Results of First Launch with project boat

[JGra]

Well, I have been working on a boat since mid last year and thru the winter. Today was the first full day test of the boat. The boat did very well I think but I have some tuning still to do. With the boat fully loaded with 2 people and gear by the tach I could only get about 5000-51000 rps out of her. MPH on the GPS was 32-35 MPH. Upon cruising at full throttle and then backing off th boat would idle down and pop and then cut off. It would refire but idle real low. While my son was fishing I decided to look under the hood. What I found was the timing arm was not retracting when you throttle down. It has one arm than controls the throttle and one that controsl the timing I think. It seems like they work together. When you throttle down the timing arm is not returning.I dont know if where they connect they are sping loaded internally or is there a external spring missing. If I opened the hood and manually moved it and then fired up the motor in idles great.The motor is a 89 80 HP 3 cylinder. The other problem was reverse. It would move for a couple of feet then make a racheting noise. I tried adjusting the cable but that did not change it to much. I think I might have a problem in the foot. Did not use reverse to much but it would have helped with loading. The boat is a 17 foot flats type boat made by West manufacture (out of bussiness) but I dont know the weight. I would like to get the running problem fixed first. I can deal with the reverse problem for now. I could use some input. Seem like I should be getting a little bit more RPM. the prop is a 13x22. I was told that that might be too much prop for the boat/motor. Below is a picture of the boat if that helps. Thanks in advance for any advise.

 

[will941s]

Re: Results of First Launch with project boat

Nice boat, I think I commented on it awhile back when you cleaned it up. The problem your having the popping and cutting off I think goes hand in hand with that arm. Most of them so have a sping on them to bring them back when you let off the gas or have a mechanical system like a rod that pushes it back and forth along with the throttle. Being that it moves forward but not back I would start looking for a place where a spring was once attached, then go to Lowes and hit up the spring section. The Reverse problem, well sound like a problem. The clutch dog might be wearing out, and causing it not to catch and hold that reverse gear very well. Adjust it to the furtherest point where it still goes into all the gears and if it does'nt help, call your mechanic before it ends up causing more damage. The RPM issue may be accomplished with less pitch. If your running a 13p you may have to go down as far as a 10p to get the RPM's your looking for. Sadly though, you have to try props....thats the only way your going to know which one gets you where you want to be. Go 1 pitch at a time, and test it. Hope it helps.

 

[JGra]

Re: Results of First Launch with project boat

Thanks, I will look for a missing spring. The motor has a 22 pitch on it now. I was told to try a 19 pitch. What about the MPH? Is that about right for the motor and boat size?

 

[JGra]

Re: Results of First Launch with project boat

I looked at the parts book and it looks like there is a internal spring that returns the timing arm. Going to order that and give it a try. Then its on to the reverse problem. I might try doing some more adjusting with it first though.