Advice.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Burtchville,
MI
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Advice.
I just bought a used Aquacraft Top Speed 2 with a K&B 3.5. It got damaged in shipping to me and the motor mount is broken. The broken part is the engine pivot and maybe it's good that it was plastic. If it were aluminum the transom may have been torn out. It has what appears to be an Octura 3 blade "cleaver" type prop. I think I would prefer to get a new adjustable engine mount rather than fix the old one. Any suggestions? DuBro? It also has the "Tunnel Hull Recovery Pads" installed which I don't think are necessary if the hull is balanced correctly and the engine height set properly. Am I correct? I think the pads are there to prevent "hooking" in a turn. Should I install a "turn fin" on the right sponson like the unlimiteds? Speaking of, why do model boats run clockwise instead of counter clockwise like real race boats? That's always bothered me. I really only plan to fool around on a pond with it and scare myself silly. I may not actually race it. The seller tecommends 60% Nitro - REALLY? Ouch. I think K%B recommends 15%. I'm an aircraft guy too and I never run more than 5% nitro in my Enyas. This is my first hydro so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm going to tear down the K&B for inspection as it seems to have a certain "grittyness" when I turn the flywheel. It's either bearings or the flex shaft.
Thanks guys,
Bill
Thanks guys,
Bill
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Lawrenceville,
IL
Posts: 662
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Advice.
Bill,I can only answer one of your questions for sure(I'm not a outboard guy) The reason for running clockwise is that most (if not all) model boats turn better to the right,because of motor torque. I don't know about the "turn fin" on the tunnel hull,but my hydro wouldn't make the turns without one. Ron
#3
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Advice.
If it's a Du-Bro mount you can buy the plastic part separately.
Leave the recoery pads on, it helps to keep the nose up in the turns.
Forget the turn fin as today's OB tunnels don't need them. Early boats or poor handling ones used them as a Band-Aid fix.
K&B .21's love the nitro, 40-50% is fine but as you go higher the needle will get touchier in hotter, more humid weather. Get used to running 40-65%. I like seeing jaws drop with I say without blinking that I run that much in my boats around the other R/Cer's that run 5-20%.
Like the other Ron said, it's because of the rotation and torque of the engines that we race clockwise but your boat should turn fine in either direction.
Leave the recoery pads on, it helps to keep the nose up in the turns.
Forget the turn fin as today's OB tunnels don't need them. Early boats or poor handling ones used them as a Band-Aid fix.
K&B .21's love the nitro, 40-50% is fine but as you go higher the needle will get touchier in hotter, more humid weather. Get used to running 40-65%. I like seeing jaws drop with I say without blinking that I run that much in my boats around the other R/Cer's that run 5-20%.
Like the other Ron said, it's because of the rotation and torque of the engines that we race clockwise but your boat should turn fine in either direction.
#5
Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: davison,
MI
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Advice.
My VS1 came with the same recovery pads attached, I Als had them my top speed 2 and they make it a lot less enrve racking when cornering. Hope your not planning on runnig that on lake huron lol
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Burtchville,
MI
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Advice.
ORIGINAL: RKS1949
Bill,I can only answer one of your questions for sure(I'm not a outboard guy) The reason for running clockwise is that most (if not all) model boats turn better to the right,because of motor torque. I don't know about the "turn fin" on the tunnel hull,but my hydro wouldn't make the turns without one. Ron
Bill,I can only answer one of your questions for sure(I'm not a outboard guy) The reason for running clockwise is that most (if not all) model boats turn better to the right,because of motor torque. I don't know about the "turn fin" on the tunnel hull,but my hydro wouldn't make the turns without one. Ron
Cheers,
Bill
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Burtchville,
MI
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Advice.
ORIGINAL: Ron Olson
If it's a Du-Bro mount you can buy the plastic part separately.
Leave the recoery pads on, it helps to keep the nose up in the turns.
Forget the turn fin as today's OB tunnels don't need them. Early boats or poor handling ones used them as a Band-Aid fix.
K&B .21's love the nitro, 40-50% is fine but as you go higher the needle will get touchier in hotter, more humid weather. Get used to running 40-65%. I like seeing jaws drop with I say without blinking that I run that much in my boats around the other R/Cer's that run 5-20%.
Like the other Ron said, it's because of the rotation and torque of the engines that we race clockwise but your boat should turn fine in either direction.
If it's a Du-Bro mount you can buy the plastic part separately.
Leave the recoery pads on, it helps to keep the nose up in the turns.
Forget the turn fin as today's OB tunnels don't need them. Early boats or poor handling ones used them as a Band-Aid fix.
K&B .21's love the nitro, 40-50% is fine but as you go higher the needle will get touchier in hotter, more humid weather. Get used to running 40-65%. I like seeing jaws drop with I say without blinking that I run that much in my boats around the other R/Cer's that run 5-20%.
Like the other Ron said, it's because of the rotation and torque of the engines that we race clockwise but your boat should turn fine in either direction.
Thanks Ron. I'll check out Du-Bro. The course running direction makes sense. It's funny though, take the Unlimited class guys. All the fussing they go through to make an historically accurate model and then run in the "wrong" direction. Seems funny to me.
Thanks again.
Bill
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Burtchville,
MI
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Advice.
ORIGINAL: Rocket-J
60% nitro is all we ever used in our Hydros with .60 Enya's. This was back in the dark ages.
Martin.
60% nitro is all we ever used in our Hydros with .60 Enya's. This was back in the dark ages.
Martin.
In teresting comment about Enyas. Some aircraft guys run 0% nitro.
Thanks,
Bill
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Burtchville,
MI
Posts: 2,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Advice.
ORIGINAL: roughneck793
My VS1 came with the same recovery pads attached, I Als had them my top speed 2 and they make it a lot less enrve racking when cornering. Hope your not planning on runnig that on lake huron lol
My VS1 came with the same recovery pads attached, I Als had them my top speed 2 and they make it a lot less enrve racking when cornering. Hope your not planning on runnig that on lake huron lol
Lake Huron? Maybe at 5AM. I'll keep the pads and paint them to match the hull.
Thanks,
Bill
#13
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Advice.
ORIGINAL: ChiliCheeseFries
I live in Port Huron, Have to go run some boats sometime
I live in Port Huron, Have to go run some boats sometime
#14
Senior Member
My Feedback: (2)
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: L
Posts: 1,655
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Advice.
ORIGINAL: Ram Jet
I just bought a used Aquacraft Top Speed 2 with a K&B 3.5. It got damaged in shipping to me and the motor mount is broken. The broken part is the engine pivot and maybe it's good that it was plastic. If it were aluminum the transom may have been torn out. It has what appears to be an Octura 3 blade "cleaver" type prop. I think I would prefer to get a new adjustable engine mount rather than fix the old one. Any suggestions? DuBro? It also has the "Tunnel Hull Recovery Pads" installed which I don't think are necessary if the hull is balanced correctly and the engine height set properly. Am I correct? I think the pads are there to prevent "hooking" in a turn. Should I install a "turn fin" on the right sponson like the unlimiteds? Speaking of, why do model boats run clockwise instead of counter clockwise like real race boats? That's always bothered me. I really only plan to fool around on a pond with it and scare myself silly. I may not actually race it. The seller tecommends 60% Nitro - REALLY? Ouch. I think K%B recommends 15%. I'm an aircraft guy too and I never run more than 5% nitro in my Enyas. This is my first hydro so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm going to tear down the K&B for inspection as it seems to have a certain "grittyness" when I turn the flywheel. It's either bearings or the flex shaft.
Thanks guys,
Bill
I just bought a used Aquacraft Top Speed 2 with a K&B 3.5. It got damaged in shipping to me and the motor mount is broken. The broken part is the engine pivot and maybe it's good that it was plastic. If it were aluminum the transom may have been torn out. It has what appears to be an Octura 3 blade "cleaver" type prop. I think I would prefer to get a new adjustable engine mount rather than fix the old one. Any suggestions? DuBro? It also has the "Tunnel Hull Recovery Pads" installed which I don't think are necessary if the hull is balanced correctly and the engine height set properly. Am I correct? I think the pads are there to prevent "hooking" in a turn. Should I install a "turn fin" on the right sponson like the unlimiteds? Speaking of, why do model boats run clockwise instead of counter clockwise like real race boats? That's always bothered me. I really only plan to fool around on a pond with it and scare myself silly. I may not actually race it. The seller tecommends 60% Nitro - REALLY? Ouch. I think K%B recommends 15%. I'm an aircraft guy too and I never run more than 5% nitro in my Enyas. This is my first hydro so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm going to tear down the K&B for inspection as it seems to have a certain "grittyness" when I turn the flywheel. It's either bearings or the flex shaft.
Thanks guys,
Bill
aquacraft (hobbico) is very customer friendly. they will send you what got broken. 99% of the time