Labbing a prop and flowing the injectors..

[JW]

I'm wanting to do a couple things this winter, wondering how I go about it.

1) How do I send a prop to Mercury for lab blueprinting? Yes, I know about all the prop shops, but if I want to get it to the Mercury lab, how is that done???

2) My '95 Promax is supposed to have 6 injectors. Suckers are 7+ years old, maybe I should have them flowed/repaired?? Where do I send injectors for that work?

Thank you thank you thank you...............

[98Mirage]

I had a cleaver lab finished at Mercury last Spring. Their labor rate is $80.00/hr. It cost me $320.00 plus shipping both ways. I would call Dennis or Brett at Mercury and ask them for the latest shipping instructions.

Dennis Cavanaugh's # 920-924-2037

Brett Anderson's # 920-924-2034

I sorry I can't help you with your injector's, maybe a business like Mad EFI could flow them?

Dennis

[DaveR]

For the injectors, I'd use Kinsler Fuel Injection in Troy, Michigan. Someone probably will post their web site address.

[DaveR]

Kinsler web site is www.kinsler.com

[JW]

Any idea what the injector costs are??
This is good info, I'm printing this page out :D

[DaveR]

Hey JW,
Try a search, this comes up all the time. Someone posted they do it for less than Kinsler but I'm not sure who it was - maybe Tabar racing or something like that. Most people use Kinsler because of their experience and reputation for doing it. The price wasn't too bad, seems like around $150. Give them a call, they'll be happy to talk to you.

[DaveR]

Sorry JW. I just tried a search on "Kinsler" and "injectors". Seems like the old data has been lost. Nothing old came up. Guess you'll have to call unless someone posts the price here.

[JW]

Crazy looking top, serious down below. They look worth a call for sure............

[DaveR]

Yeah. The site is a little too flakey for me, but don't let it get you thinking they don't know their stuff. They have been a MAJOR force infuel injection systems (street and racing) since at least the 60's.

Talk to Tom. I THINK he's used them.

[JW]

I just used the 'contact us' link on the website. I figure after 7 years, a new set of plastic reeds and cleaned/flowed injectors will help my motor idle a little less radically................

[AQUAholic]

I sent the injectors from my 260 to Kinsler. It costs 110.00 which gets the injectors backflushed, flow tested, and the screens replaced.

I had them back in one week.

Not a bad deal in my mind.

They keep them seperate and numbered, and give you a print out of the flow test so you can put the highest flowing injectors in your hottest running cylinders.

I have seen some of Mercury's Lab finished props first hand, I would send your's somewhere else.

When ya com'in down for a visit ??

C-ya.

[JW]

Great shot of you and that GROSS SPIDER!! If I visit, you gotta promise none of those things are anywhere near your property.......

One time this summer I had my plugs out, they all looked identical. Which cylinders would 'theoretically' be my hot ones?

And I figured Mercury 'should' be the best at blueprinting their props (and the most expensive), what have you seen wrong???

[AQUAholic]

I have had a few labbed ET's and cleavers in the shop, and have been less than impressed with what the gauges told me.

I would assume that the money spent for labbing should result in a prop where all the blades pitch and rake numbers are dead on with each other. They were not.

I think a majority of the performance prop shops out there can do just as good a job on getting all the blade angles equal as well as balancing it.

Mercury does not have any special prop tools that the rest of us are unable to obtain. It pretty much comes down to the guy doing the work.

Heres a photo I took last night near the shop.

[175checkmate]

Man that is awsome. Mothernature can sure paint a picture.

[Jimbob]

Give RC Engineering a thought(www.rceng.com 310-320-2207). They have a quick turnaround time, recomended by John Tiger Jr.
(of Hotboat, Bass and Walleye, and Family & Performance Boating mags. fame) and they're cost are right in line with Kinsler. My set of Laser injectors cost $144.00 including ground UPS shipping. They clean, flowcheck, and give a printout of results also. :cool:

[Raceman]

JW, I've got a 32 Merc Lab Cleaver and a Lab ET also and am very pleased with both.

[JW]

What I really want for the 'unknown' prop that I have is to make sure it's balanced well, and possibly thinned. Basically what I would call a blueprinting, except I want it thinner than what Merc's original blueprint would call for.
Randy, can your shop perform this type of work on a standard hub Tempest 23"?

[AnthonySS]

I would agree with RANDY that there are some high quality prop shops that can "lab" (balance, blueprint ect.) a prop, and do a super job of it.

Hec you guys in MC can even go to Mazco

It will probably be more cost effective too

[TUFFboat]

I have never heard of injectors getting tired, but i have always had injectors screens get clogged. Your injector maintainence should be the removing the screens and let the line filter do the work. Dirty screens will give you a lazy topend feeling.

[flyingracer]

I agree.Lab finish should be as close to blue print as possible.
I have not seen that in Mercury's lab finish.

[AQUAholic]

I think you would be wasting your money to thin, balance, & true up a prop like the 23 Tempest.

For a prop like that, on a rig like your's, where your not surfacing it at 8000 RPM's, your not going to see much of a difference, if any.

Thinning will just shorten the props life, and cause much more damage to it, if you were to hit something in the water. Thin props will crack after time just from vibration and flexing.

I hardly ever see a prop that is far enough out of balance to worry about. Usually it's the aluminum props that have had 1/2 a blade welded up that are out of balance.

[JW]

So I'd be money ahead to leave it alone, and find a good deal on a new 24" ET, and keep the tempest as a spare. Thanks Randy!

[AQUAholic]

Find a cheap used 24" big ear chopper, send it to me for a trim, and you will have your ET for less than 1/2 the cost.

I like the cut choppers better than stock ET's cause I do not thin the blades as much, so they are more resistant to cracks and dings.

Here's the last 28" I made.

[Paul]

I sent my 28 chopper to Randy and he reworked it to a Lighting ET . His prop is 2 mph faster on top end than the Lab ET I tried at BTTW fest this summer. I paid Randy 135.00 including shipping, merc wants about 1100.00 for their prop. Anbody want a 27 SRX, or trade for a big ear chopper 28?

[AQUAholic]

Good to see you posting.

I'm happy to hear you like your ET copy. It's nice when customers let me know how their props run.

I know you left a message at the shop a while back, but never heard back from you again.

[Paul]

Just having too much fun with new prop and showing it off! Once I get rid of my 27 srx I will be looking for another prop to buy and have you do another for me.