Running In...

andy21 · 29-03-2009, 11:17 PM

Hello all,

I'm running in my new 200hp mercury optimax on the back of my R21... Just wondering if there any major things I should/shouldn't do...

I had been keeping it around (or below) the 3000rpm range for the first 3-4 hours and then have done a further 5 hours going as high as 4000...

This evening though, when approaching the 10 hour mark, the sea was perfectly flat and i hit 5000rpm for about 2 minutes... felt so nice!!!

Does this sound ok? Or am I pushing it too much too soon??

Any info/pointers are greatly appreciated as always...

Many thanks, Andy

Burty · 29-03-2009, 11:25 PM

if its a new motor it'll do it all for you as in it wont let you rev it until its ready, if its an older motor just rebuilt then a couple of hours on it will be fine

gar163y · 29-03-2009, 11:29 PM

You should be regularly varying the revs up and down but it already sounds like you've done more than I did.

TheOrs · 30-03-2009, 05:16 PM

One other thing is not to load it up too much. No deep water mono ski starts, pulling toys etc for example.

nu 2 this · 31-03-2009, 08:25 AM

heh , youve got me thinkin , next weekend and the new xs 250 gets its 1 st work out , ill be gentle!!!!!!!

gar163y · 31-03-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOrs

One other thing is not to load it up too much. No deep water mono ski starts, pulling toys etc for example.

Ooooops!

Tom Stone · 31-03-2009, 02:34 PM

From the manual -

1st hour use

Allow engine to warm up 30 - 60 seconds
Do not idle for more then 10 minutes (5 minutes for a 250xs)
run the engine the majority of the time between 3000 rpm and 4500 rpm (4000 to 5400 for xs), short burst at full throttle for 10 seconds are acceptable
Keep the engine vertical position, avoiding trimming up

for the next three hours change engine speed every 10 minutes (5 minutes for xs)

andy21 · 05-04-2009, 08:49 PM

Cheers Chaps,

Tom, going by your info I think she's run in....

There was a little note on the dials saying time to run in complete which has gone now...

Not sure if the prop is right for the boat, at 5500rpm Its doing 50.9 knotts... does that seem about right??? Feels a tad slow tbh...

Sorry for the slow thanks, have been out boating every spare minute I have!

Cheers again,

Andy

Burty · 05-04-2009, 11:15 PM

whats max revs on one of those motors? i'd guess at just over 6k. if thats the case then if you are trimmed out and only getting 5500rpm then you can afford to drop a size or 2 on the prop pitch, as a rough guide each pitch is approx 200rpm

larby · 06-04-2009, 08:03 AM

I reckon you could safely trim out a bit more, that would gain you some speed and revs. Burty's right though, if you're really not getting the revs then go down a bit in pitch. What prop & pitch are you running at the mo?

James

TonyF · 06-04-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy21

Cheers Chaps,

Tom, going by your info I think she's run in....

There was a little note on the dials saying time to run in complete which has gone now...

Not sure if the prop is right for the boat, at 5500rpm Its doing 50.9 knotts... does that seem about right??? Feels a tad slow tbh...

Sorry for the slow thanks, have been out boating every spare minute I have!

Cheers again,

Andy

Hi Andy
It was good to see you out there over the weekend..
The boat looks great and your trim seem good.
I think you should keep your setup as it is. (cant have you going too fast eh!!)
Tony

Burty · 06-04-2009, 08:26 AM

you don't want to overtrim as this will reduce your speed, have you got a speedo? it doesnt matter if its accurate or not as you only need it for an indication, keep trimming out until you start to lose speed then trim back in a little and look at your revs

andy21 · 06-04-2009, 08:58 AM

According to the Mercury website http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines...iter_specs.php the max rpm is 5500-6000...

The reason I think the prop is too small(?) is that it got up to speed in no time at all then just wouldn't go any faster, almost like driving around in 1st gear in a car... Didn't feel like the engine was doing much work!

I will find out what the prop pitch is today if i can get down there, I think its a laser 2 (not sure if they come in different sizes...)

As for the trim, it was trimmed out just over half way, tried going out a little bit further but as Burty said it started to slow down slightly

Tony, thats a hell of a boat you've got there! Had some serious air time around the back of Herm! Will no doubt see you out an about this week??

Cheers again,

Andy