Weed eater engine conversion

Discussion in 'DIY Marinizing' started by Ward, Jun 2, 2003.

  1. Orphanedcowboy
    Joined: Feb 2008
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    Location: Fort Worth

    Orphanedcowboy Junior Member

    The best solution is to heed John O'neal and Mark Wo's advice on the larger 52cc heavier clutched version of the Duropower. My next version, after the electric start version, is the Duropower unit.

    The easiest solution to your problem is to lock out the clutch on your motor, this is the cheapest method and quickest fix for your overheating issue.
     
  2. John O`Neal
    Joined: Sep 2007
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    Location: Lenexa Ks.

    John O`Neal Junior Member

    Gear reduction water test

    The water test went great, the teal hunt was a bust. We saw lots of big ducks, big geese , but no little teal. But it was a beautiful day and we took full advantage of it.
    The marsh we were on is about 80 acres. Plenty big enough to give the reduction motor a thorough testing. The test, I would say, was a conditional success. The motor running through a 5/1 reducer makes gobs of torque at the prop. The motor would accelerate my 4 rivers layout boat to estimated hull speed fairly quickly but if I tried to lean on the throttle to much it would spin out the prop. After a couple hours of wringing it out through the weeds and mud I concluded that it would require matching it up to the correct prop to realize it`s full potential. Cowboy I am going to try that 4 blade you sent me next. I may end up having to go to a purpose built mud-motor prop. I see them offered in sizes as small as 6.5" dia. X 4 pitch. At $125 + I better find the right one quickly.
    The surprise of the day was my buddy Mike`s 11 ft. foam boat and his hopped up Island Hopper motor. He buzzed all over the marsh tickled pink at how well the combination worked. For those not familiar with an Island Hopper it is a commercially built marine conversion. It is made from a Duropower brush cutter into a outboard style engine. It is an ingeniously simple conversion.
    I am sorry I don`t have some photos of yesterdays action. I inadvertently left my camera plugged into my computer after downloading some pics and depleted the battery. I didn`t know it would do that. We live and learn. Have a great day.
     
  3. Orphanedcowboy
    Joined: Feb 2008
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    Location: Fort Worth

    Orphanedcowboy Junior Member

    John

    Briggs and Stratton, Yamaha, Tohatso, all make a commercially available 3 and 4 blade prop that has a steep pitch, they also all install with a nut on a 3/8" shaft. I bought one of ebay, and ended up returning it. That 5 blade prop I posted earlier is 11+ inches in diameter, and would surely work.

    My only concern is you have too much torque for your drive shaft tube. The Rick Shaw motors use a 3.75:1 gear reduction and he uses a small prop, looks kinda like the T-8.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    If your getting prop wash out with your set-up, I wonder what happens with his and that little prop.
     
  4. Orphanedcowboy
    Joined: Feb 2008
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    Location: Fort Worth

    Orphanedcowboy Junior Member

    Done some eBay searching and came up with this:

    4 blade aluminum propeller 10" diam. 3/4"hole Colombian

    $8.99 + $8.75 shipping

    [​IMG]

    JOHNSON EVINRUDE 5.5HP OUTBOARD MOTOR PROPELLER 1954-65

    $16.00 + $8.95 shipping

    [​IMG]

    JOHNSON EVINRUDE 7.5HP OUTBOARD MOTOR BRONZE PROPELLER

    $16.37 + $9.65 shipping

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    JONHSON EVINRUDE Boat Prop

    I am currently bidding on this one, I figured the props would benefit someone on here.

    [​IMG]
     
  5. ctc982
    Joined: Sep 2008
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    Location: Texas

    ctc982 Junior Member

    Thanks John,

    I ordered all my perofrmance parts to build my "hopped" up mud motor. However, I am a little scared of the compression exercise...should I be?

    All of my parts should be in next week.

    Has anyone shortened the booms? I am debating it....

    I am going to explore the muffler redirection and giving it more airflow...

    I am swamped with voulnteer work right now...after this week and esp. after Oct. 11 it is on.............

    Keep it up guys
     
  6. Orphanedcowboy
    Joined: Feb 2008
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    Location: Fort Worth

    Orphanedcowboy Junior Member

    John, I won the auction with all the clockwise rotaion props, let them get here and I'll send them to you and you can try them out to see if one will work for you.
     
  7. Mark Wo
    Joined: Dec 2007
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    Location: Minnesota

    Mark Wo Senior Member

    Prop suggestion

    Unfortunately my ability to do much digging into this is limited until late next week. I found a compnay on the web that I would think can benefit many here trying to build their own motor. Name of the compang is Michigan Wheel Corporation and they may be of some help.

    http://www.michiganwheel.com/MIWheel/profile/main.htm

    Mark
     
  8. wac m trac m
    Joined: Jun 2008
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    Location: Texas

    wac m trac m Junior Member

    Howdy, I've been busy scouting for deer. Our season opens up next week..archery. I only got 3 teal on the mud flat but shoulda had a limit. We kept trying to get the birds to commit to the deaks instead of just blasting them as they circled.

    Anyway I found this site. It looks like there are all sorts of materials that could be used for our purpose.

    http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/henleyspropellers/products.htm
     
  9. *Ender*
    Joined: Mar 2008
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    Location: Michigan

    *Ender* Junior Member

    Below is another link for props that I tripped over. Their trolling motor prop listings seem to include props for units that Young's does not support; such as the Rebel 12 & 24 volt which should be roughly a 6 1/2" clockwise rotation with a 5/16" shaft. I have not dealt with them, but it might be worth a call if anyone is having trouble locating the perfect prop

    Ender

    http://www.a1discountprop.com/trolling.htm
     
  10. tclark
    Joined: Sep 2008
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    Location: LA

    tclark New Member

    Just found this thread yesterday; lots of great ideas and info on here guys! Been thinking about building something like this for a while now; nice to know someone has done it and it works. Has anyone tried to build a shorttail mudmotor style setup? Seems like it would be relatively easy to setup; belt running from the engine up top to a shaft with a prop on the bottom. This would allow for reducing the 12k or so rpms of these engines to "normal" levels while also giving leverage to turn a larger prop. Should also be easy to adjust the reduction by using different sized pulleys.
     
  11. RangaTang@sea
    Joined: Sep 2008
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    Location: Australia

    RangaTang@sea Senior Member

    what about this for an idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea: Hi everyone
    I am new to this site. I am a scout and wish to make one of these.
    I have read the whole thread[here I am 3 hours later] and haven't found anyone that has made a jet style prop yet? a blender style prop that is situated in a steel piece of rectangular pipe that pumps water out the back. it would take advantage of the small, paddle like prop spinning at a very fast speed. I know it wont break any speed recourds but I will take any help you guys have to offer. I alredy have a weed wacker. it is a rhyobi weed wasp and its 26cc. it also has an interchangeable head so it could be a weed wacker and a boat motor. I hav also got a father that is a boat builder, a grandfather that is good engins and another grandfather that is very smart and handy with a lathe and I have money but I cant use a lot because to get my environmental badge and my construction i have to make it out of reused things.

    :) :) thanks
    RangaTang@sea PS plese excuse any spelling mistakes:D :D
     
  12. *Ender*
    Joined: Mar 2008
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    Location: Michigan

    *Ender* Junior Member

    78mm Clutch Housing

    For those considering Chinese scooter or similar engines with a 78mm clutch and are in need of a housing assembly, there is Honda part off the GX35 powered trimmers that is readily available. The complete Honda clutch assembly #22260-VL3-D41 runs $35+/- delivered and is normally available in less than one week. The assembly contains everything you need to mate a 1" OD drive tube with the exception of four 6x20mm mounting bolts; it is set up for a square male on the drive shaft.

    Ender
     
  13. boiledbeef
    Joined: Sep 2008
    Posts: 2
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    Location: uk

    boiledbeef New Member

    newbie questions, help please...

    hi guys

    i am new to the forum, and i need some advice,
    i would like to build one of these motors to power a canoe,
    what engine is best to use?
    where can i get a propellor?
    what are people using / where can i get, the angled part
    (i dont know what its called) that fits on the end of the drive shaft, just before the propeller???
    does this house bevel gears?
    like in this pic.
    [​IMG]

    regards
    bb
     
  14. boiledbeef
    Joined: Sep 2008
    Posts: 2
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: uk

    boiledbeef New Member

    newbie questions. help please...

    hi guys

    i am new to the forum, and i need some advice,
    i would like to build one of these motors to power a canoe,
    what engine is best to use?
    where can i get a propellor?
    what are people using / where can i get, the angled part
    (i dont know what its called) that fits on the end of the drive shaft, just before the propeller???
    does this house bevel gears?
    like in this pic.
    [​IMG]

    regards
    bb
     

  15. Orphanedcowboy
    Joined: Feb 2008
    Posts: 49
    Likes: 1, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 18
    Location: Fort Worth

    Orphanedcowboy Junior Member

    Boiledbeef

    That is the gear head for a weed eater/brush cutter.

    The best powerplant is the Duropower, but any 30cc or larger weed eater engine will work with a light boat, canoe or kayak.

    If you go back to the beginning of this thread, it has a ton of excellent information along with the transformation into a viable power source.

    If you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to ask, there are far better experts on this than me.


    Ender, you just saved me $150, I was going to by the Duropower weed eater, then convert it, I just ordered the motor by itself. Thanks
     
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