Cracked Mazco

[dtmeeks]

Trying to break in a new motor and found this today.
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It's a Mazco RE29.
Is it salvageable or just a wall ornament?

[TraceF3]

I'd send the pics to them and ask the same question

mazcoprops.com

[dtmeeks]

I called the number on the website and got R&R which I had heard bought mazco. They apparently have sold it and gave me another number but that guy didn't answer so I'll try again tomorrow

[STV_Keith]

Luckily you caught it before it slung. Not uncommon with thin/fast wheels that are run surface piercing. The only one I have that has been run for a while and hasn't cracked was a 29p I got new, and had cryo treated before running it. I had Kevin @ R&R/Mazco do the same thing to a new 27p RE-3 before he passed away. Haven't run that one yet, but I bet it has a long life. :)

[LakeFever]

It can be welded safely imo but for 50mph'ish use. If your running big numbers, mitigating risks at every opportunity is wise money spent and welding is risky

[XstreamVking]

Put it on the wall.....

[Dave S]

that is why..... I tend to look for old racing lowers.....the prop is not doing the speed.... the lower is.....Bring on ya 34s it is a matter when....prop....walking.... JMO.... and like Shultzs......says...

[LakeFever]

that is why..... I tend to look for old racing lowers.....the prop is not doing the speed.... the lower is.....Bring on ya 34s it is a matter when....prop....walking.... JMO.... and like Shultzs......says...

Hmm interesting, can you explain this better?

[Dave S]

no just me and my jmo...

[Bodhi]

If you can't get in touch with anyone over there, see if you have any local prop guys and get their opinion.

[dtmeeks]

If you can't get in touch with anyone over there, see if you have any local prop guys and get their opinion.

The local guy here is about 45 min away, the wrong way from where I ever go. I talked to him and he said he would look at it but also said it didn't sound likely to be fixable, or at least correctly fixed.

[rock]

I have had several welded with very limited success. Obviously the thinner the blade the less likely it will hold up. As hard as it is to lose the money these wheels cost it's much better than losing your boat or worse. Great paper weights.

Rock

[dtmeeks]

I'd hate to have one come apart at speed. I'm just glad I randomly decided to clean the carbon off this one and caught it. Dont have a lot of hope but I'm still gonna get it looked at before I throw in the towel.

[wkndracer]

Trying to break in a new motor and found this today.
It's a Mazco RE29.
Is it salvageable or just a wall ornament?

I don't post often but reading this has my hair standing up. :nonod:
Advice so far; < 50mph (why run it) and hang it on the wall is spot on.
I have 3 wheels on my wall of shame.

Folded the end of an ear on 2 labbed 14.5 x 28's. Found them back on the trailer.
The BIG one though was when I slung an ear off at the hub (closer than the crack pictured) on my favorite 14.5 x 26 Spinelli while under load out on the lake. Lucky not to have been toasted myself on that occasion.


Once tucked the trim in running 85+ to pull a left corner (against prop torque) and cracked the mid section above the lower bracket mounts (vibrated like hell) and could have lost the lower OR my cookies on that one too. Repaired it and didn't make a whole summer without signs of a fracture starting along the repair. Several folks speculated on the added alloys Mercury uses in casting the parts not liking pure alum rod used to weld the repair.

No one I knew when a bunch of us were play racing weekends would run a welded on CLE after skeg damage close to the case either.

Metal fatigues with stress cycles.
Welding always creates HAZ (heat effected zones) along both joined parts.

My rig under the right conditions is true 100mph capable.
Running higher speeds the wheel/lower unit is your only control point.

just my opinion, not worth the risk

[4Speed]

So in looking at the above posts, is Mazco / R&R still around?

[LakeFever]

I had a cracked chopper I was going to weld up but there are major challenges to welding a stainless prop. Welding stainless requires shielding gas on both sides of the weld of you get sugaring which is porous and not good at all. Then you have the filler to consider which ought to be a perfect alloy match and it’s hard to know what these props are made from so using 309 ( the stick to anything stainless filler ) is a good choice for unknown alloys but props are critical and having strength variations in the most stressed area of the blade is certainly a risk. Then as mentioned haz and warp from heat and possible hub damage if it’s a rubber hub. Balance etc etc lots of things piling on here working against success.


If if I have things like this? Used or damaged parts that might do the job but might not? I get rid of them so I don’t get tempted to use them. Once their gone, so is their risky potential


but if you had all surfaces 100% shielded and the correct filler and a steam ticketed super pro level welder do the job, then x Ray the welds, then have a prop man balance and set it? It will be as good as a new one for three times the price lol

[lbhsbz]

Can't tell you who I heard it from cuz I forgot...but a reputable source...after Kevin's passing, R&R is shutting down or has shut down and sold the Mazco business to someone else...dunno who.

I have an easy enough time cracking props that haven't been repaired...every one I've had repaired has cracked again on the next outing. I'm done fixing 'em.

[Euroski]

I had a merc ET with a smaller crack than your photo, send out to knowlegable shop... made one run and cracked again!

[STV_Keith]

Can't tell you who I heard it from cuz I forgot...but a reputable source...after Kevin's passing, R&R is shutting down or has shut down and sold the Mazco business to someone else...dunno who.

From the R&R FB page:

Due to the death of Kevin Taylor and the retirement age of our mechanics, R & R Prop Shop will be closing on July 31, 2019. Your patronage these past 25 years is very much appreciated and hope you all continue to enjoy boating.
If you are a Mazco propeller customer, their new number is 601-620-7206.

[LakeFever]

The crack happens in the most stressed out place of the prop so the repaired crack is immediately going to be the most stressed out area after the repair. I'm starting to look at props like guitars, there are many similar but no two exactly alike! Like a good wife, find a good prop and hold onto it, treat it real good, get it something nice at the flea market like a mood ring or somethin.

[XstreamVking]

Prop guy told me when a prop cracks it usually indicates there was a flaw in the casting. So, a cracked prop is one that is flawed from the beginning. Surfacing props flex a lot and a structural flaw will show when flexed repeatedly. You can also thin the blade to where it has a cycle life. Then it's a matter of time.

[JERALD]

Decent, need to accomplish something like this with mine.