Proper Prop for 50HP Honda

[albion]

I logged onto www,turningpointpropellers and they came up with this propeller for my Mac M26 with 50hp Suzuki motor. Hustler alluminum .....12-1/2 x 8 H1- 1208. I dont know whats on the boat at the moment. How does one measure the pitch on the prop?. Also how can I tell what prop is on the boat, are there usually any markings numbers etc stamped on props?.

[Robert]

albion, The 12 1/2 by 8 pitch sounds OK, as long as the diameter of the prop fits without interference. Also, as the diameter of the prop gets bigger there is more chance of sucking air from the surface, if it does it is called ventilating. To stop ventilating lower your motor or slightly cup the prop.
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Most props are marked by letters stamped into the casting on the leading edge of a prop blade. If you are standing behind your boat its the side of the blade you cannot see.
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Measure a prop? There might be a simple DIY method, but I am not aware of it.
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If the prop on a 50hp motor is the one that came with the motor, and the motor was not ordered with a special prop, it will probably be a 13 pitch. 13 pitch is a good prop for most 50hp buyers because they mostly are buying a motor for their jon boat.

[albion]

ROBERT thanks for the info.

[DaveB]

Hub kits for Solas can not be found and may no longer be manifactured for the Alcup 4. A1 discount prop still has the 11.8 x 9 Alcup 4 and was quoted 2 for $100 but they have no YC-KT hub kits or any other company I tried to research.
Best to go with the Solas Amita 4 blade with built in hub.
Dave

I wanted a new 4 blade prop after reading several posts about the handling around the marina. I had to get the Michigan 4 blade prop after finding out that the Solas adapter for the honda was no longer made. I seem to also remember that Solas 4 blade was going through a change. This was at the end of last season. I only mentions this because if you order the Solas and they tell you you need to get the adapter elsewhere there is a reaqson for it. That is how I found out. It was news to them but they fixed me up with the Michigan.

Gary

The Solas adapters are still made, and available off the shelf. You need YC-KT and you can get them from
http://www.bellrpg.net/soderbloom/MA/gr ... &GRP=72510

The best prices I found on the props were here
http://www.a1discountprop.com/solashondaalcup.htm

I'm running the 11.9 X9 with the above adapter and have been very pleased with performance, especially at low speeds in the marina.

[NiceAft]

I have a Honda 50 on my 02 M, but because of being wrapped up for the winter, I can't see the prop. I do remember that when I needed a new prop (because of my stupidity), I asked the Honda dealer what is the best prop to install? He didn't know either. He called Honda (Duh!) and they told him. So I say to you, call Honda and ask!

My 50 red line's at 6000rpm's, and that's just about all I can push from it at wide open throttle. That's what it's supposed to do.

Ray

[Ivan Awfulitch]

[quote="DaveB"]Hub kits for Solas can not be found and may no longer be manifactured for the Alcup 4. A1 discount prop still has the 11.8 x 9 Alcup 4 and was quoted 2 for $100 but they have no YC-KT hub kits or any other company I tried to research.
Best to go with the Solas Amita 4 blade with built in hub.
Dave

Soderbloom's still has the YCKT inserts in stock. $19.68 plus $6.99 shipping. Just ordered a spare.
http://www.bellrpg.net/soderbloom/MA/gr ... &GRP=72510

[atzserv]

Ivan,

I called on the phone to the company you mentioned as I also saw it was in stock online. Again this was last season. It was then that they told me the hub wasn't available. I hope you have better luck.

Gary

[Ivan Awfulitch]

Ivan,

I called on the phone to the company you mentioned as I also saw it was in stock online. Again this was last season. It was then that they told me the hub wasn't available. I hope you have better luck.

Gary

I'm hoping that I do. I placed an online order last week and got confirmation so I hope that they indeed have them. I'll post to let you know if they cancel the order or if it's ships.

[DaveB]

I ordered and called them after they told me out of stock and don't know when they can get a order in, he than called the major distributer and they are out to.
Ck your e-mail, thats how I know their out, doesn't tell you that when ordering on line.
Dave
PS: I talked to Jay

Soderbloom's still has the YCKT inserts in stock. $19.68 plus $6.99 shipping. Just ordered a spare.
http://www.bellrpg.net/soderbloom/MA/gr ... &GRP=72510[/quote]

[DaveB]

Ivan, I have been in touch with them and they sent you a E-mail stateing they cannot get the Hub Kit.
They told me Volvo now has the Alcup rights and have to deal with them and cked that also...still working on it.
Dave

Ivan,

I called on the phone to the company you mentioned as I also saw it was in stock online. Again this was last season. It was then that they told me the hub wasn't available. I hope you have better luck.

Gary

I'm hoping that I do. I placed an online order last week and got confirmation so I hope that they indeed have them. I'll post to let you know if they cancel the order or if it's ships.

[Ivan Awfulitch]

Got the email late last week. Hopefully they'll get something going as it is a nice prop. I at least have the old Honda prop as a backup in case I do something really stupid. Keep us posted if you hear anything new.

[DaveB]

Ivan, I don't know if they sent me the right hub kit as the prop hits the motor and I ended up useing the Honda 1/4 thick washer to keep it out, this gives 1/8 inch clearance but the nut they supplied doesn't fully screw in the shaft. There is still 2 turns left.
The prop. makes a squelling sound between 3 and 5 mph but doesn't before or after that speed.
Loaded down with no mast, 3 batteries 100 lbs of ice chests, 400 lbs persons and two full 6 gal. fuel it did 16.8 knots @5900 rpms.
At 3000 rpms it did 6.2 knots. went thru 6 gals 45 natical miles.
The Honda prop. Hit 15 Knots at 5000 rmps but with 300 lbs less in boat and still no mast.
At 2500 rpms the Honda prop. did 6.6 knots and thats were the big diffrence comes in as I thought the 4 blade would do much better at lower speeds and most of my cruiseing will be at 6-7 knots while under power.
I haven't tested it out against a chop yet and find very little diffrence docking between the two boats but I always leave the board down about 8 inches to control it.
Personally I think the prop should be pitched at 10 (200 rpms per pitch) and this would give about 5700 rpms at top speed, this is the mid range 5500-6000 rpms for the Honda.
Dave

Got the email late last week. Hopefully they'll get something going as it is a nice prop. I at least have the old Honda prop as a backup in case I do something really stupid. Keep us posted if you hear anything new.

[Ivan Awfulitch]

I used the Honda washer as well, as my hub had a note inside that said to use the OEM washer on Honda outboards. (I confess I tried the one in the pack to see why, but the nut wouldn't tighten). With that setup there was no problem with clearance. I too have a bit of sound at about 850 rpm (3-4 mph), appears to be exhaust noise with the larger opening and it goes away when I speed up or slow down. With the stock prop I got about 14 knots on an empty boat with 2 adults at 5600 rpm. With the new prop it's 16.5 knots on a loaded boat. Seems to have less cavitation in chop (lots of this in Western Lake Erie). At low speed this allowed me to have better slow speed control in the wind when docking or trailering. At 2500 rpm I get about 6 knots, didn't really try this with the original prop as it didn't seem to bite and handle well.

One thing I did find is the boat is quicker to start when ballast tank is full and I'm dumping it. The factory prop slipped and caviated no matter where I adjusted the trim. On a fully loaded boat with 4 adults and a full ballast tank I am able to run 11 knots at 5400 rpm.

[DaveB]

I will be doing more testing and since I bought two props will repitch the second to 10 pitch (upon Burris recommend ). I am looking for a hub and found a couple that has correct spline but not sure of the length. I want to get it the way it should be and need to talk to by brothers friend who is a expert on this and I have Burris propella shop right here in Cape Coral, they have state of the art computer data for repitching and modifications.
They will solve the cup amount if any and proper pitch for this engine.
Dave
PS: Daaa brain fart..they probably have a hub kit.

I used the Honda washer as well, as my hub had a note inside that said to use the OEM washer on Honda outboards. (I confess I tried the one in the pack to see why, but the nut wouldn't tighten). With that setup there was no problem with clearance. I too have a bit of sound at about 850 rpm (3-4 mph), appears to be exhaust noise with the larger opening and it goes away when I speed up or slow down. With the stock prop I got about 14 knots on an empty boat with 2 adults at 5600 rpm. With the new prop it's 16.5 knots on a loaded boat. Seems to have less cavitation in chop (lots of this in Western Lake Erie). At low speed this allowed me to have better slow speed control in the wind when docking or trailering. At 2500 rpm I get about 6 knots, didn't really try this with the original prop as it didn't seem to bite and handle well.

One thing I did find is the boat is quicker to start when ballast tank is full and I'm dumping it. The factory prop slipped and caviated no matter where I adjusted the trim. On a fully loaded boat with 4 adults and a full ballast tank I am able to run 11 knots at 5400 rpm.

[DaveB]

Ivan, another concern is by puting that 1/4 washer in front of the propella hub it seems to me when the boat is forward it puts pressure on that washer and could result in fatigue. I would think a sealed bearing washer would be the answer, the friction must be great from forward prop. movement.
Others that have the correct hub for the Alcup 4, please let us know the correct hub and washers that need to be in place to avoid friction.
I also might add, once the 1/4 washer leaves the spline it becomes loose on the shaft and very little play between the spline and free turn.
Dave

I used the Honda washer as well, as my hub had a note inside that said to use the OEM washer on Honda outboards. (I confess I tried the one in the pack to see why, but the nut wouldn't tighten). With that setup there was no problem with clearance. I too have a bit of sound at about 850 rpm (3-4 mph), appears to be exhaust noise with the larger opening and it goes away when I speed up or slow down. With the stock prop I got about 14 knots on an empty boat with 2 adults at 5600 rpm. With the new prop it's 16.5 knots on a loaded boat. Seems to have less cavitation in chop (lots of this in Western Lake Erie). At low speed this allowed me to have better slow speed control in the wind when docking or trailering. At 2500 rpm I get about 6 knots, didn't really try this with the original prop as it didn't seem to bite and handle well.

One thing I did find is the boat is quicker to start when ballast tank is full and I'm dumping it. The factory prop slipped and caviated no matter where I adjusted the trim. On a fully loaded boat with 4 adults and a full ballast tank I am able to run 11 knots at 5400 rpm.