Can a person go Left Handed?

**Krazymaan** · 12-26-2016, 10:37 PM

Just curious because I never ever hear of anyone running a single lefty motor on a boat. So if someone is selling their twin engine setup and they always have the left handed motor left last and selling it cheaper than a righty. Why cant you put a single lefty engine on your boat? with a lefty latham or what ever brand and prop and all that jive? Whats the big deal if your boat is symmetrical on the bottom. Why would it matter?

**johnboy 88 vegas** · 12-26-2016, 10:53 PM

Sounds like it would be just like driving an American muscle car.....bada** until you have to find a prop that works as good as a set of drag slicks for cheap. Lefty is fine and dandy but just costs more testing and tuning unless you have friends with leftys as well.

**Capt.Insane-o** · 12-26-2016, 11:29 PM

Lefty gearcases have about half the lifespan.

**NICE PAIR** · 12-27-2016, 12:10 AM

Lefty's also require more frequent oil changes. (the way the thrust is handled seems to burn the oil faster)

**tux974** · 12-27-2016, 05:35 AM

They also take a bit less lube more guts.

**olboatman** · 12-27-2016, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by Capt.Insane-o

Lefty gearcases have about half the lifespan.

I don't disagree with this but would like to ask the age old question "Why"? Any ideas? Thanks Gary

**MODVP22** · 12-27-2016, 06:50 AM

Yes, they can. All the F1's do it. I know several guys here that have done it. It would be easier to turn left also. There was some stern drive company a while back that only turned left handed.

**Davidlake** · 12-27-2016, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by olboatman

I don't disagree with this but would like to ask the age old question "Why"? Any ideas? Thanks Gary

The left gear case holds quite a bit less gear lube due to the way the bearings are installed. A "lefty" can be spun either clockwise or counter clockwise because of the thrust bearings that resist the forces. They take up more room in the gear case. I feel that the reduced lube capacity is the reason that they tend to have a shorter life.

**Krazymaan** · 12-27-2016, 08:17 PM

So actually the entire engine rotates the other way as well?
I thought it just in the lower unit. Or can it be either way?

**90 5.0** · 12-27-2016, 08:23 PM

Originally Posted by MODVP22

Yes, they can. All the F1's do it. I know several guys here that have done it. It would be easier to turn left also. There was some stern drive company a while back that only turned left handed.

F1's use right hand gear cases. The motor actually turns to the left, in turn the in the prop the other direction

a left hand gear case on a left hand motor would turn to the right.

**kct11** · 12-27-2016, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by Davidlake

The left gear case holds quite a bit less gear lube due to the way the bearings are installed. A "lefty" can be spun either clockwise or counter clockwise because of the thrust bearings that resist the forces. They take up more room in the gear case. I feel that the reduced lube capacity is the reason that they tend to have a shorter life.

Are you saying you can run a lh lower hard in reverse and it will be OK?... Like with a rh prop

**Wayne Cammidge** · 12-28-2016, 12:31 AM

A Lefty Box will live as long with either left hand or right hand props on it.
Just not going to live as long as a Righty Box with right hand props on it.

I am sure that the Verado style Lefty box is going to be almost as good as the Righty, very little different between the 2

**Chummy** · 12-28-2016, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by 90 5.0

F1's use right hand gear cases. The motor actually turns to the left, in turn the in the prop the other direction

a left hand gear case on a left hand motor would turn to the right.

No sir, the F1 boats run LH rotation motors and LH rotation speedmasters. The new 200sst motors motors rotate RH and the gearcase takes the engine rotation and reverses it to LH rotation

**Krazymaan** · 12-28-2016, 09:39 AM

So a lefty motor will rotate left (counter clockwise) because F1 racing is all left hand turns so if you want to call it the gyroscope effect, a motor rotating left can turn left easier because its going with the momentum of the motor rotation and not fighting against it? Something like that? Thats how I am interpreting it. Same goes for a prop that turns counter clockwise, its always turning into the turns instead of away from the turns... Do I have this correct?

**baja200merk** · 12-29-2016, 10:55 AM

Running a left hand case on a fishing boat or similar will have no affect on how the boat performs. All the used Left hand props I've bought were about 1/3 the cost of a used right hand. I don't have any evidence the CR cases I deal with (brp) are weaker but due to their reverse thrust bearing you CANNOT run them in reverse with a rh prop on it. They willl not live long at all