2012 Return Run to the Vineyard

[Marian Claire]

HC: A few notes from what I have read. A 13x8 or 13x9 three blade are among those suggested for the 2 to 1. A 13x10 or 13x12 two blade also for 2 to 1. By taking 2 " of pitch out of your existing 13x11.5 three blade prop you would be close and should bump your rpm up about 400.
If I remimber correctly when we talked back in NC you said your A-4 was "tired". If you are a little low on compression I think that could explain some of the low but steady vac #s. Dan S/V Marian Claire

[hanleyclifford]

HC: A few notes from what I have read. A 13x8 or 13x9 three blade are among those suggested for the 2 to 1. A 13x10 or 13x12 two blade also for 2 to 1. By taking 2 " of pitch out of your existing 13x11.5 three blade prop you would be close and should bump your rpm up about 400.
If I remimber correctly when we talked back in NC you said your A-4 was "tired". If you are a little low on compression I think that could explain some of the low but steady vac #s. Dan S/V Marian Claire

Dan, My 3 blader began life as a 13x14. I don't think I can reduce it's pitch any further. I am now focusing on the two blader from Dave.

[Dave Neptune]

Good call!

Hanley, good call not pitching back anymore. In these types of props it is better to pitch up and not back.
That 2 blade I sent should be able to take an increase. I would try it and gather some numbers before pitching mutch.
I also think you will need to get accustomed to a free-er reving engine spinning a bit faster albeit under far less load. If you can get 2800~3000 at WOT your cruise range will be around 2200 and almost no manifold load for happy cylinders and bearings and better economy due to efficiency.
It took ma a while as I lugged for quite a few years and really had no other experience with the A-4 up to that time.

Dave Neptune

[Dave Neptune]

Do you?

Hanley, do you change out the prop or do you have to get a diver or go to the hard? When I was trying various props I got real quick at getting it off and on in the slip or at the island. If it has not been on to long they come off quite easy. If you can do a run with the 2 blade and post the numbers (vac vs. RPM), we can probably hit this one ritght on the head.
I have a feeling the 2 is not as far off as you may think. Trying it while loaded for cruise is an excellent opportunity to get it right. And then you will have a better sailing mod H-28. One of the guys I would help out on the dyno when building a set of racing engines (12 or more sometimes) it just took a lot of time. Anyway he was a guru of engines and he too sailed a mod H-28.

Dave Neptune

[hanleyclifford]

Slightly Better

Ran another test at the dock:
1000 14.0
1100 14.0
1200 12.6
1300 11.6
1400 10.5
1500 9.5
1600 8.0
1700 5.5
1800 4.5
1900 2.5

[hanleyclifford]

Getting Ready to Run

So today I pulled the Dole thermostat out and ran with none like Dan; 155 degrees @ 1000 rpm in gear, more tests to follow. Replaced NGK plugs with Autolite 86. 1 thru 4, left to right.

[High Hopes]

Shawn, you would be suprised! I have done a lot of carb work over the years, mostly modifying for performance apps. The most common thing I found in carbs that were a problem were bits of teflon tape and it came from anywhere in the fuel system and could get anywhere in the carb.

That is why I recomend Permatex #2 or second choice liquid teflon on any fuel fitting!!!!!

Dave Neptune

I second that Dave.

One of the shipwrights at my marina never uses teflon tape, but for a different reason. He says that it is hard to tell when a fitting has been tightened enough. He (and I) have cracked aluminum ports by over tightening.
-Steve

[hanleyclifford]

Manatees

Great to have these guys playing around the boat.

[sastanley]

Nice Hanley..I am not commenting on your Snake Oil thread!

[hanleyclifford]

Nice Hanley..I am not commenting on your Snake Oil thread!

I was sort of hoping to see some other examples from the members. There's a lot of weird stuff out there!

[sailhog]

What's my mother-in-law doing in the water by your boat, Hanley? Didn't expect her to pop up on an A-4 forum.... I figured she would be at home, watching her soaps.

[hanleyclifford]

What's my mother-in-law doing in the water by your boat, Hanley? Didn't expect her to pop up on an A-4 forum.... I figured she would be at home, watching her soaps.

I was wondering who that was shoving me away from that fresh water trickle!

[hanleyclifford]

The Dave Neptune Prop is now at the prop shop being twisted into a 13x10.

[Dave Neptune]

Good

Hanley, I'm glad to hear you are tweeking it. Did they check it and give you a guess as to where it was pitch wise. You will need to get use to the engine running under less load at a higher RPM. It took me a while to get use to my Indigo once I installed it. I actually thought I'd made a big mistake the first few times I ran it, however now I can't imagine going back to the lugging and restrictions I experienced with many other props.
I could get about 1900 with the prop you are tweeking with my direct drive.

Good luck with it good sir .

Dave Neptune

[ILikeRust]

What's my mother-in-law doing in the water by your boat, Hanley? Didn't expect her to pop up on an A-4 forum.... I figured she would be at home, watching her soaps.

From which comment we can presume that you are very confident that your wife does not visit this forum, ever.