Shrike starter catch

There have been occasional discussions on this forum before about this little part that sits behind the prop and is used to hook the starter spring onto it. It prevents having to stretch it out further onto the prop and damage the trailing edge when winding it up. Here's a close up along with its corresponding prop shaft. The etched lines are only on one side and when installed with them facing out it is oriented properly for use with the left hand starter spring.

I have a Green Shrike I restored which fortunately was complete and has the catch. I also have a yellow one without it. Bummer.


I found a lazer cutting shop that specializes in precision work with aluminum and steel about eight miles from me, so I decided to take the part and drove out there last Thursday. They said they could do it so I left the part with them and one week later I received ten units. Very pleased with their work and they have the program on file. Here's a Pic with the original on the left, a repro in the middle, and another repro that I took 400 wet or dry paper with oil to smooth out the rough surfaces on both sides for asthetics ( although it wouldn't affect it either way ). The etched lines are not in it and is neither here nor there as far as practical use. The original thickness is .042 whereas the new ones are .045 because that's the thinnest aluminum they had on hand. Works fine.

The other eight units

Here is my new reproduction installed on the yellow Shrike. It functions just fine like the original.

All in all I got an excellent reproduction that fits and functions like the original.