<p>You don't need to hold it with a tool, it's enough to pinch it with your fingers. Using a tool to hold it increases the risk of damaging the threads if you are not careful. </p>

<p>But I can understand if you want to use a tool to simplify things, and in that case the other answers are good. Just remember to be careful.</p>

<p>Some examples of how I like to hold:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/n1PSG.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/n1PSG.jpg" alt="Example 1"></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XYb1d.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XYb1d.jpg" alt="Example 2"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-21T13:46:05.853Z
This method has always worked for me except for very small motors. Only downside is I've cut my hands a couple times. Some brands of props are SUPER sharp!
QuadMcFly
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-01T15:39:11.357Z
If this doesn't work, it probably means that the hole in the prop is undersize, which causes extra stress in the hub. It's worth running a 5mm drill through the prop. Not only will the nut tighten up more easily, but the prop should last longer.
Robin Bennett
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T15:14:09.257Z
Well, holding the motor with one's fingers is definitely the first thing one would try. However when I tried that with my newly-built 5" quadcopter I found I can't pinch the motor hard enough with my fingers even to just be able to thread the nylock nut onto the shaft, nevermind actually tightening it agains the prop. So while your answer sounds reasonable, for me it doesn't solve the problem. If you know of some _special_ way of grabbing with your fingers that's superior to pinching, though, telling about that would be appreciated.
FlashCactus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T15:22:00.827Z
@FlashCactus try wrapping your index finger around the bell and pressing in with your thumb, that’s what works for me.
Drones and Whatnot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T15:38:43.823Z
I've added some examples
Hannes Hultergård
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T15:39:53.140Z
Hey, you're using the same motors _and_ props as mine! 
Thanks, I'll try holding them that way next time.
FlashCactus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T15:43:17.370Z
Haha, what a conference! And remember that it gets easier the more you use the nut, since the nylon has to deform the first time.
Hannes Hultergård
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T15:03:17.833Z
2020-04-19T15:32:10.030Z
2020-04-19T15:32:10.030Z
Hannes Hultergård
<p>There are commercially-available tools that are designed to grab around the bell using a rubber band, like this one:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/jCH5d.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jCH5d.jpg" alt="The tool"></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/19Qca.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/19Qca.jpg" alt="The tool in action"></a></p>

<p>However I felt that it's a fair bit too expensive for what it is.</p>

<p>So I made my own, molded specifically for my motors' size:
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/mbVUQ.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/mbVUQ.png" alt="My tool - open"></a>
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/AfTKF.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AfTKF.png" alt="My tool - in use"></a>
It grabs the motor well (especially thanks to the teeth), but it's quite bulky and motor-specific, so I'm still in search of a more compact and universal solution. Also, I'm quite sure there are other tricks that people use to grab their motors that I don't know of.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T14:26:51.633Z
2020-04-19T14:26:51.633Z
FlashCactus
<p>For field portable answers, shoving an asparagus rubber band either in the back of a prop wrench, or in a kit with whatever you use to hold onto trickier bells.  Dedicated tools are nice, but it's the kind of thing that even when racing, I'll seldom use a bell holding wrench, but a rubber band is always with me.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-05T14:31:14.423Z
2020-05-05T14:31:14.423Z
Tehllama
<p>These beverage openers work perfectly, and are very cheap.</p>
<p>You can get them e.g. from <a href="https://www.collectionsetc.com/products/pepsi-heritage-3-in-1-beverage-opener-with-grip" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/DnyNN.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DnyNN.jpg" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br />
(<a href="https://www.collectionsetc.com/globalassets/products/49675/49675_main_mr1k.jpg?width=462" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-03T10:49:57.560Z
I got mine as a stocking stuffer, but can be found online if searching for 'pepsi heritage 3 in 1'. e.g., https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newegg.com/amp/p/0ER-0088-00005.
tchthsky
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-02T08:31:00.333Z
2022-12-23T20:06:46.680Z
2022-12-23T20:06:46.680Z
tchthsky
<p>There are also motor bell pliers available at many shops in case you don't have a printer. They are like this:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/xAMyF.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/xAMyF.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-05-01T15:25:51.123Z
2020-05-01T15:25:51.123Z
3k-
<p>You know those rubber wristbands that are given out at lots of events?</p>

<p>You can wrap one of those around the motor bell to get better purchase on it, and then torque down the prop nut.</p>

<p>There are also specialised tools to hold motor bells, such as the one pictured below which can be found <a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3425525" rel="noreferrer">here</a>, on Thingiverse.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/PrPeZ.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/PrPeZ.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T15:54:52.310Z
+1 for promoting my design:)
Michał Trybus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T15:56:43.117Z
@MichałTrybus it’s a great design - thanks for sharing it on Thingiverse! :)
Drones and Whatnot
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-04-19T14:08:31.767Z
2020-04-19T14:08:31.767Z
Drones and Whatnot
<p>Almost all of the brushless motors used in hobby-grade multirotors have a single threaded shaft and rely only on friction between the propeller and motor to keep the prop from slipping. This means that the nuts holding the propeller down must be tightened with considerable force. </p>

<p>When I try to do this, however, while I have a good grip on the nut (via a wrench), I can't hold on to the motor itself very well to keep it from spinning together with the nut, and if I try to hold on to the propeller, it cuts me with its sharp edges. <strong>What are the available tools and/or techniques that can aid in keeping the motor still while tightening or undoing the prop nut?</strong></p>

<motor><multirotor><brushless-motors><propellers><tools>
How does one hold the motor bell still when tightening prop nuts?
FlashCactus
# How does one hold the motor bell still when tightening prop nuts?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-04-19)

Almost all of the brushless motors used in hobby-grade multirotors have a single threaded shaft and rely only on friction between the propeller and motor to keep the prop from slipping. This means that the nuts holding the propeller down must be tightened with considerable force.

When I try to do this, however, while I have a good grip on the nut (via a wrench), I can't hold on to the motor itself very well to keep it from spinning together with the nut, and if I try to hold on to the propeller, it cuts me with its sharp edges. **What are the available tools and/or techniques that can aid in keeping the motor still while tightening or undoing the prop nut?**

**Tags:** motor, multirotor, brushless-motors, propellers, tools


---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2020-04-19. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

You know those rubber wristbands that are given out at lots of events?

You can wrap one of those around the motor bell to get better purchase on it, and then torque down the prop nut.

There are also specialised tools to hold motor bells, such as the one pictured below which can be found [here](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3425525), on Thingiverse.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/PrPeZ.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/PrPeZ.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: +1 for promoting my design:)  
> **username_4**: @username_8 it’s a great design - thanks for sharing it on Thingiverse! :)  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2020-04-19. Score: 5

You don't need to hold it with a tool, it's enough to pinch it with your fingers. Using a tool to hold it increases the risk of damaging the threads if you are not careful.

But I can understand if you want to use a tool to simplify things, and in that case the other answers are good. Just remember to be careful.

Some examples of how I like to hold:
[![Example 1](https://i.sstatic.net/n1PSG.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/n1PSG.jpg)
[![Example 2](https://i.sstatic.net/XYb1d.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/XYb1d.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Well, holding the motor with one's fingers is definitely the first thing one would try. However when I tried that with my newly-built 5" quadcopter I found I can't pinch the motor hard enough with my fingers even to just be able to thread the nylock nut onto the shaft, nevermind actually tightening it agains the prop. So while your answer sounds reasonable, for me it doesn't solve the problem. If you know of some _special_ way of grabbing with your fingers that's superior to pinching, though, telling about that would be appreciated.  
> **username_4**: @username_0 try wrapping your index finger around the bell and pressing in with your thumb, that’s what works for me.  
> **username_1**: I've added some examples  
> **username_0**: Hey, you're using the same motors _and_ props as mine!  Thanks, I'll try holding them that way next time.  
> **username_1**: Haha, what a conference! And remember that it gets easier the more you use the nut, since the nylon has to deform the first time.  
> **username_2**: This method has always worked for me except for very small motors. Only downside is I've cut my hands a couple times. Some brands of props are SUPER sharp!  
> **username_3**: If this doesn't work, it probably means that the hole in the prop is undersize, which causes extra stress in the hub. It's worth running a 5mm drill through the prop. Not only will the nut tighten up more easily, but the prop should last longer.  

---

### Answer by username_0 on 2020-04-19. Score: 5

There are commercially-available tools that are designed to grab around the bell using a rubber band, like this one:
[![The tool](https://i.sstatic.net/jCH5d.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/jCH5d.jpg)
[![The tool in action](https://i.sstatic.net/19Qca.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/19Qca.jpg)

However I felt that it's a fair bit too expensive for what it is.

So I made my own, molded specifically for my motors' size:
[![My tool - open](https://i.sstatic.net/mbVUQ.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/mbVUQ.png)
[![My tool - in use](https://i.sstatic.net/AfTKF.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/AfTKF.png)
It grabs the motor well (especially thanks to the teeth), but it's quite bulky and motor-specific, so I'm still in search of a more compact and universal solution. Also, I'm quite sure there are other tricks that people use to grab their motors that I don't know of.


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2020-05-05. Score: 1

For field portable answers, shoving an asparagus rubber band either in the back of a prop wrench, or in a kit with whatever you use to hold onto trickier bells. Dedicated tools are nice, but it's the kind of thing that even when racing, I'll seldom use a bell holding wrench, but a rubber band is always with me.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2020-05-02. Score: 1

These beverage openers work perfectly, and are very cheap.

You can get them e.g. from [here](https://www.collectionsetc.com/products/pepsi-heritage-3-in-1-beverage-opener-with-grip).

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/DnyNN.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/DnyNN.jpg)  
([source](https://www.collectionsetc.com/globalassets/products/49675/49675_main_mr1k.jpg?width=462))

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: I got mine as a stocking stuffer, but can be found online if searching for 'pepsi heritage 3 in 1'. e.g., https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newegg.com/amp/p/0ER-0088-00005.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2020-05-01. Score: 1

There are also motor bell pliers available at many shops in case you don't have a printer. They are like this:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/xAMyF.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/xAMyF.jpg)


---

