque the prop first so you know it shouldn't be moving. Then clean the area for the tapes carefully with MEK and reapply the tapes. Mine are a little less than 1/2" wide by about 2" long. I apply them on the back side of the prop and spacer blocks so they don't straddle the ridge in the prop blade. I get about 40 hours before the edges start lifting on mine.

Edit: I should read more carefully. I was replying about the movement tapes, not the leading edge tapes. Mine are still intact after 100+ hours with only a few very small dings.

kmach
09-30-2014, 05:53 PM
I have replaced the SS leading edge tapes twice in the last 3 years.
I get close to 100 hrs before they need replacing.
The last time I replaced them I had some tape erode on one prop tip from doing a runup in a stupid spot , so I replaced all three tapes, have 67 hrs on them now.
I have only replaced them because of damage not because of coming loose.
I followed the Ivoprop instructions, there is a video on youtube on replaceing the ss leading edge tapes.

DAT
09-30-2014, 07:02 PM
I had one come completely off in flight on one out of the 3 blades. Lots of vibration. Made an immediate landing. Found the tape completely departed so I removed the other two strips and continued. Replaced them and within a few hours another started to peal back. Took all three off and now fly it with no strips. No problems.

SWeidemann
09-30-2014, 07:47 PM
I bought my well used Vixen (1600+ Hrs) with Ivo three blade UL prop. No metal tapes on leading edges. I was suspicious about airworthiness because of a few hefty gauges, so took some pictures for the Ivo Guy. He came back with "unairworthy" comment, so I have a box of three new blades with metal leading edges, so I'll see how much time I can get out of these. I also have the stainless steel tapes to indicate blade movement.

Skot

av8rps
10-01-2014, 02:05 PM
Based on my experience of about 400 hrs behind an IVO UL, if you fly an IVO UL prop that is in flight adjustable, expect to replace tapes very regularly. The twisting of the blade for pitch adjustment by the electric motor, as well as the coning forward of the blade that happens when in flight, is just too much flexing for those stainless tapes to take.

If you fly a ground adjust IVO UL blade, the tapes should hold up much better as the blade is not twisted anywhere near as much since the pitch is fixed. Also fwiw, the medium IVO does much better as it doesn't flex or cone forward anywhere near as much as the UL blade does.

I fly floats, so I really need the stainless steel leading edges (water spray from float operations will destroy a fibreglass blade tip in MINUTES...).

BUT, if I didn't fly floats I would simply remove the problematic stainless tape and replace it with the clear plastic used on automobile rocker panels (aka body protection tape - I recall that 3m makes it. I think you can also buy leading edge tape from aircraft suppliers). I flew a season on wheels with that and it held up just super. But when I put the floats on, the tape (along with about 2 inches of the fibreglass prop end) was destroyed the first time I accelerated for takeoff.

So with all that said, I wouldn't even mess with the stainless tape unless I expected to fly floats (or was goofy and enjoyed flying in heavy rain). I believe in normal conditions the plastic tape leading edge protection would be fine.

And while you could fly without any leading edge protection for the blades, I would still suggest using something other than just the fibreglass leading edge of the blade.

I love my IVO UL prop, except for that darned tape. I heard the military has some special tape they use on their extrememly flexible composite helicopter blades to alleviate sand erosion in desert environments. If we could just lay our hands on some of that (and afford it?) it just might be the answer for our IVO props?

Just my two cents...

Peteohms
10-04-2014, 03:40 PM
I quit using the Ivo metal tape and now use 3M Polyurethane Protective Tape 8674 from Aircraft Spruce.

kitfox2009
10-05-2014, 09:28 AM
I have an IVO IFA Ultra light on my Vixen. The original SS edge protection lasted for 3 years (270 hours). I now have another 100+ hours on the replacement tape with no problems. My a/c is always hangered when not in the air and fly mostly off paved runways. Seems OK to me.
Cheers
Don

av8rps
10-05-2014, 12:03 PM
I have an IVO IFA Ultra light on my Vixen. The original SS edge protection lasted for 3 years (270 hours). I now have another 100+ hours on the replacement tape with no problems. My a/c is always hangered when not in the air and fly mostly off paved runways. Seems OK to me.
Cheers
Don

I typically move my UL IVO IFA pitch from flattest pitch to most pitch at least a few times every time I fly my Kitfox. I also keep my aircraft in a hangar, but fly off water as well as runways. My tapes usually never make a hundred hours, even after sending the prop in to IVO for blade refinish with new tape.

Plus, they (and I) even super glue the edges of the tape AND cut the tapes in three places in an effort to minimize twisting on the full length of the tape. But even with all that I don't get much life out of the tape.

I wish I had your luck...or your secret :)

kmach
10-05-2014, 06:07 PM
I fly with the medium IFA on the 912 uls, I go from full fine to full coarse pitch , I have never had a loose or thrown tape . I only replaced them because of damage . All total around 300 hrs, grass , dirt, gravel, and some rough crumbling paved strips.
I have replaced the tapes because of damage to the tape and find them somewhat hard to remove .
The grazy glue along the edges seems to help with the edges of the tapes from lifting.

av8rps
10-06-2014, 09:31 AM
I fly with the medium IFA on the 912 uls, I go from full fine to full coarse pitch , I have never had a loose or thrown tape . I only replaced them because of damage . All total around 300 hrs, grass , dirt, gravel, and some rough crumbling paved strips.
I have replaced the tapes because of damage to the tape and find them somewhat hard to remove .
The grazy glue along the edges seems to help with the edges of the tapes from lifting.

Do you do anything over and above what IVO shows in their youtube video on tape replacement, or their written directions? I sure wish I could get my tapes to last like that.

DesertFox4
10-06-2014, 09:50 AM
I had one tape start to slide off the end of one blade years back. It started to make a strange sound when flying almost like an exhaust leak from the engine. Caught it on the very next pre-flight.

Removing it was not real easy but I did replaced all 3 at the same time using Ivo's instructions. Then after several hundred hours I needed to replace them again and a fellow Kitfox owner on my airport gave me some black prop tape to try. It's been on ever since. Not sure who made it but I'm thinking it came from Aircraft Spruce.
It would not be the best choice for flying off of gravel strips or cutting tall grass and of course float flying. I have been in and out of many dirt strips here in the desert with no ill affects.

kmach
10-06-2014, 01:23 PM
Do you do anything over and above what IVO shows in their youtube video on tape replacement, or their written directions? I sure wish I could get my tapes to last like that.

I just followed the video directions :confused:

Av8r3400
10-06-2014, 07:08 PM
Maybe the rigidity of the medium over the flexibility of the ultralight has something to do with the tapes staying in place better… ?

kitfox2009
10-06-2014, 09:26 PM
All this talk about IVO props had me yesterday checking the brushes on mine. After changing them found that the motor is now inoperative.Just by coincidence it must have died on my last flight.
Anyway I have put the ground adjustable hub on so I am not grounded!
Sure notice the difference though.
The motor turns freely enough but there is just no electrical action at all. Has anyone ever rebuilt these little motors or does anyone have a spare that is surplus to their needs?
I called IVO, got a recording and left a message.
It is a 70" ultralight model.
Cheers
Don VIXEN C-FOXK

av8rps
10-07-2014, 08:16 AM
Maybe the rigidity of the medium over the flexibility of the ultralight has something to do with the tapes staying in place better… ?

Yes Larry, I think you are right. I missed that bit of information....that he was talking about the Medium blade. The difference between the medium and the UL blade is significant.

Paul