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View Full Version : The evolution of the Super Speedmaster



Raceman
12-22-2002, 05:33 PM
ALL OF THESE UNITS PICTURED HERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE SOLID BLACK ONLY. ALL OF THE PAINT REMOVAL WAS DONE BY OWNERS. The paint in the second picture is partially removed by bead blasting.

The first picture is the MC1 (Mercruiser 1), also referred to as 1 SSM and "Marathon". As the name implies it was originally designed for the Mercruisers, which were all small blocks at the time. This unit was available in at least 2 driveshaft configurations, the very short, fine splined one for the Mercruiser drive and the 15" one for a standard short shaft Merc. These were standard on the first Twisters before the SSM became available.

Notice how much larger it is than the others in this series and the exhaust outlet has the large opening and slanted angle. Also, not as plain in this picture is the large "Patent Pending" above the cavitation plate. Another sign of this unit is the skeg's trailing edge position being rearward in comparison with all the others. Another unique cosmetic detail is the rear edge of the area above the propshaft and below the cavitation plate. It is approx. 1/2" thick in this area while the other units taper back to a sharp edge.

Raceman
12-22-2002, 05:35 PM
This is the first style SSM housing that was used later on the Twister and Twister 1. Notice that the torpedo is much smaller and the exhaust snout is uniform to the rear of the outlet. It has the shim inspection plate and is round at the rear of the cavitation plate. This unit uses the small propshaft like the MC1 but has the smaller gears.

Raceman
12-22-2002, 05:38 PM
This is the next generation. It's very similar to the previous one except for the exhaust snout. Notice that it's now offset for prop clearance, but still opened at the rear of both levels. This one also still has the same shim inspection plate. Most of these units that I've seen were on T2's and maybe T2X's. Although this particular example has a 6 bolt adapter that would have been used on the T2X or early 6 bolt T3, I don't think this style unit was ever used after the pre X 15" T2.

The adapter on this unit is obviously a home built, being much thicker in the front than the factory unit. This would've facilitated removal of the spacer at the top of the early champ housings that was used when a V6 powerhead was run.

Raceman
12-22-2002, 05:41 PM
This is the last of the SSM series, before the introduction of the #IV and # VI. The cavitation plate is now square across the rear. The exhaust snout is closed on the lowest level at the rear, and the inspection plate is gone. These units were used on the latest T2X and 1750XS/T3. This particular unit has the 8 bolt adapter like was used on the second design T3 housing. The front studs are missing. There was never an 8 bolt housing factory installed on a T2X although I've seen at least one that was retro fitted. I believe that by the time the 6 bolt housings were replaced by the 8 bolts the factory boats were already running the 4's and 6's, which were direct bolt ons to the 8 bolt housing, not requiring an adapter, and these adapters were probably retro fits for privateers who were having breakage problems on existing engines, rather than ever being factory equiped on an engine that was sold.

crazy horse
12-22-2002, 10:21 PM
RM, Well sence were on the subject, Did Merc have a torque spec. for the prop nut? With that spring washer, It made me wonder how tight it should be. :rolleyes:

2.5H
12-28-2002, 08:47 AM
Thanks for the illustrations of the evolution of big Merc high speed gearfeet! Many of us know the little ones - KG-4H, 20H, 30H, & 55H, and seeing what that earlier technology led to is really fascinating.

bridges
04-17-2006, 09:35 AM
Here is yet another variation of the super speedmaster. Note the long exhaust, the absence of curves on the housing to the shaft, and the "patent pending" in the casting. :cool:

Fish
04-17-2006, 12:59 PM
cool post RM, its good to see the visuals and the differences.

The Big Al
04-17-2006, 01:24 PM
That is great, thanks Raceman

bridges
04-17-2006, 01:57 PM
What am I? Chopped liver? ;) Kidding. This is an old thread that I revived to show pics of another early configuration of the Super Speedmaster. I posted this on another thread too, but it really belongs here, so here is a April 1965 Bulletin on the "new" Super Speedmaster:

bridges
04-17-2006, 02:10 PM
:cool: Exploded view. Kind of small because of the posting requirements.

Mark75H
04-17-2006, 03:20 PM
Sorry these old links are now broken, so I deleted them :(

bridges
04-18-2006, 07:44 AM
Nice, thanks.

Tom Smyth
06-11-2013, 06:22 PM
:cool: Exploded view. Kind of small because of the posting requirements.
Hey Bridges- you dont have a real copy of that parts diagram with part numbers you would lke to share do you ?:)

MN4V
06-11-2013, 09:24 PM
What is this lower unit? The torpedo width is 2.44" Galen from Speedmasters says they are not MC1's but standard outboard units. But I thought the outboard units were around 2" dia?
Mark N
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/3side.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/MN392/media/3side.jpg.html)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/3top.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/MN392/media/3top.jpg.html)

FUJIMO
10-14-2014, 11:59 AM
What is this lower unit? The torpedo width is 2.44" Galen from Speedmasters says they are not MC1's but standard outboard units. But I thought the outboard units were around 2" dia?
Mark N
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/3side.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/MN392/media/3side.jpg.html)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/3top.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/MN392/media/3top.jpg.html)
...Agree with Galen. Good thread.

Tom Smyth
10-14-2014, 03:23 PM
Skeg is all wrong for a MC1. See this pic....

MN4V
10-14-2014, 04:44 PM
Do all Speedmasters have torpedo widths of 2.44"?
To give you an idea why these units are so chopped up, here is a photo of the mid it mounts too.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/ShortMid.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/MN392/media/ShortMid.jpg.html)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/ShortMid2.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/MN392/media/ShortMid2.jpg.html)
Mark N

Tom Smyth
10-14-2014, 06:25 PM
I measured the torpedo's on both a SSM and the MC1, but cant find them right now. I know the MC1 is bigger diameter, but will take a bigger diameter prop as well.

25ss
10-15-2014, 01:26 AM
Mark
All of mine are 2.44
Dale

MN4V
12-31-2014, 06:33 PM
So are the units with the 2.44" torpedos marathon units? And related to the speedmaster used on the Merc SST 200 motor?
Mark N

Raceman
03-12-2015, 07:45 PM
What is this lower unit? The torpedo width is 2.44" Galen from Speedmasters says they are not MC1's but standard outboard units. But I thought the outboard units were around 2" dia?
Mark N
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/3side.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/MN392/media/3side.jpg.html)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm315/MN392/3top.jpg (http://s299.photobucket.com/user/MN392/media/3top.jpg.html)

I just stumbled on this looking for another old thread. The unit pictured here appears to be the one in post #2 on page 1 with some hacking done on it, although it could be any of the SSM's after the MC1 with the same whacking. To the best of my knowledge there are only 2 diameters of the bullet on the SSM's with the MC1 being the only larger diameter, through the last SSM made BEFORE the VI's and IV's came out. I don't have the diameter of either within my easy reach, but all of 'em had the same small propshaft and would take the same props, with the exception of the earlier style (again, picture in post #2) which had the long exhaust snout that would interfere.

milkdud
03-12-2015, 11:51 PM
Raceman,
Notice the water pump on this hacked up SSM? Its different from the rest....

Mark75H
03-13-2015, 05:46 PM
BP-ish maybe?

RogerH
03-13-2015, 07:30 PM
What's the "story" 'bout these gearcases. These were received with Diablo 3 1-RH, 1-LH but they both have #4/6 propshafts installed. Did the factory make an SSM with these prop shafts, or did someone modify them?

316264

shadowcat
03-13-2015, 09:25 PM
316265

milkdud
03-14-2015, 09:24 PM
Roger Ive never seen that done. I bet someone who had a bunch of #4/6 SSM props swapped the prop shafts to utilize props they had on hand.

Mark75H
03-15-2015, 09:36 PM
Roger Ive never seen that done. I bet someone who had a bunch of #4/6 SSM props swapped the prop shafts to utilize props they had on hand.

That would be my guess

Greg G
03-15-2015, 11:00 PM
316265


You must have those three under lock and key! Very nice indeed.

crazy horse
03-16-2015, 10:07 AM
Greg, Those are my 3 SSM's.

T2x
03-16-2015, 03:10 PM
What's the "story" 'bout these gearcases. These were received with Diablo 3 1-RH, 1-LH but they both have #4/6 propshafts installed. Did the factory make an SSM with these prop shafts, or did someone modify them?

316264

Roger:

What about them makes you think that they are 4/6 shafts and not later style, larger diameter SSM's? Our later style T2x SSM props fit directly on the early "crescent" units (#4's)

RogerH
03-25-2015, 09:13 AM
Roger:

What about them makes you think that they are 4/6 shafts and not later style, larger diameter SSM's? Our later style T2x SSM props fit directly on the early "crescent" units (#4's)

Rich, I have never seen a picture posted or comment about a SSM gearcase (prior to the #4/#6 release) that came from the factory with prop shafts this size in diameter. Just trying to see if these were done by Mercury or someone else.

T2x
03-25-2015, 06:12 PM
WE used the same props on the later SSM's and the early Crescents (4's)

MN4V
03-27-2015, 07:47 PM
I just stumbled on this looking for another old thread. The unit pictured here appears to be the one in post #2 on page 1 with some hacking done on it, although it could be any of the SSM's after the MC1 with the same whacking. To the best of my knowledge there are only 2 diameters of the bullet on the SSM's with the MC1 being the only larger diameter, through the last SSM made BEFORE the VI's and IV's came out. I don't have the diameter of either within my easy reach, but all of 'em had the same small propshaft and would take the same props, with the exception of the earlier style (again, picture in post #2) which had the long exhaust snout that would interfere.

I learned second hand from Mr. Steckbauer that these lower units are the predecessors of the Merc IV lower units used now.
I'll try to find out more this summer when I get them rebuilt.
Mark N

WaterZebra
10-19-2017, 01:16 PM
Saw on the web someplace that the MSRP for a bare machined case for the #6 is now a whopping $9800! No bearings, prop shaft, water pump, pinions, seals, nose piece, etc. I remember getting complete #6's out of the box from Mercury HP for $4500.................Also saw a PR release on S&F from Mercury for pricing and parts availability for 2018 that seems to imply that the screen "goes dark" for any Mercury OPC parts at all in 2019 (except existing inventory?).

Dave S
06-14-2020, 12:58 AM
.This is the thread that links the Molly B lower unit...….W/4 inch housing...….I have a 4 inch but it's a different { style} using a D mercury clamp bracket Who ever made them..... I think they were made for V4 Rudes because the housing is wide and has the V4 bolt pattern.....to use a Merc lower ya have to hack up the front of the SSM and the 8 hole are for OMC pattern......An adaptor plate is used to use the Merc gearcase.....JMO

FUJIMO
06-14-2020, 08:16 AM
photo dave?

Dave S
06-16-2020, 03:31 PM
467829 This is the 4" housing with an OMC racing 1 to 1 cut to fit.

467830 This is with a Mercury gearcase. It had to be cut to fit.

Dave S
06-16-2020, 03:44 PM
467831 This is the inside of the housing showing the OMC bolt pattern and width of the housing to fit the OMC. Also showing the 2 rear bolt holes from Mercury The front is missing attachment points for the gearcase but an adapter has that and bolts to the OMC pattern. The housing has the letters JM cast into the side. This is old forgotten racing stuff.

467835 This picture shows how the front of the gearcase has to be cut off to fit the inside of the housing. Picture shows comparison of Mercury and OMC case. Racers had a tendency of hacking up old racing treasures.

MN4V
06-16-2020, 07:17 PM
Mine are cast stainless steel and were built by Molly Ballou's brother. Ron Jones may have been involved with building and selling them also.
Mark N
467848467850

Dave S
06-16-2020, 07:43 PM
Hey Mark N..Are the lower units you have LH and RH ? do you know what the gear ratios are? thanks Dave S.

MN4V
06-16-2020, 07:49 PM
They are left and right. I don't know the gear ratio.
I was told by one of the ex drivers of the Molly Bee that they also ran only right hand gear cases but had one motor run left hand.
Mark N

Dave S
06-16-2020, 08:06 PM
That would be a righthand left case..... also would be marked CR . The right gear sets were,,,,, stronger..... no PS flex. I have the kit that runs the motor left if you need......

MN4V
06-16-2020, 09:18 PM
That would be a righthand left case..... also would be marked CR . The right gear sets were,,,,, stronger..... no PS flex. I have the kit that runs the motor left if you need......

Yes, I may be interested. I sent you a message.
Mark N

FUJIMO
06-17-2020, 11:07 AM
The right gear sets were,,,,, stronger..... no PS flex...
...thought they were the same driven gear sets, used either rotation, but applied right-hand, the propshaft & bearing support load placement handled it better. No? (straight cut gears)

Dave S
06-17-2020, 12:39 PM
Yes on that FUJIMO.

FUJIMO
06-17-2020, 02:21 PM
...o.k...good...thx...thought I was lose'n it there for a minute when I dozed off...;)

GENE LANHAM
06-25-2020, 02:03 PM
...thought they were the same driven gear sets, used either rotation, but applied right-hand, the propshaft & bearing support load placement handled it better. No? (straight cut gears)



LH HAD A BIG BULL GEAR—unsupported on prop shaft—-

FUJIMO
06-26-2020, 08:44 AM
LH HAD A BIG BULL GEAR—unsupported on prop shaft—-
...exactly gene. the lefties weak point. not as much because of the bull gear itself, but because of its geometry & lack of the ability to support the propshaft well. the right hand unit was therefore spun in the opposite direction, because it could be, via a counter rotation powerhead, with equal durability to a standard rotation unit.

GENE LANHAM
06-26-2020, 03:32 PM
...exactly gene. the lefties weak point. not as much because of the bull gear itself, but because of its geometry & lack of the ability to support the propshaft well. the right hand unit was therefore spun in the opposite direction, because it could be, via a counter rotation powerhead, with equal durability to a standard rotation unit.

MC---
468360
Same concept---but rotation can be changed in upper gearcase--(don't forget to reset load/preload in lower)

FUJIMO
06-26-2020, 05:17 PM
...yup. pretty much the same geno...any one of them with the straight cut gears... that's the "dry" sump six drive there. see the little screened oil pump in the nose that Weissman helped develop...https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=468360&d=1304754366

Dave S
06-28-2020, 08:00 PM
with out pulling it apart.... the #8 ...3.4 lower is a LH///////how did Merc make it last?

FUJIMO
06-28-2020, 09:14 PM
with out pulling it apart.... the #8 ...3.4 lower is a LH///////how did Merc make it last?
...still would like to see a photo or two of your 3.4 gearcase in question...

powerabout
06-29-2020, 03:12 AM
LH HAD A BIG BULL GEAR—unsupported on prop shaft—-
that design doesnt seem to worry OMC cases?

Dave S
06-29-2020, 12:54 PM
OMC ,,,, haaazsszz thick p/[s......

FUJIMO
06-29-2020, 04:24 PM
...omc's were not available like the speedmasters were, i don't recall. the "speedmaster" trademarked name was an excellent marketing name & were made available to almost anyone. what general name did omc give those gearcases, like mercury did? were omc guys calling there's speedmasters too? can't remember.

Mark75H
06-29-2020, 07:53 PM
No special name like the Merc Speedmaster, Sportmaster or McCulloch "Sportsman" aka Custom

MN4V
06-29-2020, 08:27 PM
One OMC lower Unit was called the Clubfoot by the racers.
Not an official name from OMC.
Mark N

Dave S
06-29-2020, 09:43 PM
…...HeeHee……. ya could beeatt a SSM case...….with a clubd…...The OMC case was SOOOOO Beefey…...

Dave S
06-29-2020, 09:48 PM
468581 This is an SST 140 468582 This is a T4

Dave S
06-29-2020, 09:51 PM
Crescent leading edge first to use it as far as I know was Walter Petersen.

468583

Dave S
06-29-2020, 10:27 PM
And just forrr giggles ….I can lift/cary the ssm… need 2 hands for the T4 justa old guyhibn??

FUJIMO
07-01-2020, 08:36 PM
https://www.screamandfly.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=468583&d=1593485462

Dave S
07-01-2020, 08:45 PM
Thanks Fujmo
io master Darn old eyes ……..

Mark75H
07-02-2020, 07:10 PM
Yamato and Eldredge both used CLE in the '50's

Dave S
07-02-2020, 10:53 PM
Thanks Sam.....and for thouse that don't howyhyyy,,,,explane,,,,

Lake X Kid
03-07-2021, 05:30 PM
The elder statesmen and acknowledged guru of the performance sterndrive, John Klumpjan started in 1968 with Carl Kiekhaefer and his company Kiekhaefer Aeromarine.

He was assigned to assist engineer Larry Lohse, who would be instrumental in developing the first Speedmaster drive (the Speedmaster III). As the company introduced the Speedmaster IV and V, more race teams were using them and they only wanted one guy to rebuild them when that time came — that guy was Klumpjan.

“I have 16 world championships and eight of those were with Aeromarine,” said Klumpjan who is now 70 years old. Among the teams/owners that demanded that Klumpjan rebuild their drives were Jerry Jacoby of Ajac Hawk fame, Dr. Bob Magoon, Tom Gentry, Don Johnson, Bob Saccenti, Craig Barrie, Bernie Little and Renato Della Valle, whom Klumpjan referred to as “The Italian Donald Trump.”
“The key to doing an outdrive right, whether if it’s a 6 or an 8, is setting the gears to the horsepower and torque,” said Klumpjan. “It’s more important than ever because of the horsepower being created.” He believes that the Dry Sump Six is actually easier to work on than the Speemaster III, IV or V because of the immense size of all the components.

The most critical part of the rebuild in his eyes is properly loading the spur and helical gears before making the final settings. He does disagree with some of his colleagues that the upper gearsets are often the first to go in a Number Six. “The only reason it would go is if something plugged the oil from getting to the upper,” he said.

He said that the most important thing owners can do to extend a Number Six drive’s life is to keep up with oil changes. After the first 25 hours, or break-in, oil should be changed every 50 hours.

PRA publication
~~~~~

John K.

http://pokerrunsamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/JOHN-KLUMPJAN-253x300.jpg

Lake X Kid
03-07-2021, 05:36 PM
https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOIP.QA90KX2fAAdmFmOb3mvnVQHaFy%26pid%3DApi&f=1


“Everybody wanted to build engines or do electrical or rigging,” said Matt Gilvey. “Nobody wanted to do sterndrives because they were afraid of them. People don’t understand setting up backlash or bearing preload.”

Gilvey teamed with Klumpjan at Doller Marine in 1988. From the start, he worked on Speedmaster III and IV drives. “The Number Six came out around 1990 and Gilvey received the Mercury Marine Master Technician Award in 1993.

Gilvey said that upper gearsets take the most abuse, depending on how hard owners are on their equipment. Like his compatriots, he said that the biggest concern he has when he rebuilds a Number Six is setting the load on the two spur gears. These are the gears that sit atop the two vertical shafts in the gear case. If you don’t get the load evenly balanced between the two, the engine’s power won’t be distributed evenly. This can shorten drive life.
~~~

Brian Jackson (former student of John Klumpjan) said that in addition to setting the load on the spur gears correctly, the pinion height and the shimming of the gears become critical when engines are putting out 1,500 hp. He said that the biggest factors in determining how often drives need to built are the power running through them and how hard the operator is on the equipment.

PRA publication.

Dave S
03-07-2021, 10:06 PM
I wish someone was around when I was a kid putting them together as I had no instructions.......;) Just the small ones........when we wanted to shorten the DS......I now have the manual for the I/Os and how to set the perload .....looks like a tough job.