Question for Gladiator owners
 

My gladiator really leans to the side of the forward motor (starboard). I kept everything equally balanced when rigging and figured that my weight (200lbs) would offset the weight of the extra drive shaft weight of the forward motor but it doesn't.

What are your boats riding like when loaded or alone? Do you have to use the tabs much to even the ride out?

Must be the Fords!! LOL :evilb: :D :D

my boat leans alittle to the port side, my forward engine is on the port side and the tork of the engines make it lean to the left. to run conpletly level i have to drag the port tab a hair, but bairly. hope this helps

Congrats on your win yesterday. You guys looked great out there!

Chris

My port motor is the forward motor and my boat does not seem to lean at all. What I find interesting is that I almost went to a left hand drive and Neil said that he would have to put the starboard side motor forward to compensate. As we all know, all of the later Glads had the starboard motor forward making the install a little easier for the factory. I wonder if there is an actual correct way to decide what motor goes forward in a staggered setup.

Ours has the port stagger and it doesn't lean at all. It only does a little if there's more people on one side but only a little tab input corrects it. Usually its just two of us and it runs perfectly level.

The forward motor is probably losing a little torque and HP due to the drive shaft assembly. Could this be causing the issue?

Interesting perspective, I am sure some parasitic loss is enevatable. Enough to cause the tilt?

locations I changed from stock

Moved batteries back
closed cooling on stringers, not engines
oil coolers moved to middle stringer, down low
shortened drive shaft .500" (to fit bigger engine)
added bilge pump filters on port side

The starboard side closed cooling holds about 1/2 gallon less due to shorter hose routing. But this is the side riding low.

I adjust trim to keep RPMs equal at same throttle position, I turn the props out (factory setting) I have to set the starboard tab down 4 inches from all the way up to even the ride out.

Fuel topped off in both tanks

?????? anything standing out?

The factory sets up the props to turn in and is pretty adamant about keeping it that way.



P.S. Beautiful engine compartment!!!

2112, I'm curious, does it lean while running and floats level.
Are your Fords left hand motors? Did you say you trimmed your drives to syncronize rpms?
If you are sync'ing engines to limiters on a speed run I would understand but as a general rule? My buddy Lilly tuned his bottoms on his race boats to run even.
Jim

I think it has to do with the rotational mass of the distributers being so far forward.


Very good looking engine compartment.


PS- Chryslers might help with lift using this same logic....


I think I'm on to something here!

I promise the props turned out from the factory. That is an easy fix though.

Jim, The motors rotate to the port side (side riding high). High speeds are hard to discern but the tilt is readily evident at cruising, 50-70mph.

When the trim indicators say the drives are even but rpms are slightly off, a quick little bump on the trim switch rectifies it sometimes.

[QUOTE=2112;2267194]I promise the props turned out from the factory. That is an easy fix though.




That is very strange. You should talk to Bud about that and the leaning issue.

See what swinging in will do. If everything is balanced at rest but it leans at speed, Check for variations in the running surface side to side. Maybe a fwd step shows a slight variation. 1 /32 rocker or hook could lean the boat. Most people would except it and use the tab, I guess you won't. My buddy Art Lilly couldn't either he'd tune the bottom. Though his interest was WOT .
Jim

Yep, I will need to solve this, Tuning the bottom may be necessary. Boat is worth it.

Paul, Before I contact Bud, who is always helpful BTW, let me get the nomenclature nuts on.

When I say "turns out" I mean the Port prop rotates counter clockwise (starboard is clockwise) when you are standing behind the boat looking at the props. Is this correct?

correct.

I would expect the guys at the factory know the specifics. If its all straight or if they know where a rocker is a benefit and if so how much.
Jim

How Gladiator props turn...actually all staggereds Cig's I believe...
They turn in.....

mine has the port motor forward, and is level at rest and at speed, props turn in.

2112
Check you trim tabs first to see if they are even then check your drives and see if they are even.
you should switch your drives so they turn in (not out like they are)


Rick OSG

Everything is even as you suggested. I will switch to rotating in although I am curious why they rigged it to turn out?

Without a doubt!!! :D :drink:

What took you so long brutha? :drink: I knew you wouldn't let this by

Rick,

Either Neill or Phil told me your best results were with stock Bravo 1 props, True? remember the pitch?

I know your talkin gladiators but I have a similar problem w/ my 38. The boat runs starboard side heavy but easily correctable with a little tab. The dealer tried to correct this but was unable to . Cigarette has the boat now and promises to have this taken care of for KW.

Switching from turning out to turning in solved 90% of my problem.

That's great to hear. How was handling and ride?

mine turn out michael, but I'm not reaching the speeds you are. realistically it's basic hydro dynamics, by staggered and turning in, the drives have more of a forward propulsion and will "scavenge" off one another, for wfo runs this is great. It all has to deal with the amount of water they pull through and the spacing on the hull. dock a boat wth side by side, you can spin it in a circle easy, one fwd one reverse, with cats even faster as the distance the drives are apart, but with a stagger and them close to gether it takes a little longer, just all characteristics of set ups. glad to see you're getting her dialed in. take your time and do it right.

Docking is a pain. Seem to have evrything working well but I still have some props to test.

Tried to have my wife take a pic of me coming by the house at speed but all we got was a blur:D

2112

Sorry I don't remember
I will look around here to see if I can find what props I was running & Pitch I do know that they were 6 blade herring :D
or you can just ask bigdanc I am sure he konws


Rick OSG

michael,im running 29 pitch 6 blade herrings seems to be the best set up for the gladiator with 800 zuls. i also run 32 pitch bravos non labbed,harder to plane off ,and your right docking is a pain with the drives so close together.

Once you get used to it and figure out all the diffrences, you can dock this set-up as easily as a traditional side by side set-up. (It only took me 2 years to get it right!) :D

My set up is nearly identical to yours. I am experimenting with bravo 32" and 34". What kind of rpm are you running up top with the 29"s?

Right now I dock with one drive and use the other engine to make sure power steering fluid is circulating and as a back up should I kill the first motor.

with the herrings turning 5600@108gps , have not done any testing with the bravos at top end, mid range acceleration with the herrings is amazing!!, also very little slip when planning.

I would have guessed a lot more RPM. Must be the lack of slip the 6 blades give you. I assume you haven't had any drive issues.

His drives have been beefed up by Philly.

I remember that, but they are still Bravo drives and he has big power and many blades :D:D. I think I remember a u-joint blowing out a while back.

I am just not convinced more than 4 blades is the way to go. I need some bow lift, not a lighter rear end. I am personally convinced that our boats need to keep the rear planted for tracking, especially in turns, and I like to get my speed without trimming the drives way out. Phil told me he liked unlabbed Bravo 1 props best but I don't remember why he felt that way.

But I am still dialing in and I may just change my mind. That is why I am asking you guys with more seat time:drink: what you are experiencing.

2112,

my Gladiator liked an in between size, 32 bravo banged down to 31 labbed Little to no cup. that got me the last 3 mph. The little to no cup was the secret with mine.

I tested 4, 5, and 6 blades and the more blades the better hole shot and mid range and the worse the top end.

I got less bow lift with the 5 and 6 blades. Then again I got a lot more bow lift with my standard drives before I changed to shorts and lost a lot of steering at the same time.

I was turning out but I was not staggered and running 1.5 gear ratio.

If you are running 1.36 and big power you will have a different scenario.

That boat was a picky sob when it came to props.

If it were me I would jump in the props section and get with Brett form BBlades or give him a call. He is pretty familiar with the Cig T/S proping issues.

I just recently discussed this with Phil in a lengthy discussion. Phil feels the best prop for a Glad is the 6 blade Hering. Second best is the 5 blade Hering and third best is a labbed 34. Now, remember, Phil has sold and operated more Gladiators than any other dealer and has more seat time in these boats than anyone else I know of including the factory. He also told me that the typical Gladiator likes to be trimmed out to no more than 3-3.5 on the trim indicator. And, I have to admitt that I have not found any better overall prop at this time than the 6 blade Hering.
Too much stern lift? Not according to Phil. I would like to try a modified Maximus as well as Throttle-Up,s new propellor. The search continues.