400R Eating Props

[sim]

Sim,
I'm very open to trying whatever you got and if your around tomorrow or Wednesday, I may try to squeeze a few hours on the Delaware Maybe I can do a trial program with your stockIf I break it I bought it...

Thanks for the invite. I wish I could take you up on it but I've gotta work.
If you wanna swing by Princeton tonight you're welcome to try a few blades I've got sitting around the garage. There's a mirage 3 blade in a 23, a tro4 4 blade in a 26, a mirage+ 3 blade in a 27 and some anonymous 4 blade that has no identifying marks on it except AO.
I've no idea. I'm pretty certain it's the one atc borrowed to try on his 250 a while back. As I recall he was none too impressed.
You're also welcome to try a 3 blade laser in a 25 which I keep in the boat as a backup should my main prop (24p Bravo) run away from home.
You've got my phone #. Let me know.
Not worried about you breaking them. They're just collecting dust.
We're probably going out on Saturday.

 

[Hayabusa]

Are you feeling any vibration while running? You may want to check your propshaft with a dial gage and make sure it's straight.....just a thought...

Good thinking, on my 400R i run my 6 props, Bravo's, worked Bravo's a Tempsts + & the Blaster & range from 21" to 26" pitch on all props except the Blaster i get a vibration that i feel in the steering wheel (some more some less) both on the acceleration side & deceleration side & all do it in the 1500 to 2500 rpm range + or - the Blaster vibrates cause of cavitation & the 6500 rpms it spins to till it gets on plane & don't feel it much at the wheel on the decel side i feel it occasionally depending how it comes of plane & at what rpm, i have talked to a few prop experts & some seem to think it could be a low pressure wave on the back side of blade, exhaust pulse, harmonic vibration, out of balance, lot of theories & ideas that i have no way of testing, funny thing though non of theses props vibrate or do anything strange on my 300 Pro that i swaped out & tested, i will check for an out of round prop shaft.

 

[ChuckB]

Thanks for the invite. I wish I could take you up on it but I've gotta work.
If you wanna swing by Princeton tonight you're welcome to try a few blades I've got sitting around the garage. There's a mirage 3 blade in a 23, a tro4 4 blade in a 26, a mirage+ 3 blade in a 27 and some anonymous 4 blade that has no identifying marks on it except AO.
I've no idea. I'm pretty certain it's the one atc borrowed to try on his 250 a while back. As I recall he was none too impressed.
You're also welcome to try a 3 blade laser in a 25 which I keep in the boat as a backup should my main prop (24p Bravo) run away from home.
You've got my phone #. Let me know.
Not worried about you breaking them. They're just collecting dust.
We're probably going out on Saturday.

Thanks for the prop options Sim If I manage to get out on Saturday, I'll give you a call. The 3 blade 25p laser would probably be the best match for top end and light load.

 

[ChuckB]

Good thinking, on my 400R i run my 6 props, Bravo's, worked Bravo's a Tempsts + & the Blaster & range from 21" to 26" pitch on all props except the Blaster i get a vibration that i feel in the steering wheel (some more some less) both on the acceleration side & deceleration side & all do it in the 1500 to 2500 rpm range + or - the Blaster vibrates cause of cavitation & the 6500 rpms it spins to till it gets on plane & don't feel it much at the wheel on the decel side i feel it occasionally depending how it comes of plane & at what rpm, i have talked to a few prop experts & some seem to think it could be a low pressure wave on the back side of blade, exhaust pulse, harmonic vibration, out of balance, lot of theories & ideas that i have no way of testing, funny thing though non of theses props vibrate or do anything strange on my 300 Pro that i swaped out & tested, i will check for an out of round prop shaft.

Good points JUP and Hayabusa. The only vibration I ever felt was when the prop started to crack. I felt some vibration immediately and that was when the crack was small before it started to grow when I limped back to the dock.

When I tried the blaster I felt the same vibrations you did but it mellowed out at speed. When that prop broke I also felt more vibration immediately.

JUP - Can you elaborate more about using a dial gage to check the trueness of the shaft. I will look online to see where I would purchase it. It makes sense to me to rule out the shaft.

 

[WILDMAN]

I ran Blasters on my 30 Liberator. Broke a blade in the same spot with 8 hours on it. Thought it would be covered but they said they only have a 6 month warrantee. I run 300xs motors.

 

[ChuckB]

Prop Killer

Here we go again... Just broke/cracked prop #3. New Bravo 1 FS 24p with less than 10 hours on it. I purchased it from Teague Marine in Oct/Nov last year and will give them a call tomorrow to see what they think.

I guess three props and I'm out...







The good in this, is my son enjoyed himself fishing at the dock while I was smart enough to carry a spare prop and socket wrench to swap out

 

[Budman]

That is one happy boy.
He'll understand the prop thing later

 

[Gimme Fuel]

Have you tried a Hydromotive? They are significantly beefier than Merc props.

 

[ontherocks83]

what did bblades end up saying last year? Did he ever get back to you?

Could it be that you're running it out of the water and the blade just isn't made to be a surface runner?

 

[ChuckB]

Have you tried a Hydromotive? They are significantly beefier than Merc props.

I have not tried a Hydromotive yet but will check them out.

 

[ChuckB]

what did bblades end up saying last year? Did he ever get back to you?

Could it be that you're running it out of the water and the blade just isn't made to be a surface runner?

Last year I broke the trial blaster and did not have to pay for that BUT I did have to pay for the OB/F. They weren't sure if it was stressed or that I hit something. I'm pretty sure it was overly stressed because I didn't see signs of damage that could be caused by debris. I was running it high but I guess a little too high and the prop wasn't designed to handle surfacing stresses.

 

[Hayabusa]

Hey Chuck, wow curious situation you have, last year i ran aground pretty good during Lobster mini season in the Fla Keys while i was running my 24 OB/F, stressed it out pretty good but didn't break a blade & also before that i would run it hard & surfacing on long WOT runs & has held up very good as well as my 2 Blaster & those i really hammer, i wonder if any body else running these engines on this or other forums have reported similar situations, when i run the Bravos, OB/F or other through hub props i notice a slight vibration in the steering wheel both on the acceleration side & decel side in the 1700 to 2300 rpm range but haven't broken anything yet, i've changed gear lube viscocity, sent props out for balancing & no change, put a dial gage on the shaft & she's straight & true, talked to a few prop experts & opinions vary from cup shape, balancing, pressure pulses, exhaust pulses you name it & nothing has broken, you haven't felt vibrations like mine & yet you've had prop problems go figure, not to worry soon enough it'll be figured out

 

[ezstriper]

is there any signs of blueing ? that show overheating. but like others its simply riding on the tip of the blade and can't handle the load. Back in my old drag boat days this was ongoing problem as we broke blades regularly. I would try one with more blades to reduce the load..

 

[keith4216]

maybe its time to look outside the norm. Herring props. $$$$$$

 

[corey331]

Might be worth looking into...

http://speedonthewater.com/new-boat...acing-unveils-max5-propellers-at-desert-storm

 

[ChuckB]

Good find! I will definitely check that out when it comes on the market. Maybe instead of Teague sending me a replacement Bravo 1 FS, I can spend some more money on one of these

 

[keith4216]

Might be easier on prop if you go twin 400's

 

[knarloid]

Good find! I will definitely check that out when it comes on the market. Maybe instead of Teague sending me a replacement Bravo 1 FS, I can spend some more money on one of these

Or slow down.

Second thoughts, listen to Keith.

 

[PA-Checkmate]

Karma... telling you only need 3 blade props(LOL). Sorry, just had to say that



Interested in the final result of failure.

 

[karzrus]

At $2000+for those Max 5 props, they better not throw a blade and you are going to want to get the pitch you need, right the first time.