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  1. #1
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    Help with twin "towers of power"

    I have a 1969 Checkmate V191 that origianlly came with twin 125's. I am getting ready to restore the boat and would like to restore the power to the original 125's. I have leads on a couple of good engines but wondered what my odds were of finding a left handed gearcase? Does anyone know where I would start looking?
    thanks
    Eric

  2. #2
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    69Cm,
    Good luck on your project....it sounds very cool! Here is a V161 w- twins.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails GetAttachment.jpg  

  3. #3
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    I am not aware that Mercury ever made a reverse rotation gearcase for a shiftable inline 6.

  4. #4
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    If they didn't have the counter rotation gearbox, what did they do back then? Since it is shiftable is it possible to reverse the control box and get a left handed prop? May be a stupid question but I thought I would ask.
    thanks

  5. #5
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    On the race boats with twins, speedmasters were used and they were available with reverse rotation. The inline Mercury BP's had right and left hand gearcases. I have read that there were even reverse rotation inline engines although I have never seen one. I think "Dave S" on this site talked about reverse rotation powerhead one time. Running it in reverse would work for a short peiod of time but it would not last.
    2005 APR FORMULA 2 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

  6. #6
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    Twin TOP's sounds very cool! I love them old motor's.
    1975 Hydrostream Ventura II
    1987 evinrude 200xp

  7. #7
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    Any idea where I would find a speedmaster for that year?

  8. #8
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    A Speedmaster is a non-gearshift lower unit; you would need 2 of them, not one. I doubt a pair of 125's could push a V-191 to speeds useable with Speedmaster props (80+mph). Speedmasters go for about a grand and usually need a grand of work done to them to use them and $100 to $200 each for props. The Speedmaster rebuild life with a 125 is probably 10 to 15 hours (maybe less on a left).


    The 125 has different throttle linkage, I'm pretty sure the reverse rotation kit would not work on a 125 (it was made for the 135 and Twisters) ... and the only left hand props for that shaft size are probably "BP" props


    The general way to use twins at that time was to just steer hard to handle the torque.

    If you want your restoration to authentic, just use regular lower units. That's the way they were run.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by 69checkmate View Post
    If they didn't have the counter rotation gearbox, what did they do back then? Since it is shiftable is it possible to reverse the control box and get a left handed prop? May be a stupid question but I thought I would ask.
    thanks
    If you try that it may last a mile. That is as far as the one lasted that we tried may years ago.
    When doing this the thrust is carried by the shoulder of the prop shaft rubbing the forward gear face at about 6K relative opposing RPM at wide open. In normal operation these faces rest together at the same speed and direction, hence the ability to transmit thrust. OEM left hand shifting units have an entirely different bearing arrangement than right hand units.
    18 Talon/2.4 carb SOLD
    26 Deck Boat/250 Merc

  10. #10
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    But were never made for the inline Mercs

  11. #11
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    I would run standard lower units like Sam has stated. Invest the money saved by not buying super speedmasters and get a good hyd. steering or dual ride guide..

    Conrad
    L6fan57-88

  12. #12
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    David Steckbauer sometimes cuts down V6 gears and puts them in XR6 gearcases. I have been thinking of contacting him and asking the feasibility of building an inline 6 gearcase from cut down parts from a reverse rotation V6 unit. It would not even have to be shiftable. Props could be an issue but there are still some left hand V6 blades floating around that could be cut down in diameter to work. I was discussing this by E mail with a 1500XS collector who has posted here in the past. We know of several people who are interested in a similar project if it is feasible.
    bama hama

  13. #13
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    Just do it the easy way. Back in the day when they ran twins they did not have counter rotation units. Just put a torque tab on one and go from there. A Twin tower of power boat is just too awesome to even think about.
    TJ309
    Older 17 foot Laser / 2.5L Merc 245 Racer
    1993 Speedster 13 / 2019 Merc 60 play boat
    2020 Lowe 24' Pontoon boat / 250hp Merc. 51mph!
    72 Hydrodyne bubbledeck undergoing keel up restoration
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  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by tj309 View Post
    just do it the easy way. Back in the day when they ran twins they did not have counter rotation units. Just put a torque tab on one and go from there. A twin tower of power boat is just too awesome to even think about.
    agreed!
    1975 Hydrostream Ventura II
    1987 evinrude 200xp

  15. #15
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    OK so change of plan, I was talking to the guy that originally raced this boat and he suggested going with 150's(better motors in his opinion). I found 2 1977 1500's, what would I need to do with those? I imagine they have too much power to run on normal lowers in the same direction.
    thanks in advance!

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