Propeller Problem, Is This a Max 5 or a Maximus 5?
 

I purchased a used propeller that was supposed to be a Mercury Racing Max 5 27p. I was told that it had one small ding that I could file out but all of the blades are nicked up rather badly including a 1 1/2 millimeter size chunk gone. The part number stamped inside the prop is that of a Maximus 28p and it has been repitched to a 27 as indicated by the number in the pictures. The word Max 5 has also been stamped onto it along with 27p. The logo on the outside of the barrel does not match that of pictures of either the Max 5 or the Maximus. The thick barrel and lack of a flair or diffuser look like a Max 5. What the heck do I have here? The first pic is of a Max 5 from Teague's site. Note that the logo is different from mine but the thick, straight barrel does look like mine. The other pics are of the prop in question.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...22843bef92.png
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f7237f9598.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3edb8af5ce.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b31f0ab1d7.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...4d8d82d23a.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7166463ee4.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2343ba1790.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e2cafac3f7.jpg

Logo Comparison. Similar but not quite the same. First is genuine Max 5, second is prop in question.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...2d2c7ab265.png
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...efa78bac14.jpg

Carl , I think there are 2 max 5 props. One is a ST and the others a LT. I think the ST denotes a short tube and LT is a long tube. I think your hull needs the ST for bow lift. Maybe someone will weigh in on the differences.

The max 5 is a cut down modified Maximus from mercury. From the picture the diameter looks big but that’s probably just the picture. This one looks like originally it left Mercury as a Maximus and was modified to max 5 specs.

Thanks. Yes there are two barrel lengths and I'm not sure which I have. This prop did come off a Donzi 22 from a reliable source who did inform me that the blades had some nicks but that one nick is pretty deep. He said it worked better than any other prop on his 540 22 Classic but he changed to a higher pitch when he upped the power. He has offered to take it back if I can't use it so that is not the issue here. I just thought it was odd that the casting numbers are that of a Maximus but maybe Mercury used a modified casting mold? I do plan to test it on my 525 powered 22 Classic when the lakes again become liquid. If I like the performance then it will go to BBlades after I get some baseline numbers and I will have him clean it up and possibly repitch it to a 28 which I expect that I will need. Is that nick a problem? Does that mean that each blade has to be cut down that far?

I think you are dialed in with the shorty and the bravo prop. I personally think you would be better off running a regular bravo lower in the big lakes. You simply cannot leverage the stern enough to get proper bow lift in a chop or the washing machine waves you are running. I think they are great for a lake or river but when the wind kicks up on bigger bodies of water the shorty isn’t the best performer. I ran one on my classic and went back to a regular lower because I couldn’t get decent bow lift. When you can trim up a little , set the tabs down a bit to trip the stern and extend your running length , it makes for a more efficient ride. We can only expect so much from a 22 foot boat.

I suppose that is possible but the logo cast in the side and the thickness of the rear of the barrel suggest otherwise. It's a mystery! Where is Brett? lol

Bow lift doesn't seem to be a problem on my boat and the Max 5 is supposed to improve it. I also have a 28p Bravo 1 on it's way which could be repitched to 29. The 30 I'm running now seems a bit too much. It is designed for big OB's and for high powered small single engine stern drives. My boat loves two foot chop. Threes and I have to slow down. Fours I'm going minimal planing speed. Anyway I'm looking forward to some prop testing this spring and the Rinda test tach will give me exact rpms. I'm still wondering what's up with this prop. Perhaps it was a Maximus 28 modified to a Max 5 27 but that seems unlikely. Is that 1 1/2 mm chip in the blade going to be a problem to fix? Brett. where are you!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b73ee70e6d.jpg

I purchased a new Max 5 from Teague almost 2 years ago now. Here is a picture of the hub. It looks like yours with the maximus pitch XX out as Mercury starts with a maximus and modifies it.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...a6099c632c.jpg

That is exactly what i needed to see and to know! Thank you very much! Are you happy with the performance?

I'm not running it anymore as I added a Whipple, but on the stock 496HO vs a 24P bravo it gave me 2mph on top and even more at cruise speed. Less cavitation coming onto plane too. I was very impressed. They are expensive though so this round I went with a cheaper option from Cutting edge. They make a very similar prop to the Max 5 for about $750. It works great too.

Sounds good. I paid $1,300 for mine but it will have to be sent out and the blades cleaned up. Gotta test run it first of course.

Hi guys. Sorry for missing this thread.

Your prop is a Max 5.
The Maximus was actually a last minute propeller modification by Mercury Racing in order to have a propeller offering for the 400R when it was released in Miami a few years ago.
It certainly can be run on a stern drive but that was not the original intention. It is indeed made from the Maximus tooling we created in 2002. It is literally the same prop. A Bravo 1 casting was used to create the blade area for the Max 5. Funny to me because when we were developing the Maximus in 2001 we created a 5 blade Bravo 1 but ultimately shot it down. Mercury mainline was the one pulling the trigger and changing the design. So the Max 5 is a offshoot of our original 5 blade stern drive prop.
The original Max5 version was made at 15" diameter. and with a reduced diffuser ring length. When they started to decrease the diffuser even more they realized the 15" diameter doesn't play well with the shorter tube. So, 15" diameter Max 5's are now only available with long tubes (shorter than stock Maximus but longer than the short tube Max 5 version.

At BBLADES we began making Max 5 right away as we are all Ex-Merc Racing employees and know how things are done there. Just start with a Maximus casting. and match the blade area, thickness curve, pitch progression, cup heights and you have a Max5. But, we started at 15.25" diameter because we knew the Maximus is a real sweetheart at 15.25". Anyway, Mercury then began to make 15.25" diameter and mess with tube lengths.

We also make our own version called a BBLADES R5. Made from our 5-SPEED casting. Testing proved to be awesome on single engine offshore OB race boats in Europe as well as Pilini cats in the US but we had a foundry issue (as some of you probably know) and we are not in production with those untill we can the foundry online again.
But, we can build Max 5's from scratch and sell them new at $1999. Our version R5 is a couple hundred less.

I could go on and on as you can tell but if anyone needs more specific info, email me. [email protected]

thirdchildhood, chips and dings and dents can and should be repaired by welding on new material and using templates and pitch blocks to maintain original specs. to insure performance. We can help you there.

Brett

Thanks Brett. I know you have been busy as I talked to you on the phone not long ago. At that time I had given up on a Max 5 because of the cost but I snagged this one for a decent price. I look forward to testing it in the spring and if I like it I will have some accurate baseline numbers and will ship it to you to fix up and maybe tweak. The one chip pictured is the only one that should need welding up. I also have a 28p Bravo 1 to test that may need to be up-pitched to a 29. Or I may just be back to running my 30p Bravo 1 which was purchased and labbed at BBlades. I look forward to the lakes being liquid again!