PDA

View Full Version : spare prerotator belt.

robertstodaro
06-12-2009, 06:57 AM
I keep a spare belt ty-wraped to my engine between the prop and the engine.

If my belt goes bad, I can cut it and slip the new one on with out having to

to remove the prop. It's good for "away from home" fixes.
MikeBoyette
06-12-2009, 09:06 AM
Robert,
That's great advise. Dad used to that on Blunder Beast. Blunder Beast was the first machine he used that type of belt on. The prerotator was shaft driven not hydo.
robertstodaro
06-12-2009, 10:16 AM
Do you have a picture of the "blunder beast"?
MikeBoyette
06-12-2009, 10:33 AM
Robert,
Here it is. Dad built one of the first two places. It was started in 1981 and finished in 1983. Many people got the bug after they rode in it including Steve Mcgowen.
RICK MARTIN
06-13-2009, 05:27 PM
So what happened Mike? Was it truly a blunder? That is the first I've ever seen or heard about it.
GyroRon
06-13-2009, 05:56 PM
So what happened Mike? Was it truly a blunder? That is the first I've ever seen or heard about it.

It is sitting in a shed behind Ernies shop rotting away....


btw, I have a bunch of hours in Dominators and have yet to need to change a belt while out flying. I have only changed one belt ever and only cause it got oil soaked and started being grabby, so I changed it out for a fresh belt.
MikeBoyette
06-14-2009, 06:19 AM
So what happened Mike? Was it truly a blunder? That is the first I've ever seen or heard about it.

Rick,
No it was quite sucessful. The nick name came from how it flew it kinda blundered through the air. This was before the RAF so at the time it was one of the heaviest machines around. Empty weight was somewhere around 650 lbs. The rotor system was a set of solid spar Rotorhawk Blades. They started off stock but, after we moved to Chuck's he modified them. He sharpened the blunt leading edge and filled in th crack between the spar and skin. They flew much better. Blunder Beast had a bad stick shake(this was before he understood undersling). The stick shook so bad you could barley see his hand while flying. Charley Presnell once went for a ride with him and at 50 agl Charlie started yelling for him to put it back down. Charlie had done three tours in Vietnam flying a Huey. In 1987 Dad built the his first drop keel gyro (named Big Bird) and basically retired Blunder Beast. Ron is correct the Beast is in the side Hangar rotting away.
Jim Bendel
06-22-2009, 04:02 PM
Does anyone have the part number for the Dominator Prerotator belt.

Can not read the number on mine.Wonder if Ernie sells them.

Jim B
MikeBoyette
06-23-2009, 09:59 AM
Yes he does sell them. Give him a call at 813-634-3370.Does anyone have the part number for the Dominator Prerotator belt.

Can not read the number on mine.Wonder if Ernie sells them.

Jim B