Bondo, question about torque-shift

[AdamB]

Bondo, thanks for all your help in previous posts. You have stated (according to my casting #) I have a GM 350 between 1968-1979, coupled with an alpha one (I think it is anyway). <br /><br />Anyhow, I am looking to increase torque and have stumbled across some of your posts about the Land and Sea torque-shift prop. My question is, would this prop be okay to use all the time in fresh and salt water, or do you just use occassionaly. How much maintenance do they require, and how reliable are they? I don't want to be out in the ocean and loose a blade...<br /><br />How much should I expect to pay for a used one on ebay?<br /><br />Oh, and thanks for all your advice!!

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Adam---Bondo will be along soon. I will give you my 2 cents on my Torque Shift prop.<br /><br />With Bondo's help last summer, we got mine dialed in just right. I bought it new "on sale" from TS for $675. You can get them on ebay for about $300. I must say, if you purchase new, the people at TS will work with you until you are satisfied. Very little support from them if you buy used.<br /><br />I would not run this prop in salt, just my opinion.<br /><br />I use mine whenever we are pulling skiers, wakeboarders, tubes etc. NO COMPARISON on hole shot to any blade I have ever run, and I have been skiing 30-plus years behind three different I/Os. At 6-3 and 212 pounds, it is all I can do to hold on with this prop. We regularly pop out 3 tubes with adult riders with ease.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Well,<br />dd's covered most of your question.........<br />If I remember right, He was ready to sell his, till He got it Dialed-In.......<br /><br />I've been running 1 for over 3 years now...... Yes, I Love It.......... <br />Do a search for My name, member#,+ Torque-Shift Prop...... I've written quite abit on them.......<br />My 1st 1 I payed over $300.+ less than $400.... Don't remember......<br />The 2 I bought last winter I Stole for about the Same Money....... 1 was Ready to Go,+ the other needed about $30.00 in parts........<br />I've had Fair Luck with the L&S home office..... Parts are reasonably priced,+ reasonably quick..... <br />Just Pray you don't have the phone answered by Richard....... He's a Real Richardhead...... If you know what I mean....... <br />

I am looking to increase torque

OOhhh Yaaa...... Hang On.... <br />I've had several Skiers tell me I'm Pulling Too Damn Hard.....<br />Imagine All Your 260hp turning an 11" cupped SSteel prop...............<br />Your engine will Jump to WOT rpms,+ Stay There.....In a few Seconds, Your Boat,+ You will Catch-Up............ <br />

would this prop be okay to use all the time in fresh and salt water, or do you just use occasionally.

Every Second..........<br />I only run in the Salt off Maine once a year or so...... Otherwise, about 150hrs a year in freshwater....<br />

How much maintenance do they require, and how reliable are they?

Once it's Dialed In,<br />I just Lube it up real good whenever I have it off.... Couple times a year.....<br />I've had 0 Problems....... <br />Well, as long as I keep it Off the local Real Estate........ <br />

I don't want to be out in the ocean and loose a blade...

I wouldn't leave the Dock,<br />Without a Spare Prop...Ever........... <br /><br />I've spent over 5 years,+ Countless Dollars, turning an Old Scow into a Hot Rod Fishing Boat......<br />I've got 1 of Every Toy ever Thought of for this purpose.....<br />And, The Best Nickle I ever spent was on these Props............

 

[AdamB]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Bondo and DDBoater,<br /><br />Thanks for all your help, I hope my 260hp or so 350 coupled with the torque-shift prop will really jump out of the water. Now If I could just get the carb running right LOL.<br /><br />Thanks, I am bidding on 1 now on ebay, hope I get it. Looks like an older one, but comes with all instructions and such.

 

[AdamB]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Bondo,<br /><br />I purchased a used torque-shift on ebay, that doesn't come with instructions. I will probably get it this week, is there anything special I need to know?<br /><br />Thanks<br />PS Hate to beat a dead horse...

 

[garycinn]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Call up L&S and ask them to give you access to their instruction manual for the prop (on the web). Print it out and dissassemble your prop and get to know it inside and out.

 

[summit1]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Guy here is willing to sell me one for a decent price, but his was on a 26' cruiser. He said I might have to buy a new kit for it because my boat is 18.5'. Kit-what is he referring to, and what do you estimate they cost? The guy has the same drive as me, alpha 1, so it will fit, but I am just wondering what I will have to do to make it work for me. He wants $275 for it, it has a very small nick on one blade. I can get that fixed by my prop shop here like a regular ss prop right?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

If the part # ends with 26, It'll work for Your boat.......<br />If it ends in 32, it'll be Too much to make it work......<br /><br />You might need a set of Cams, or Springs.... Their not Too expencive.......<br /><br />Yes, your local Prop Shop should be able to fix that ding..... My Guy fixed some pretty beat-up blades....<br /><br />Good Luck......

 

[AdamB]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Just wanted to add I have received more help than I thought from Land and Sea considering I purchased a used prop.<br /><br />**** gave me access to the online instructions,I had questions about the steep pitch I thought my prop might be the 32" version. He reviewed the prop # and reviewed photos I emailed him and told me it is the 26" version and orginally came with "Z" cams. The person who purchased it installed "ZZ" cams, but included the original "Z" cams too.<br /><br />Great customer support, just wanted to add I am a happy camper (I mean boater

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Adam---I also found them very good to work with. You can search this forum for my whole story, but to make it short, my son somehow got a cam STUCK in one of the blades on my original prop. We tried everything, blow torch, ice, etc., etc.<br /><br />L&S took the prop back, gave me a new blade and cam, and we started over. I am very happy now.<br /><br />One note----start slow and learn how this prop works with your rig. Get the motor running right before you go out. Work your way up to about three-fourths throttle slowly, until you feel the prop begin to shift. Mark that rpm.<br /><br />Then, you can hit it full throttle and make a note of how high your RPMs go before you feel the prop pitch change.<br /><br />Do this all with your trim down. Experiment with trim after you get a really good feel for the prop.<br /><br />Get the instruction book if you can---it goes over all the adjustments.<br /><br />Have fun!!

 

[AdamB]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Just wanted to update this post...<br /><br />I have finally gotten to use my torque-shift prop. All I can say is wow!! I ended up using the "ZZ" cams, and have the adjustment screws 1.5 turns in, and am still getting around 5100 rpms. I still need to adjust but can say the hole shot is incredible. I did have to remove the trim tab to allow the prop to fit on my alpha one.<br /><br />I haven't quite gotten my previous speed with my 19" prop aluminum prop, but am getting close... a little more tweaking and I think I'll have the best of both worlds.<br />I may switch back to the Z cams for a little more rpms out of the hole. With the ZZ cams it hits around 4800 rpms on my dash tach (not sure if it is accurate)

 

[wvit100]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

4800 rpm is about max for that motor. I think mine says 4600 - 4800 at WOT

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

With the ZZ cams it hits around 4800 rpms on my dash tach (not sure if it is accurate)

I'd Leave it Right There,........That's at the Peak of that motors Torque Curve,......<br />You should be turning the screws Out,...... Get the WOT down to 4800rpms Too...........<br />I Think you'll find the lost mph there.......<br /><br />With My little 4.3LX,... I started with the screws all the way In,.. And turned Out from there,.....<br />Using the L&S prop pitch gage,.. I figure I'm at about 20" when shifted out,...... <br />Don't remember which cams are in the 1 on the boat,....... <br />I am running the 45# springs on it,.... Keeps it from shifting so soon,.. Better for Trolling,........ <br />

but can say the hole shot is incredible.

Ayuh,............... Don't Ya Just Love It,............

 

[WSUDERMAN]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Bondo, What do you lube the prop with? and do you lube the plastic ring as well?<br /><br />thanks

 

[AdamB]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Okay, I have the "ZZ" cams in, with only 1 turn in from all the way out so I figure I'm running 24" of pitch of the 26" pitch available and still getting around 5000 rpms.<br /><br />I still am only getting 42 mph on the GPS compared to 44 before. I still have 1 complete turn out to use, but I don't think my 260 hp alpha-one could use the whole 26" of pitch.<br /><br />I am wondering if the prop isn't shifting all the way out. Some more experimenting is in order LOL.<br /><br />I think I should use the 15 lbs springs too, I have to make it up shift. Basically floor it for the hole shot, back off throttle while trimming all the way out... then give throttle again. If I just leave it pegged, it'll way over rev...<br /><br />I don't have any 15 lbs springs, so have to order some of them.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bondo, question about torque-shift

Originally posted by 78fourwinns:<br /> Bondo, What do you lube the prop with? and do you lube the plastic ring as well?<br /><br />thanks

Water,........... <br /><br />Although I use a finger full of whatever Grease is close by when I assemble 1,.....No, I don't lube the plastic collar....<br />I'm Sure that by the end of the 1st day,.. It's washed off,+ Water is the Lubricant......<br /><br />The only Wear Factor I've noticed so far, is if the prop contacts any RealEstate,......<br />And,.. I'm Sure that grease won't Help with that Problem............. <br /><br /><br />AdamB,......<br />You're getting Close,..........<br />Turn it Out a little more to get the rpms down to the 4800rpms that Your Motor Loves,.......<br /><br />You want to get it so that with the Drop of the Throttle,..... The motor will Spring to 4800rpms,+ Stay Right There........<br />While the Boat Tries to Catch Up............... <br /><br />Ya gotta Admit,..............<br />Once it's Tuned,+ Running Right,.......<br />It's True Love.........<br /><br />I'm up to 1 On the boat,......And,.. 2 Spares.....<br />I'll Never be Without 1 Again..........