Spinner Spending ?

[Magman]

The thread re Spinner Screws prompted me to send this. The pix are from a Super Cub but the configuration could be many Piper Aircraft. This occurred on a relatively low time aircraft.

My practice has been to mark Spinners and Backplates with tape to assure orientation going on is same as coming off. It seems this occurred for a couple reasons.

1. The Spinner has the metal fold in 2 conditions.

The side pictured does not have the folded lip extend far enough to act as a doubler.

The side not pictured does have the folded lip extend as a doubler and is not cracked.

2. When putting the Spinner in place I noticed the screws on the cracked side would pull down the Spinner and it would distort slightly. It seems that all of the attaching brackets did not contact the Spinner simultaneously.
I have no idea if the hardened brackets are original but it seems that a shim may be needed in some cases. Possibly due to the doubler being present on only one side?

 

[Gary Ward]

The spinner on my 172 is spun aluminum, one thickness. First thing I did when buying my plane was polish the spinner. lol Used aircraft paint stripper to remove the paint. Then started with 400 wet sanding. One grit per night, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, 1500 and then 2000. My wife was not amused and neither was the dog.

Then screwed it on and polished it. Did just the tip with my hands.

It is not as good as real polished spinner as this one had filler under the paint to fill in the marks from making it but good enough for me.

Did it at the same time I cleaned up my tables in the hangar.

I am a polisher from way back.