500efi RPM
 

My engine rpm at w.o.t is 4800. Sent my prop in to bblades and had it labbed. Was told I should gain approximately 200-300 rpm. Put the prop back on and tested, I didn't gain any rpm at all according to my dash gauge and I lost my top end speed by about 9 mph. My top end speed was 74mph and now I can barely squeeze out 65mph. I don't have a stock 26p prop to go back to see if the labbing is my problem, or do I need to change something with the engine to gain rpm? Anybody else run into this problem? This post is not a slam or complaint towards bblades, the workmanship done to the prop is top notch and I really gained out of the hole and mid range. I was just trying to get a feel if it could possibly be the prop or something with the engine. I think it's time to do a leak down and compression test.

I have never heard anything negative about him or his work. Suggestion: edit this post out so it doesn't sound like a complaint, then get hold of him directly. I am sure he will do something to take care of you. Nobody's product is ever 100% perfect. But you should give the guy you did business with a chance to at least discuss the issue before you go public...

I'd be pulling the spark plugs and see whats going on.could be a wide variety of things going away.check the basics,,fuel and spark,make sure they're healthy.

I wonder what is going on at Bblades:confused:.... We also had a local guy send his brand new props to them for labbing after getting #'s. Well he went from 74 mph to 11 mph!!! Boat wont even get on plane any more with out them blowing out. Had to swap props at the sand bar with another boat just so he could enjoy the weekend out.

92nsx,

What's going on at BBLADES is what has been going on since the day we opened the door. The best possible propeller sales repair, Lab Finishing and consultation we can offer.
I find it interesting when people who really aren't informed, offer their options in a negative way without complete exposure to the whole story.
I have no idea who you or what you are talking about. But, I bet there is a final answer that will explain everything and we look forward to doing that. Hopefully, if this is true, we will hear from the person with the issue. We have a great reputation for a reason and we will maintain it. Even when people try to bring you down.
92nsx, your avatar seems familiar to me. Do you have a ulterior motive?

Sincerely,
Brett

Bigstick,

It looks like, from what you posted, that you did gain rpm. And, we reduced the slip % sizablely.
What I mean is, In order for you to increase mid range speed or efficiency, and not lose WOT rpm, rpm had to ultimately go up.
You're just not seeing it at WOT. So, there is probably a adjustment that can be done to reduce the mid range increases and add to WOT.
We may have tightened up the progression too much.
I'd do the engine checks first though.

Brett

Sorry for the ill comment from 92nsx, I really have a hard time believing 74mph to 11mph. Brett your shop did an excellent job working my prop, especially considering it was damaged when you received it. I feel the mid range gains were pretty significant. I don't run my boat at WOT much so it's really not a big concern, just kind of more a wow factor than anything else. I will run some tests with the engine first and if my results end up good, we can go from there. And again, sorry for any confusion about my post! I would never hesitate to send you another prop!



Gerald LaLonde

Gerald,
Thank you for the follow up.
If there is something we can do to improve, of course we will. At least we can try to get some top speed back. It will most likely require some give back in the mid range. There is usually give and take with this adjustment. The adjustments can usually be reversed or modified.
Torque and HP curves affect the changes too. 9mph is a substantial and quite unusual drop in speed. I do feel there may be something else occurring.
Let me know how the engine checks go.

Brett

+1 I've had excellent results from Bblades/Brett's consulting and prop work.....Repeated several times. Won't use anyone else myself.

I dont think 92nsx intent was to bash. He's been around and knows better. I'm givin the benefit of the doubt on this one. You're in great hands Gerald, but you knew that.

Brent,
No intent to bash, noulterior motive . Brent you labbed my old boats prop and worked good. 265 Baja.

How ever Charles sent you his off his props after testing for the numbers. 31 Scarab, 27 mirage's. I can get you bb numbers tonight if needed. His first time out with then new labbed props(this 4th july wknd).. 11 mph. Could not get on plane or passed 1500 rpms with out blowing out. We tried every combo. Last year was a 74 mph. So 74 to 11 mph. I'm sure he called you July 5th about it.

To keep him on the water that Monday we swapped/removed the props off the 302 (26 bravos) and put on his Scarab. 302 Pete wanted to try my 25 mirage+ anyways.

There is the story. No bashing, just real life, first hand experience, with facts. No BS. Brent you have my info feel free to contact me or Charles.

My avatar? I'll have to look and see once on a computer.

Best regards
Rob Miller

​​​​​​Edit: He call the 6th, and spoke to Brad. So Brent you should be able to get more from him. You want Charles to eat more shipping cost so you can measure them again. You just measured and labbed them. What is there to measure again?

Rob,
Thank you for writing. Actually my name is Brett not Brent.

Here are the actual facts.

I went to our customer sending in board (where we put paperwork and notes accumulated during phone conversations when a customer is going to send in props) and found his work order.
Charles B. spoke to Brad on 7-7-17. According to Brad's notes, the props are supposed to come back for inspection. We still have not seen them return. Brad said the conversation went fine.

Here's the interesting part. We did not Lab Finish the props as you stated. We only repaired then back to box stock condition. The props came in with leading edge nicks and dings. No geometry adjustments were made. None. We simply cleaned them up and balanced and polished them.

The props originally came in with a BBLADES shipping form with information about the boat and the performance numbers and the customers desires.
Per the customer shipping form, Charles wrote........."I have changed a lot on the boat and would like to Lab these to stock so I can get true RPM and speed numbers".

Charles did not include past WOT rpm nor speed information on the performance sheet, because he didn't have any! It was made clear that we were to just clean up the props to stock not Lab them. Charles didn't mean to use the term Lab in his request to bring the props to box stock form.
Also, we received these props at the end of Feb. 2017, and returned them in April. There is no way there was any testing of the boat changes made pre Feb. in MN. I assume he didn't run the boat at all till July 4th. If he did, even more information is missing.

So, there is the actual situation. BBLADES didn't mess up Charles props. Something else is going on here.
92nsx, you might not be trying to bash anyone but your story is incomplete and indirectly can can cause harm. It might be wise to let the guy who actually has the props to do the story telling.

Brett

Brett,
We can type all day. Just here to share our experance. Isn't that what we all do? Good or bad? I praised you back when you did mine.

Call the customer of needed, he would love to hear from ya. If you want ill bring the boat and props to my house then ill be in position of it. All of it. When Charles called he gets told your to busy. He is also a very busy person.

Cliff notes on the props. Lab / bring them to spec, what ever. My wrong wording. So your saying bent up, dinged up, out of wack, ect. props are better then bringing them back to spec?. That don't add up. But I'm not a prop guy. That I leave to you.

And yes the 4th was the first time out. And yes no boat work goes on in the arctic winter here in MN. Yes the engines are warmed up a bit, and always have been as stated and you know. They have been like that for a few years now. What changed is him sending the props out to make them perfect.

Your shop is stand up as I can contest when you labbed mine. But this time something isn't right or didn't go right with the 27's. Charles don't want money, dosent want free ****, just wants props that work like they did last year. Boating season is short as you know up here. Last year 74 mph, 5000 rpms, this year 11 mph and blow out at 1500 rpms.

74 to 11 mph.

Thank you for your time,
Rob

https://youtu.be/IqRW_12nLas

https://youtu.be/u0Bymr4cMeE

Props worked last year as seen all season. Now they don't. Only thing that changed is bblades fixing them to spec to make them perfect. Sorry. End of story. I'm done helping and standing up for people.

I'll run the leak down test and compression test and report back the number when I can find the time to get them done! Thanks again!

Gerald

Gerald, again, after our conversation last night i believe you have something going on beyond the props,, if you have a 1.5 drive, and had a stock 26 i dont see your boat running 74 mph at 4800 rpms as your slip would be 6%. I havent seen numbers that low ever on a single vee. Tach reading wrong, very well could be, prop not letting you get back to previous speed for whatever reason, entirely possible but 74 mph previous gps speed at 4800, i dont see it. Verify or swap your tach. Maybe a friend has a digital snapon timing light you could set to display rpms, clip it on, close hatch and have someone watch it at wot. Txt me when you dig deeper, and if you want to tune or dyno your motor you have my number, Smitty

Ill dig deeper and let you know! We'll definitely hook up after peak season and dyno this motor! Thanks again Smitty!