Love my new Acme Prop

[re-pete]

Guys-

Just got back from Moosehead Lake, ME last night.  I ordered the 3 blade 13.5x11.5 with .080 cup (ACME # 543)from propellersonline.com.  They were great, and the price was the best I could find, with no shipping charge either.  

Since the boat was 650 miles away and I couldn't see it, I went with the information in the 2001 Epic brochure and ordered the prop with LH rotation.  When I got up there and looked at the boat, low and behold it has RH rotation.  I called Gary at props on line, and he put a RH rotation 3 blade (#542) in the mail the same day.  I put the boat in the water with the original OJ Legend 3 blade.  It actually turned out to be a good thing, because we skied with the orginal blade, and 3 days later when the new prop got there, I pulled the boat out of the water, put it on, and got a great before and after comparison:

                RPM@WOT          Indicated speed
Before         5800                        46
After            5700                        45

The top end is virtually the same, but there is a HUGE difference out of the hole--way more stump-pulling grunt than before.  

The prop looks a lot different too.  not smooth like the orginal--little milling machine marks all across the blades.  Much more surface area (the guy from ACME told me that the 3 blade CNC has about the same area as a 4 blade non-CNC prop)than the original prop, too.  

I haven't tried any other props, and don't plan to, so you can take my 'review' for what it is worth,  but I would recommend this prop.

[cyclone]

that's cool, I wonder what is different about your boat from mine. Does the engine rotate the opposite direction or is there a different trans, what? Anybody know?

[re-pete]

I gotta believe it is the tranny, Pete.  I was baffled by that.  Why would they do that?

I have a ZF Hurth trans ( which makes an annoying growling  noise from engagement until about 1800 rpm, by the way.  Does any of yours?)

It must have one more or fewer gears than your RH rotation guys have.  I never bothered to see which way the engine rotates, but I would imagine that doesn't change due to auto use, drive belt dynamics, etc.

By the way, I changed the trans fluic and checked the filter/screen.  It was pretty much 'like new', as was the fluid.  

I had a wierd experieince with the trans.  Seems it 'blew off' some fluid (maybe during one of my WOT prop comaparison runs).  I saw the pink in the bilge a freaked out--thought something cracked, cooler hose blew, etc., but the only thing I could find was some dampness down the side, emanating from this little blow-off vent at the very top of the trans near the engine block.  Anyone ever have something like that happen?

Cleaned it up and dried off the trans, changed fluid and have not had it happen again.  Wierd!

[toyotafreak]

What a friggin trip that your WOT RPM dropped with a 1.5" pitch drop. Does that make sense to you?

Great news about the holeshot, though!

[re-pete]

The only thing I can figure, Derek, is that with the greater surface area of the new prop that even though it is a lower pitch, when you net it out, it is pushing more water, working harder and therefore dropping the RPM slightly.  It might have been slightly different water conditions that day, too.  I honestly can't remember if everything other than the props was constant.  I probably ought to try to dig out my fluid mechanics book and check that out...  Naaah!

Definitely more gutsy, though.

[toyotafreak]

I just installed a stump-seeker package into the steering system.

[re-pete]

You don't need a stump to take out your current prop--  You need an ACME prop so if you every hit a stump, you will have your current prop as a spare!

[Bitzco]

I asked the service guys at Marine Products (the ex-dealer in Salt Lake) about the ACME prop and he said that if I ding my prop up, I should replace it with the ACME. He said they are replacing everything with it on the Toyotas and other boats (Supras and Moombas) that they now sell.

I'm off to Lake Powell next weekend wtih the SX and my brother in laws S22. We love out Toyotas.

[toyotafreak]

Pete, I used that approach to get the OJ stainless. Need to kick it up in order to replace a perfectly good aftermarket prop with a new aftermarket prop.

Mr. Lake Powell....you better come back with pics. Lots of them. Of that S22, too.

[cyclone]

I should get a new serp belt myself 535 hours:)

[Boballoui]

Hi guys,

I could use a little help here. I hit a submerged Island at about 30MPH.  Broke the Prop shaft strut, bent the rudder, small amount of gelcoat damage.  Thank god no one was hurt.  The repair shop says that they can't find a replacement strut and that they will have one made to order (8 weeks). Do any of you guys know where to find one on the shelf?

Thanks,
Tim

[toyotafreak]

Is that the Toyota dealer you took it to? I know there's one up there. I find it hard to believe that Toyota's out of a strut source. Try asking jeff_dorge@toyota.com

Also maybe talk to our member down in Florida (Blueplastic, I believe) he recently had a run-in with the underwater gear - he's got more first ahnd knowledge than anyone probably.

Sorry to hear, though. Especially in July ;-(

[Boballoui]

Thanks for your reply,

The local TMS dealer is clueless. I.e., they asked me where to find the oil pressure sending unit.  

They send jobs like mine to other Marine repair shops.  Rick Cohn with Toyota has been very helpful. I sent him an email as well. Hopefully he'll have good news.

This site is fantastic! I don't know what I would do if it wasn't here.

Thanks for your help!
Tim

[krejciman]

Hey Bitz-

I was in Powell 2 weeks ago and I saw 3 Toyotas there....  more than I have seen in the last year!  As you probably know, the water is down quite a bit, but didn't cause too many issues.  The narrows are a real biatch to get through...especially when the monstrous tour boats come though and make the 3 foot wakes.

In case your new to it:  2 good eating spots in Page.. Fiestas Mexican and Bella(something) Italian.

Did you guys know there's a open container law in Utah???  The boat police told me that since we had an open beer in the boat if I was in Utah (quarter mile back) I could have gotten a hefty ticket.  In Powell, you go in and out of Utah/Arizona and you don't really know when you're in which state.

Anyway, if you have open beers on the boat, be careful.

[phenom_1819]

Good thing I drink gin and vodka!