Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

[Texasmark]

I know that you're bored to death with the Ballistic senario. So here's a new twist.<br /><br />I didn't like the clutch racket (banging and clanging at idle in gear) on the high pitch SS props that I have discussed several times.<br /><br />In talking with the local Merc Tech, he said that the weight of the SS was a significant part of it........hmmmmmm sounds like get rid of the weight.<br /><br />So I have been looking for a suitable Alum to reduce the weight and the clatter....it can't be good for the lower unit even though Merc says it's ok.<br /><br />So after lots and lots of effort, today I stumble across a thing called Hustler, for sale herein. Seems like a dream come true with specs and price and all....you gotta read the ad to see what I'm saying...After yakin with Dhaley and understanding that I had room for a 14 on my 90, I went to the 10 pages and walla!!!!!!<br /><br />But the kicker is, one of their attributes to this lightweight prop and super new hub is that it : "Eliminates clutch rattle common with competetive hubs". <br /><br />Geez, just hit a home run. Didn't know that it was so common that they had a catch phrase for it (but did hear that Merc had put out a service bulletin on it) "clutch rattle".....like in clutch dog, sliding up and the prop shaft popping in and out of gear.<br /><br />Well, after reading about a $100 price (includes hub, and replacement prop sections are only $71....wow), has vent holes for the hole shot, replaceable hub, high rake, mirror of hp SS props, (but it's aluminum and lighter), higher pitch progression, and cupped, heck, I think I died and went to heaven.<br /><br />Will be here next Friday and I will post on the performance.<br /><br />Later,<br /><br />Mark

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

The new Enertia weighs in about the same as most aluminum props with the new alloy... and, it's even tougher than 15-5 SS.

 

[cougar1985]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

very interesting.i wonder if its better than my vortex. might be worth it to try one.the one thing that scares me about stainless is around here if you hit anything its usually a rock and ive seen the damage first hand that incures on several ocassions with s/s. usually broken gear cases.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

I've seen gearcases blow apart from aluminum prop strikes too...it's not as common as one would think...in most cases, the gearcase has been neglected to begin with and made it "look" as though the SS prop caused the problem..

 

[cougar1985]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

i serious . i live in northern ontario and a friend owns a prop repair business and ive see the damage from rock strikes time after time. personally id use a s/s because im familar with the area but even so over the years because of lack of snowfall the lakes are getting lower an more and more rocks are coming in range of our beloved boats. his bussines is swamped with the wreakage of our boo, boos.not to say that it cant happen with al. but the fact remains that the vast majority are s/s .

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

Kenny, I'm about $750 into props for a boat that I only paid $6000ish for, currently. If this one works out, I'm through. On the Enertia, if it's a miracle metal, I'd bet it has a corresponding price.<br /><br />Here it only costs me $71 for a new prop if I trash this one....can reuse the old hub.<br /><br />Cougar,<br /><br />Agree on the rocks and if I lived around them, which I did once, I would not run SS either. I realize that you can still blow a lower unit, but chances are a lot less and the cost difference as you know are staggering....that's why I'm scrapping my SS (I think) to get rid of the cltuch dog rattle. Figure if it does hurt things down there, I'm going to be out a couple of k in repairs and I don't like the sound of that.<br /><br />Mark

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

Mark, there are 1000's of owners out there that will not settle for "OK" performance.<br />We tear the hell out of SS props on the rocks in our shocker boats, but they last 10 times as long as aluminum and not yet in 9 years have we had any gearcases problems. some tend to forget the SS has a soft, ruber sleeve in the hub to let loose as well and often lets go before an aluminum will.<br />Cougar, the gearcases are likely damaged because that's the part that hit first, THEN the prop hits. I've been down this road for 20+ years now, and the gearcase failures are not always prop related, but the prop gets trashed as a result.

 

[Boilermaker]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

Originally posted by walleyehed:<br /> <br />Cougar, the gearcases are likely damaged because that's the part that hit first, THEN the prop hits. I've been down this road for 20+ years now, and the gearcase failures are not always prop related, but the prop gets trashed as a result.

Yea>>I was wondering how the heck all these guys are hitting rocks with their props>>>but their lower units are all OK???<br /> On the North Shore of Long Island, Its ALL ROCKS. Some bolders as big as your house lie just off shore & are where the fish are ;-)<br />I've seen plenty of trashed props & just as many gear cases with big holes in them>>>never asked if it was because they hit with a Stainless Steel prop

 

[cougar1985]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

kenny i suppose this arguement could go on forever as theres pros and cons for both. all im saying is ive seen it first hand more times than i like. and on pretty well every one the hub did not fail as it should of .one for s/s. i was running slow in a river other day and hit log and when i checked zero damage atall.hit log at same slow speed with al. and i bent all 3 blade,luckilly they were easily fixed. they both have their places,not all of us run performance boats either.any ways enough said from me or this could end up like the bayliner bashing thread and go on for ever.lol.from what ive seen up here if your good at it which my buddy is prop repair and lowerunit fixing is a good and steady bussiness.for myself this year is the first time ive hit anything in 20 years,and if all i get is a bent prop out of the deal i bonused.hope my luck hold for another 20.and your too ,everybody.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

Hey, no problem...I just want people to know it's "NOT ALWAYS" the SS prop.

 

[cougar1985]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

hey texasmark did you get the prop?how did it work?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

Sorry Cougar for missiing this. I posted the report. I'll bump it up right behind this.

Thanks,

Mark

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

I should mention that the rattle isn't the gearcase popping into and out of gear. Crankshaft rotation isn't nearly as steady as it looks. It slows down when the piston builds compression and really flies when it sparks only to slow back down for the next compression, etc. The propeller is acting as a flywheel and once in motion tends to stay in motion. The heavier it is, the more it likes to stay moving. The clatter comes when the driveshaft slows along with the crankshaft and the cogs on the shifter back-off the cogs on the gear. When the gas ingites, the cogs slam back together and make the noise. It only is noticable at low speeds, usually idling around. The heavier the prop, the louder the noise. It's also seems to be a 2-stroke problem only. 4-stroke crankshafts apparently run much smoother, and I can see why with only 1 power stroke every 4 instead of every 2.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Okaye; a new twist to an old topic

Willy, I totally agree. We (several of us on the forum) discussed this in detail a week or two ago. Got into a discussion as to how effective an outboard's flywheel was in smoothing out these impulses. I remain with the contention that the flywheel is too light to effectively eliminate the pulses...others disagree.

Agree on it only occuring at idle in gear with a high pitched heavy (like a big SS) prop.

Don't agree on your reasoning between 2 and 4 strokers. I think the 4 stroker fires more evenly and therein lies their inherent smoothness. Their bangs are farther apart allowing more time for this slowing down you are talking about which should make the bang of the cylinder firing more pronounced......but the 4's hit every time and my 2 misses some at idle when I first go out.

My engine is only 3 cylinders and at idle it jumps around a lot. My last engine was a tower and smooth as silk. I'm convinced that if I had a 6 cyl engine we wouldn't be having this discussion and on the flip side, can't emagine what it would be like if I had a 2 cyl 2 cy.

The mechanic at the nearest Merc dealer agreed that the weight played a significant role in it and in my recent testing with a Hustler alum prop it almost was non-existant.

Apparently Merc did some testing and sent out a service bulletin stating that it's not hurting anything. I tend to agree as every time you (anybody) are blasting across the lake and shut her down, the prop is still screwing through the water while the engine is down at idle and the dog has to be rattling it's buns off cause the drive shaft (and forward gear) is following the rpm of the engine......you just can't hear it. This is surely the reason for the slipclutch in the dog in the first place.

Thanks,

Mark