'94 "rude 20 HP test wheel

[Mas]

I've got a test wheel...but not a test tank. At last resort, I can do my tune-ups at the dock...but can I get away with a large garbage can or similar?

MAS

 

[wilde1j]

Re: '94 "rude 20 HP test wheel

If your boat is trailered, just back down the ramp until the water is well above the cav plate and let it rip with the prop. I wouldn't bother with a test wheel w/o a decent test tank. You could also use the test wheel at the dock with the boat properly restrained.

 

[Mas]

Re: '94 "rude 20 HP test wheel

...no trailer! :-(

Also,

1) Does a test wheel produce any thrust? From the vanes...it seems like it might.

2) It seems like a bear to fit a cotter pin through the nut with my test wheel on. It seems prudent to do so, but what is the practice? My particular wheel has about a 6 inch through-hub exhaust extension past the nut!


MAS

 

[wilde1j]

Re: '94 "rude 20 HP test wheel

1) not much
2) why bother if you can test tied to a dock or on a trailer?

 

[F_R]

Re: '94 "rude 20 HP test wheel

A test wheel does produce a surprising amount of thrust....enough to get you wet from a garbage can. It is better than the regular prop in the can, but not much. It stirs up so much commotion in the can that it can't grab solid water to put a load on the motor and the motor will over-rev. However, a test wheel on the boat tied to the dock is the "poor-man's dynamometer" The motor should rev up to the rated WOT RPM with it, if it is putting out the horsepower that it should. Not so with the regular prop.

EDIT: About the cotter pin: You do need to secure the nut, but you don't have to do it with a cotter pin. A long L-shaped piece of wire that you can stick through the hole and give the leg a tweak so it won't fall out will work. Who cares if it sticks out of the snout a few inches?

 

[Mas]

Re: '94 "rude 20 HP test wheel

1)
2) why bother if you can test tied to a dock or on a trailer?

Well, I'm thinking that if the nut works loose, a spinning hub will damage my shaft splines or??? I'm thinking that I cannot get a nut easily on and wasn't going to try, but I just wanted to make sure from a pro!

MAS