help with setup please

[-1boat]

I have an '89 Stratos 201 PRO single console with a GT200 Johnson with a 5" manual jack plate. I have been sorting out a few engine problems, and I got to take it out on the water today. Now I think that I either still have motor problems, or I am over propped.

It has a 4 blade 13 3/4 x 24 Stainless Steel Turbo (brand?) prop. From what I have read this should be about right, and should get mid 60's top end.

Right now topped out with a normal load in the boat, I get 56 (downstream) measured by GPS. The engine is turning about 5200 rpms at WOT.

The holeshot is HORRIBLE. Seems to take forever to get her up on plane. The engine doesn't seem to be lugging at all when taking off. Just doesn't pop out of the water like I think it should.

I thought I may have a spun hub, maybe? Raise the engine on the plate? Prop too big? Engine still not running like it should?

This boat is new to me and has been sitting awhile. So I don't know how it used to run when all was good with the engine and everything. Today was the first time I have actually had it on the water running full tilt.

Any advice you could give, please let me have it. Where would you start.

Thank you all!!

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: help with setup please

I have an '89 Stratos 201 PRO single console with a GT200 Johnson with a 5" manual jack plate. I have been sorting out a few engine problems, and I got to take it out on the water today. Now I think that I either still have motor problems, or I am over propped.

Is the jack plate a 5" setback or 5" lift ?
With the bottom of the hull level, and the Anti-Vent Plate level, where in relation to the bottom of the hull is the anti-vent plate ( inches above or below).

Reading your previous post " 200 GT won't run in water ", I'm not sure all engine problems are sorted out.

It has a 4 blade 13 3/4 x 24 Stainless Steel Turbo (brand?) prop. From what I have read this should be about right, and should get mid 60's top end.

This is a very good prop, should be close to what you might want.

Right now topped out with a normal load in the boat, I get 56 (downstream) measured by GPS. The engine is turning about 5200 rpms at WOT.

If your tach is accurate, this would give you approx. 15% slip, not to bad but might have room for improvement.

When testing WOT it is best if you can find a place on the river about a mile and a half (or more) long that allows you to fine tune your trim to achieve max speed. Trim with small amounts until your speed reaches max, then read your RPM's. Slow down and turn around , repeat going the other way. Average the speed, the RPM's should be the same.

The holeshot is HORRIBLE. Seems to take forever to get her up on plane. The engine doesn't seem to be lugging at all when taking off. Just doesn't pop out of the water like I think it should.

Is the motor winding up, is the bow coming up ?
How are you setting your trim for take off, all the way down/in ?

I thought I may have a spun hub, maybe? Raise the engine on the plate? Prop too big? Engine still not running like it should?

Easy enough to check. Do you have a rubber hub or a XHS like a flo-torq ?
Place a mark, with a felt tip, pen on the hub and the barrel of the prop in a straight line, go run it hard. If it is slipping the marks will no longer line up.

This boat is new to me and has been sitting awhile. So I don't know how it used to run when all was good with the engine and everything. Today was the first time I have actually had it on the water running full tilt.

If you have not done so yet, I would clean and rebuild the carbs with OEM kits, re-link and sync, check max advance per Joe Reeves method, Verify the tach, and re-test with procedure outlined above.

Please post results.

If I can't help there are others on here that can.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: help with setup please

At 5200 it's to be expected that the holeshot is not great. You're 1000 rpm short of where you could be. If you're having running issues make sure that's fixed before you start on set up.

 

[-1boat]

Re: help with setup please

I have an '89 Stratos 201 PRO single console with a GT200 Johnson with a 5" manual jack plate. I have been sorting out a few engine problems, and I got to take it out on the water today. Now I think that I either still have motor problems, or I am over propped.

Is the jack plate a 5" setback or 5" lift ?
With the bottom of the hull level, and the Anti-Vent Plate level, where in relation to the bottom of the hull is the anti-vent plate ( inches above or below).

Reading your previous post " 200 GT won't run in water ", I'm not sure all engine problems are sorted out.

It has a 4 blade 13 3/4 x 24 Stainless Steel Turbo (brand?) prop. From what I have read this should be about right, and should get mid 60's top end.

This is a very good prop, should be close to what you might want.

Right now topped out with a normal load in the boat, I get 56 (downstream) measured by GPS. The engine is turning about 5200 rpms at WOT.

If your tach is accurate, this would give you approx. 15% slip, not to bad but might have room for improvement.

When testing WOT it is best if you can find a place on the river about a mile and a half (or more) long that allows you to fine tune your trim to achieve max speed. Trim with small amounts until your speed reaches max, then read your RPM's. Slow down and turn around , repeat going the other way. Average the speed, the RPM's should be the same.

The holeshot is HORRIBLE. Seems to take forever to get her up on plane. The engine doesn't seem to be lugging at all when taking off. Just doesn't pop out of the water like I think it should.

Is the motor winding up, is the bow coming up ?
How are you setting your trim for take off, all the way down/in ?

I thought I may have a spun hub, maybe? Raise the engine on the plate? Prop too big? Engine still not running like it should?

Easy enough to check. Do you have a rubber hub or a XHS like a flo-torq ?
Place a mark, with a felt tip, pen on the hub and the barrel of the prop in a straight line, go run it hard. If it is slipping the marks will no longer line up.

This boat is new to me and has been sitting awhile. So I don't know how it used to run when all was good with the engine and everything. Today was the first time I have actually had it on the water running full tilt.

If you have not done so yet, I would clean and rebuild the carbs with OEM kits, re-link and sync, check max advance per Joe Reeves method, Verify the tach, and re-test with procedure outlined above.

Please post results.

If I can't help there are others on here that can.

Thank you for your reply.

I have not yet measured the vent plate in relation to the bottom of the hull yet, I'll do that in the a.m.

I used the Reeves method to set up my timing, but it ended up very retarded at an idle once I got it running, so it may be retarded on the WOT end as well. Not sure how to accurately check WOT timing SAFELY while on the water? Feedback on that would help greatly, as I think this could be a major part of the problem. I haven't taken the carbs off and given them a proper rebuild, I may do that soon as well.

I have marked the prop hub as you stated, and if I get a chance tomorrow, I'll see if she's spun.

As far as trim while taking off, I have it all the way in, then once up on plane, I trim out till it's at max top end. The motor is spinning up but never over-revs, and the bow is coming up, doesn't stand straight up but it's getting up.

The setback is 5" I'm not sure of lift, but I know its as low as it will go now, but the motor is bolted kind of high on the plate. If that makes any sense.

You say that there is room for improvement in regards of the slip. How can this be improved? What should the max WOT RPM be on this engine? How can I verify the tach?

Thanks again for your reply.

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: help with setup please

I'm with Dhadley on this one also. As I stated in the previous post " I'm not sure all the engine problems are sorted out ".

Since this appears to be more of a engine issue than a setup issue, start a new thread in the engine section describing your WOT problem.

But please do post your findings about the setup issue back here.

 

[-1boat]

Re: help with setup please

Just measured the A/V plate in relation to the bottom of the keel with everything level on the trailer. It is about 3 1/2" above the very bottom. It has a stepped transom and the A/V plate is about level with the top of the step.

That should be about right huh?

I wont get a chance to get back on the water for a few days, so I need to get a plan together, or at least a list of things to check while I am out there.

Thanks very much.

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: help with setup please

Leave the setup where it is, for now.
When we/you get the motor dialed in then we/you can dial in the setup.

" I need to get a plan together, or at least a list of things to check while I am out there. "

If you have an OEM Service Manual ( if not get one ) perform the Link and Sync procedure again just to confirm all is well. Check with the engine off that the butterflies are opening fully with the throttle lever on the control moved to max, they should be horizontal. if not adjust the WOT stop screw on the bottom of the throttle/advance lever. It should be outlined in the Service Manual.
Post these findings in the engine thread.
Good luck.

 

[-1boat]

Re: help with setup please

I rechecked my link & sync, as well as the timing. found the timing to be retarded still at WOT. I adjusted it to the recommended 18* while in the water.

I have gone through the carbs and cleaned and adjusted all floats. I am confident now the problem does not lie in those two aspects at least.

Any ways after doing that, my holeshot has much improved. I now get 5500 rpms @ wot, with top speed right about 60 mph gps averaged upstream and downstream.

I'm slowly getting there. I also marked the prop hub before I launched and sure enough it IS spun. When I checked the marks after I got back on the trailer, the marks were off by about 1/4 turn. You think that is all it spun, or just where it happened to stop? This doesn't help to explain the missing RPM's but could be a factor overall.

One last thing, not really setup related. Now when funning WOT, just about the time she gets wound out on the top end I get a warning alarm. Starts out as a slow beep---beep---beep then beeeeeeeeep till I lift the throttle. Is that a fuel restriction alarm or what. If so I still may have fuel delivery problems.

Any advice on where to go from here??

Thanks so much.

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: help with setup please

Take your prop to a prop shop and have the hub replaced.

On the last thing, Sounds like fuel restriction to me.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: help with setup please

Definately fuel restriction. Get that figured out so we don't have to look up piston part numbers.

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: help with setup please

Well put D.

 

[-1boat]

Re: help with setup please

Well, I'm having trouble finding a prop shop around here. The local marinas and dealers tell me they cant re-hub a prop like mine. They send them off somewhere else.

As far as my fuel restriction, I am hoping a new primer bulb will fix that. It feels funny sometimes when I pump it, like its letting fuel go back to the tank. I did install a water separating filter ahead of the primer. Actually between the primer and the selector valve for my two tanks. If the bulb doesn't fix the restriction I guess I'll bypass the separator and see if that will do it.

I do think I am on the right track. Could a fuel restriction be my missing RPM's??

Thanks for your help guys.

Now to find a prop shop.

 

[-1boat]

Re: help with setup please

I've been looking on ebay at props. Would a 3 blade raker 23 pitch be an O.K. prop for my boat. Maybe for a spare? Probably not as good as the one I have, but much cheaper.

What do you think?

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: help with setup please

Fuel restrictions are a process of elimination, starting either at the motor or the tank.
When the restriction occurs, break the connection at the tank if that makes the bulb inflate the restriction is between that joint and the bottom of the fuel pickup, if not keep moving towards the motor. Eventually you should find it.

Rakers come in even numbers 22 or 24 ...., unless someone has had it reworked.

That prop is worth a try.
Ask the marina's where they send them out to and contact them your self.

 

[-1boat]

Re: help with setup please

I also found a "shooter" 13.5 x 23 p. 4 blade. Like new for $200. Pretty good deal i think. How would this compare to the Turbo I have now? As far as bow lift and cup, etc.

I think I want to stay with a 4 blade? What would the trade off be?

Thanks again.

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: help with setup please

Hey Dhadley,
Better get them part numbers ready.

 

[-1boat]

Re: help with setup please

Hey Dhadley,
Better get them part numbers ready.

So that would not be a viable replacement prop for the one I have with a spun hub?? Should I try a 25" pitch instead?? I found a 25" pitch Renegade at a local boat shop but I don't know if I can turn a 25" given the problems I'm having with the 24".

I am working on the fuel restriction to get that sorted out.

 

[72SideWinderSS]

Re: help with setup please

What I meant was, if you lose focus on the fuel restriction you will pop a piston or two. Check every Fitting in the system, needs to have at the very least a 5/16" opening through it, 3/8" is better if you can still get your hose on it.

You said the boat has been sitting for awhile, know how long ?
Might be time to replace all the fuel hose from the tank to the motor.
Crud in the tank can be a source also. Rotting hoses can collapse and restrict the flow.

As far as the props:

Last hub I had done cost $65.00, and I had it back the same day.
If you like the Turbo get the hub replaced. I would probably choose the raker (depending on pitch and price) for a spare or ....