Electric Battery Drill as Pre-Rotator for Gyro Blades

[buckeye4life]

In 2009 a member wrote the followint...On my Bensen with a 23' Metal Bensen blades, My Kobalt drill motor would reach a total of 110 Rotor rpm with the rotor tilted full forward and no assistance from the relative wind through the disc. More than enough for a short takeoff launch.It really messed with their minds when I taxi out with the drill motor hanging off the front of my seat. When I spin up, I just toss it overboard and go.

I would love to know more so I could possibly try it with my Ryobi electric drill and a gyroglider with wood blades. Any and all information, description, pictures or experiences appreciated.

 

[JEFF TIPTON]

Ay many hardware stores you can find socket adapters that will allow you run sockets with you drill motor.

If you have pre rotator with the flexible cable, the cable can be removed from the benefit assembly and the socket adapter inserted into the benefit unit to be driven by the drill motor.

 

[JEFF TIPTON]

These

 

[buckeye4life]

Thank you sir. Was hoping there was some trick to doing it without the 1 ft diameter ring gear usually needed.

 

[MikeBoyette]

That’s our David McCutchen he’s kinda a special dude. I wouldn’t make that your primary means of prerotation unless you are using easy starting blades like Bensen’s as you have to dispose of the drill once the blades reach top RPM it’s capable of doing. He would just throw it on the ground and retrieve it once his flight was completed.

 

[BrianInVa]

I’d imagine the hard rubber wheel off the motor end of a Mac prerotator could be removed and something appropriate attached in its place that could be easily spun with a battery hand drill.

 

[Aerofoam]

I’d imagine the hard rubber wheel off the motor end of a Mac prerotator could be removed and something appropriate attached in its place that could be easily spun with a battery hand drill.

I don't think there is an easy way to get around having the gear and a bendix. The drill would have to be put on, or in a socket driving the bendix.
Unfortunately that is considerable weight unless you can find a light, small bendix.
Another option would be a belt drive with an arm that the drill rests in and it tensions from the torque of the drill, when released, the drill could be removed and the belt would fall off the the pulley on the rotor head.
This is a lot going on right next to a spinning rotor.......

 

[MikeBoyette]

I’d imagine the hard rubber wheel off the motor end of a Mac prerotator could be removed and something appropriate attached in its place that could be easily spun with a battery hand drill.

David attached it at the head ran the blades up while standing. He disconnected the drill threw it aside and jumped in the seat and began bringing blades up from there. They were Bensen Blades.

 

[Gyro28866]

The upper portion of the Wunderlich Pre-rotor where the drive cable connects to the (starter) drive is a 3/8" square drive, the same as a 3/8" ratchet. I chucked a 1/8" hex to 3/8" square (like Jeff's picture) into a Kobalt 2 speed drill motor. It would spin my Bensen blades to 115 RRPM, pull the drive out and pitch the drill motor off to the side in the grass and stick back and go.
If I get to the airfield tomorrow, I will get a picture and post it.

 

[wolfy]

It doesn't get any simpler than that.

 

[BrianInVa]

David attached it at the head ran the blades up while standing. He disconnected the drill threw it aside and jumped in the seat and began bringing blades up from there. They were Bensen Blades.

This is the rotor blade I was asking you about.

 

[MikeBoyette]

NOT DRAGON WINGS!!!!

 

[Doug Riley]

The hub at least looks like Rotordyne.

Rotordyne has been through several owners. Some were better craftsmen than others. One owner of that business, in particular, did not bond the blades correctly, and they tended to delaminate.

Real Dragon Wings have excellent bonding that won't separate even if your blades hit the ground and crumple. I speak from personal experience.