Measuring the Propeller

Find the hub diameter by subtracting two times the blade length (from root to tip) from
the overall diameter. lf overall diaTPeter is 34.8 inches (884 mm), then hub diameter
would be 5.8 inches (147 mm). Using all this information in the blade area and blade
area ratio formulas in Chapter 4, we can determine disc area, disc-area ratio, mean-width
ratio and so on.

MEASURING PITCH
Finding Radios for Pitch at 45 Degrees
Establishing pitch is more difficult. Without special measuring tools, you'll have to pull
the propeller and lay it face up, on a smooth, flat surface. Holding a 45-degree right
triangle (45 -45 - 90 ) at right angles to the propeller's radius line, slide it along the
length of the blade- between the blade backs and the ground- until it just fits beneath
the contour of the blade. Measure the distance from the centerline, and you have found
the radius at which the propeller pitcb is 45 degrees. The true pitch is two times this
radius times "ii (==3.14). You will have to make sorne allowance, by eye, for any convexity of the blade backs.
lf at 6.5 inches (165 mm) from the centerline our example propeller has a pitch of 45
degrees its true pitch would be 40.8 inches (1036 mm) [6.5 in. 45 pitch r adius x 2 x
3.14
40.8 inches]. With our measured diameter of 34.8 inches (884 mm), this gives
a pitcb ratio of l. 17.

Advantages of a Pitchometer
The difficulty with the foregoing method is that the propeller must be taken off the shaft.
Even on quite small craft this can be a time-consurning task. On larger vessels, the labor
involved is often prohibitive. The solution is to use a pitchometer-an instrument specially designed to measure propeller pitch. Although these instruments cost at least two
to three hundred dollars, this is usually far less than the cost of hauling a boat, pulling
the propeUer, and reinstalling it. A good pitchometer will enable you to measure pitch
with the boat still in the water.
Jack Laird, an engineer with Caterpillar lnc. and with his own consulting firm, Laird
Engineering, has perfected a patented pitchometer that meets all the above requirements.
Figure B-2 shows his compact pitchometer from both sides, and B-3 describes its use.
Those interested in obtaining Laird's pitchometer should contact him at either Caterpillar
Inc., or Laird Engineering (see list of manufacturers and suppliers on p. 000).

Figure B-2
Front and back views of }ack
Laird's pitchometer.
(Courtesy of Jack Laird and
Caterpillar, lnc.)

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Appendix B

INTRODUCTION

The 8T5322 Pitchometer is now available for use in

measuring the pitch (angle) of the blades on a marine
engine propeller. The 8T5322 Ptchometer provides a
much simpler and faster method of checking blade
pitch, and gives the same accuracy of an equivalent
fixed installation propeller pitch checking system.

FEATURES

8T5322 PITCHOMETER NOMENCLATURE

1. Vertical Edge.
2. Housing lndex Mark.
3. Scale Jndex Mark.
4. Compensating Ring lndex Mark.
5. Scale.
6. Compensating Ring.
7. Scale/Level Vial Holder.
8. Horizontal Edge.
9. Housing.

The 8T5322 Ptchometer provides a method of

measuring blade pitch. at any point on the blade, as
follows:
a) Without removal of the propeller from the propeller
shaft.

PROPELLER PITCH CHECK

(Propeller lnstalled on Shaft)

b) At any angle.
e) In any position, including underwater, if necessary.
Some further advantages of the 8T5322 Pitchometer
are:
d) Makes it possible to check/measure propeller pitch
when the propeller is stored in the horizontal
position andfor before the propeller is installed on
the propeller shaft.
e) Aids in determining which blades need to be "re
pitched", and by how much.
f) Helps in reducing propeller vibration by giving an
accurate check to ensure that all blades are at the
same pitch.
g) Gives improved efficiency by ensuring the correct
pitch for the propeller blades of all propellers on a
multipropeller installation.
PITCHOMETER ACCURACY: 2%

128

1 . On propeller blade 0 that is to be checked, make

a mark on the rear tace of the blade.

2. Measure and record dstance (from mark to

the center of the propeller shaft).

Measuring the PropeUer

6 . With pitchometer 0 components positioned as
indicated in Step 5, put pitchometer 0 on propeller
shaft as shown. [Horizontal edge @ on shaft
and vertical edge to tace toward engine.]

7. To compensate for shaft angle, turn compensating

nng and scalefvial leve! holder so the bubble in
the level 1s oentered (indicates level condition). (Hold
compensating ring and scalefvial leve! holder in this
position. Do not permit them to move.)

3. Locate and mark centerline through mark on

the blade.

4. Turn propeller blade

so it

IS

in a horizontal

pos1tion.

8. Put pitchometer 0 on blade 0 so vertical edge

is on mark . Position pitchometer 0 so it is
centered over centerline @ .

5. Turn compensating ring and scaleflevel vial

holder so scale index mark @ and compensating
ring index mark are in alignment with housing index
mark (f). (This is the starting position when using the
pitchometer.)

9. Hold compensating ring firmly, (it must not

move) while turning scaleflevel vial holder to center
(level) the bubble in the vial.

1 O. Record the scale reading at compensating ring

1ndex mark (D .
11 . Mulliply the value recorded 1n Step 1O by the
measurement recorded as dimension@ (see Steps 1
and 2). (This 1s the distance from the centerline ot
propeller shatt to the center of mark on the
p ropeller blade.) The product of this exercise is the
amount ot blade pitch at mark EXAMPLE:
Dimension @ = 20.0"
Scale Reading = 2.25"
20.0" x 2.25" = 45" pitch

12. Do Steps 1-11 at enough points on each propeller

b lade, to be sure that propeller pitch is the same over
the full area ot a blade, and that all blades have the
same pitch.
Figure B3

How to use the pilchometer, as descrihed in a Caterpillar pamph/et.

129