scooter DPV prop speed

[Dectek]

I don't know too much about these things. The literature on the different units say how fast they will go but what kind of rpms are they spinning?

I hear of stopping a run-away by putting your hand in the prop.

I would appreciate general information on these things..or better yet if there is an on-line owner's manual from one of the manufactures.

I don't think I even have the use of a scooter but my interest has been awakened.

[Uncle Pug]

Dectek once bubbled...
I hear of stopping a run-away by putting your hand in the prop.

You would only want to do this with a scooter that had a correctly set prop clutch. :D

You can read the Gavin manual
online (http://www.gavinscooters.com/owners_manual.htm) or download to acrobat reader.

[Dectek]

I will have to look at other sires than gavin for some specs on these things.
I just thought somebody my have a ballpark on rpms.

[roturner]

Dectek once bubbled...
I will have to look at other sires than gavin for some specs on these things.
I just thought somebody my have a ballpark on rpms.

They vary. Ballpark speeds are between 750-1500 rpm.

R..

[tholt576]

It sounds like a bad idea to me. I've only used a DPV once, but there is a lot of torque behind that prop. Speed isn't the issue really, it's the fact that the prop isn't going to stop when you put your hand in. Besides, the DPV I used had a prop guard that I don't think I could have gotten more than a finger into.

[Conor]

This strikes me as a bad thing to do, even if one DPV does automatically cut off, I wouldn't want to develop that habit, cos you never know it'll work until you try it.

You could always do the DPV specialty if you are interested, I did and it was a really good laugh.

[Dectek]

Define a lot of torque. Without knowing the specs for a unit that statement can not be taken as reliable information.

As far as a prop guard not allowing your fingers in.... I am assuming that you did not have an adjustable clutch or any way to change the pitch of the prop.


I don't think that anyone wants to make a steady habit of using their hand as a prop break. I had a couple of questions raised in my mind and thought I would start looking at DPVs a little closer.

[Uncle Pug]

Standard proceedure in the case of a runaway... stop the prop & turn the pitch to the lowest setting.

But don't try it with a scooter that does not have a clutch.

Gavin scooters have a prop clutch that is set to slip the moment anything other than water hits the blades. This not only allows you to stop the prop by hand but also protects the motor should anything hit or get caught in the prop.

[Conor]

If you are talking about a runaway then the catch is that 'something' has failed in the mechanism so I would not want to stick my hand in to find out. I might try and foul it with something else if none of the other options worked. The only DPVs I have used were recreational ones and had no mechanism that I was aware of that would allow me to safely stick my hand in there.

If I remember correctly the reccomended things to do with a run away are;
ride it out, if it is safe to do so
Stick its nose in the sand and let the battery die
point it towards shore and let go

I remember fouling the prop being mentioned but can't remember if it was the last thing on the list of 'to do's or the first on the list of 'don't do's

[Uncle Pug]

fouling the prop would be waaay down the list.

Again... only a scooter with a properly set clutch can be safely stopped this way.

The original poster:

I hear of stopping a run-away by putting your hand in the prop.

This is what I was speaking to.

[Conor]

Sorry Up

Was writing my previous reply while you were writing yours.

Apologies, I was unaware of the clutch mechanism in the Gavin Scooters

[Uncle Pug]

Conor once bubbled...
Sorry Up
You brought up a good point.... not all scooters have a prop clutch.

[Dectek]

Dectek once bubbled...
As far as a prop guard not allowing your fingers in.... I am assuming that you did not have an adjustable clutch or any way to change the pitch of the prop.


It is funny that the thread ran in this direction. The main reason for the Original post was because I was curios as to what the RPMs were on there average or ANY DPV.:poking:

Actually you can stop a lot of spinning things like fan blades with your hands if you get the right angle and it has no burrs to get you while you are using friction to slow the thinks down. (Work Experience)

Ever see that guy that stops a 19 in. house fan with his tongue?
That was a David Letterman's Stupid People Tricks stunt.
:stupid:

[tholt576]

Dectek once bubbled...
Define a lot of torque. Without knowing the specs for a unit that statement can not be taken as reliable information.

As far as a prop guard not allowing your fingers in.... I am assuming that you did not have an adjustable clutch or any way to change the pitch of the prop.


I don't think that anyone wants to make a steady habit of using their hand as a prop break. I had a couple of questions raised in my mind and thought I would start looking at DPVs a little closer.

Any prop that can pull you along at a rate of 3 knots or more has got to have enough torque to move enough water to overcome your hydrodynamic resistance. This is a significant amount of torque. If you have, as Uncle Pug suggests, a "properly adjusted clutch" you may pull your hand away with no damage to your digits. But if your clutch is not properly adjusted or if you have no clutch at all you're going to get hurt. It just sounds like a dangerous idea to me.