Im running a 12 3/4 x 21" stock prop...do I just turn the trim tab to fix? how much do I turn it and in what direction? anything else? thanks

Modified by timmernator at 8:11 AM 6/6/2009

Your stock (junk) prop is the main culprit, it's slipping, which causes the pull. Choices are to lower motor until prop quits slipping, or better, get a better prop that runs at a higher setting. Lazer or powertech four blade w/small vents would be my first two choices.

Last bandaid would be a $15 torque tab on your skeg.
Pat Goff

Two degrees from center
of nowhere.
Smithwick TX.

try a 19p laser-II or a 20p if hitting limiter too much......dont expect to get to 50mpg/gps unless you spedn some $$ setting it up & tweeking the prop......not going to happen overnight though.

to answer a few questions, the motor is mounted on the 3rd hole down from the top..thats where the tech said it should be... the WOT rpm is around 4900...

I adjusted the trim tab sunday..it was on the 1st notch to the left...I moved it to the 2nd or 3rd notch to the right..5-oclock apx..My brother and I tested it Sunday morning at 6am..the lake was glass..

it still didnt want to go much faster than 42mph/gps...it still pulled hard to the right on takeoff..hole shot is still not good and pulls very, very hard to the right until starting to trim up, then it levels out nicely...but its a bear to hold after crashing the trottle wide open...once trimmed, it rides good now and I can take my hands off of the wheel..MUCH BETTER!! but I know it still isnt right or at least what I expected...

it maybe that I cannot hold it WOT for more than 10-15 seconds at a time according to the mercury handbook???...but I did...the motor barely has an hour on it... but I tried it to about 30 seconds...would more time at WOT and full trim give me more MPH? Im new to this..Ive been running the 40HP mrcury tracker motor for 5 years..it was mounted on the top hole and would run 28MPH?GPS with me and a full tank of gas...

anything else Im forgetting? I really appreciate all the help I am getting from you guys! THANKS AGAIN IN ADVANCE!!!

Quote, originally posted by plki »

Even my slightly tweeked 75 Opti spins a 22" Laser II with a very good holeshot on a 640LX. The 20" Laser II was all over the limiter at 3/4 throttle and gets ballistic out of the hole. In case you don't know the 75/90 Opti's have 2.33-1 gears as your 115 Opti has 2.07-1. So you can't compare what prop it will spin with your 115 Opti's results. Also the 19" Laser II's fit the larger gear case.

I did not realize that they were gear differntly.......thanks for that info

if I use the calculator then(with your #'s).......you should have no prob's with your 22 then

Why? Because he obviously didn't spend any time with you explaining break in, what's involved and what to expect.

You are describing normal pulls from prop torque, so nothing to be excited about there. That motor takes 8 hours of RUN time to get out of break in, so until you get some time on it, it's going to run like a turd. Get some hours on your rig, and then come back and let's tweak it.

Lazy dealers make me insane.
Pat Goff

Two degrees from center
of nowhere.
Smithwick TX.

Im fishing another tourney this saturday...will maybe put an hour on it..it will take me a month or so to put the hours on it, as we are fishing short early morning saturday tourneys and get off the water before all the idiots take over...

I hear ya about the laziness..I tried and waited for an hour or so, but they were short handed the day I picked it up..I called and asked about them lake testing again, but kinda just got the brush-off...being my boat was so old and they couldnt find any set-up info for it..the tech just went by expereince I guess?? He told me to bring it back in after 20 hours and he would plug it up to the computer and check it out...I dont have a clue what really needs to be done? he told me to vary the throttle every 10 seconds and dont stay WOT for more than 10 seconds...

The opti was installed on a 1995 nitro TF160...kind of an old boat, but its a creme-puff...just wanted more speed and reliability..thanks again

from 20mph to 35mph it tracks straight..can let go of wheel no problem...but above 35mph it now is pulling to the left..not too bad, but bad enough not to let go of the wheel to find out..

well after all that, while on the way back, the lake was full of debri and logs and sticks...had to almost stop and idle thru the carp! Im not sure what happened, but the motor reved up many times..I could see spray coming from the back like I was dragging something?? I stopped, lifted motor to check, but nothing there...it felt like it was vibrating now??

I finally made it back thru the mine field..loaded up, only to find my stock alum. prop bent bad on one tip, and another tip bent just a bit..Did I suck up a stick in between the plate and prop?? I didnt think I hit anything at speed?? oh well, sorry for the letter...

currently looking for a reasonable 22p laser II..thanks again guys!!

09' ZX225 Skeeter
09' 225 Series 2
997c si & 788 ci w/Interlink
101 Fortrex 45" US2
Croxtonized 25T1
2 1/4" Below @ 70mph full load summer

I apologize for the delay, but honestly I forgot before it was too late..then the post office was closed, so I had to wait until today...I sent it off this morning 1st class mail..you should get it in a couple days..

thanks again for all your help and going out of your way to do this for me..I truely appreciate it! I will let you know how it worked on Sunday after fishing tourney on saturday