Mercury / Quicksilver Chopper propellers

[concorde]

Hi,

I think many people here are familiar with Mercury / Quicksilver Chopper props, so I'm hoping to get collective info about those props collected in one topic. I'm interested mainly in older Choppers with 14 (small ear) and 14,5 (big ear) diameters from Mercury / Quicksilver

So any info for questions below are highly appreciated.

So those questions:

• Which years these bigger Choppers were manufactured?
• Some are labeled as Quicksilver and some as Mercury? What is the difference, or is there any?
• Chopper vs Chopper II. Are there both versions with 14/14,5" diameters? or is this Chopper II the current 10" prop?
• When were Flo-Torq hub kits introduced to Choppers? And was it applied to both small ear and big ear Choppers?
• What difference has props with barrel info A4 and A5 (if any)?

Overall any history on these (amazing) props would be very nice to read...

And the listing of those barrel numbers & other valuable info can be found on the table below (BIG thanks to LakeFever!):



Here are my current choppers. Left 48-13370-26 big ear and right 48-75772-A5-24P small ear.

[LakeFever]

I’m not sure what the first year they built choppers was but the small ear was the first design. As the engines made more horsepower the large ear was developed. This chart is quite helpful

[concorde]

Thanks LakeFever!

That table answered most of my questions already. Superb!

[Petey]

Hi,

I think many people here are familiar with Mercury / Quicksilver Chopper props, so I'm hoping to get collective info about those props collected in one topic. I'm interested mainly in older Choppers with 14 (small ear) and 14,5 (big ear) diameters from Mercury / Quicksilver

So any info for questions below are highly appreciated.

So those questions:

• Which years these bigger Choppers were manufactured?
• Some are labeled as Quicksilver and some as Mercury? What is the difference, or is there any?
• Chopper vs Chopper II. Are there both versions with 14/14,5" diameters? or is this Chopper II the current 10" prop?
• When were Flo-Torq hub kits introduced to Choppers? And was it applied to both small ear and big ear Choppers?
• What difference has props with barrel info A4 and A5 (if any)?

Most prop lines were converted from rubber hubs to the Flo Torq system between 1997~2002. The small ears were long gone by then, I think those ended in 1989. Choppers were sold thru Mercury Racing until 2017, and were discontinued due to low demand. At that time, the 14.50" 3 blade cleavers and the LH models of the Lightning ET were also discontinued. Lightning ET's are still offered today in 26-32 pitch and RH rotation only. There is one small Chopper still offered that is 10 3/8 x 18 pitch, those were completely different models than the traditional Choppers you are asking about, the small ones still have the rubber hubs and are for 40-60hp only.

[LakeFever]

Finding a never been worked mint shape small ear of any pitch is getting into unicorn territory now. Another interesting bit of info that will surely help many is the tempest plus has enough blade size and the right shape to cut it into a lightning et profile. The tempest is tough as heck while the lightning et is known to crack or toss a blade now and then. It’s not low dollar to have props worked up like this but for an everyday prop the tempest is a solid platform. Some shorten the barrel length too.

[FUJIMO]

...the original small ears came out in '75 & they're original target market was for inline six bassboaters. they were then used on the first 175 merc bassboaters. the first large ear choppers were very popular in offshore outboard racing...

[FUJIMO]

"QuickSilver" prop stamps indicate it came from Mercury's Parts & Accessories Division inventory. Completely the same props though, than a non Quicksilver stamped part number prop...most of the time. "Sometimes" the finish could be mildly different when new. Thats about it...

[David]

The first time I saw that chart was on a site called Adam’s Dock. It was super useful then. Now, used choppers seem to be a thing of the past.

A fatshaft small ear chopper might be the ticket for my SS2000, but that’s a dream

[John S]

If you can find a chopper with the Hydromotive knob cut, your SS200 will thank you.

[David]

I have heard good things about the knob cut. If someone buys my drag 3 copy, I will ask Hydromotive about a 26 T4X. I have a 28 T4X that’s is great, but maybe taller than I need 90% of the time

[LakeFever]

What’s a knob cut chopper look like? Anyone got a pic of one?

[concorde]

Now, used choppers seem to be a thing of the past.

That "thing of the past" defines my 1973 boat nicely

[David]

There was a long thread about knob cuts on the Allison board in 2009 (I searched for it)

https://forum.allisonowners.com/inde...6p.6647/page-6

The first two pictures are stock chopper, the next two after the Knob cut. It cost $225 at the time and you could buy a used chopper for $300 then.

[LakeFever]

Thanks for the pics. Looks similar to an et cut, sort of a srx shape. I’m sure it runs hard

[John S]

Mine ran very similar to a Yamaha drag, without the worries of losing a blade. It was so smooth and predictable, carried the bow perfect at level trim. I remember trying a Hoss (forget the model), and damned near lost the bow, because the damned thing kept climbing, and I was so used to my knob cut, lol. Thom and Todd really had a good thing with that cut.