Building A looper Beast

[Gene East]

Awesome awesome pictures. I have to say I think that is the first time I have seen the electrical system setup (in the boat) from back then. Definitely interesting.

Welcome to the past glory day of boat racing!

[Master Oil Racing Team]

The battery or batteries look kind of like an aircraft battery we once tried on our B hydro. See the tall vent caps. The vent caps in the one we tried had "floating" lead in them that would fall down and seal the vent holes if you go upside down.

[Steve Litzell]

My buddy talked me into putting the starter solenoid in the boat (vs. on the PH). Makes for a lot less clutter and, since often switch engines, I only need one solenoid. Never seen the coil mounted there, however; I like that!

Jeff

Jeff, The coil mounting back then was normal to be in the boat as we used one coil and box to run maybe thre or four motors on same boat. It was cheaper to do that way, Plus it reduced the clutter on the engine when you had to work on it or make a parts change, That process too was faster having the box and coil in boat. Steve

[R Austin]

Just a few more assembly photos. One picture just drilling the exhaust elbow for water discharge on to the elbow.

[Mark75H]

The unit was purchased new from Mercury in 1970 or 71. I bought 2 left hand units that I was going to use on the rotary valve motors that I was working on. This one ran maybe 8-10 laps. The other is still hanging on the wall untouched as it came from Mercury. Paid 620.00 a piece back then. They are twin pinions. That is why I am using it on the 100 inch motor.

Merc stopped using left hand twin pinion SSM's at about 140hp because of reliability problems. RH twin pinion units are stronger because the prop shaft gears are closer to the bearings. Later high hp inlines that needed LH props were fitted to turn the powerhead CCW on SSM's that had the prop shaft gears outside the pinions. There was a kit with a reversed starter and special linkage to rack the distributor the other direction with throttle advance.

I'm pretty sure you will be able to break a left hand unit with this powerhead

[Powerabout]

200 xs ssm 6 is right in and left out if you want to go new.
Use a v6 race flywheel and starter and run the engine ccw?

[R Austin]

Merc stopped using left hand twin pinion SSM's at about 140hp because of reliability problems. RH twin pinion units are stronger because the prop shaft gears are closer to the bearings. Later high hp inlines that needed LH props were fitted to turn the powerhead CCW on SSM's that had the prop shaft gears outside the pinions. There was a kit with a reversed starter and special linkage to rack the distributor the other direction with throttle advance.

I'm pretty sure you will be able to break a left hand unit with this powerhead

I understand the dynamics of the failure of the units, however they most likely failed because of there application.

In 1963, a friend of mine and I decided that we would build a racing motor from what parts we could scrounge up. Not being able to afford a lower unit, we decided to make our own. I made some sketches and bought some aluminum and ask my dad what he thought. He thought we were nuts, but he took on most of the project, carving it out with a drill press for a mill and a band saw and a lot of hand cutting and filing. That was my part. The unit pictured on the ground in front of my dads knees, would go about 50 to 100 feet and destroy the gears. We were at Sandford (Midland) Mi. race site looking at yet another set of destroyed gears trying to figure out why. We had used gears from an old 10-15HP Evinrude and reversed the pinion and prop shaft gears to make it on overdrive unit. Sound like couple of green kids?.. We were, and as luck would have it, this was a big race and some big names were there. Could have been the NOA Nationals, did not mean much to me then. I know Hugh Enthroup was there.

As would be expected, the word went through the pits that a couple of kids were trying to put together an engine to run on there homebuilt Hal Kelly Ben Hur. AND they had built a gear case for it and it kept eating gears. As we were looking over the gears on that blanket, a gentleman came over and starting looking at the parts and pieces with us. He introduced himself as Pop Hubblell. Well, he explained to us that not all gears thrust away from each other. It seams that the gears we were using were spiral bevel and they pull each other together. We turned the thrust bearings around and that unit ran for a few years after that and is still hanging on the wall with the 35HP Evinrude power head that we finally used on it. It ran on a local lake for fun on a Hal Kelly Buzzard hydro. With the over drive gearing. That is still in running condition.

With all that said, Mr. Hubblell also shared some other knowledge. That was, you never use a prop larger (pitch and diameter) than the unit was designed for. You could turn it, RPM, as fast as you want, but if you over loaded it with a large prop and low RPM HP (torque) it is going to fail.

I have always thought that that made good sense. My unit will only be pushing 550-600 pounds, plus driver. I will only use a prop of 17-18 inches of pitch and no more that 10 inch in diameter. And if Jennings is right the engine with its stroke will only be good to 9000 RPM. If you use all those numbers and the fact that the totally airborne hydro can reach 95+% prop efficient. I think that puts it some where between 135-150 MPH. That's plenty for playing and not hurt the unit.

[Aeroliner]

Simply outstanding! What a project. Getting close to first fire in the hole.

Alan

[Gene East]

Looking good, I've got tears in my eyes!

Great picture of your Dad!

[Tim Kurcz]

Ohhhh wow! You've got to love it! BTW: Great story about the gearcase.

Tim