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Cadillac gearbox change report

R

Ruagatr

Well-known member
Changed my 2.37-1 Rotator for a 2.68 Rotator swinging the 80 inch 3 blade Superwide Sensenich. I was shocked at the difference. This is my 4th gearbox---2 K-Ways (precursor to the stinger designed by Bruce Kay out of Tallahassee ), and two Rotators. I had my Propeller pitched at 22 degrees with the 2.37 and the engine set to hit 4600 wide open. I put the 2.68 box on Friday, and pitched the Sensenich at 32 degrees. Now thats a bunch of pitch! The engine turns the identical rpm it did before, but what a push! Cruise is now at 2800rpm and instead of 28mph it runs 32 in deep water just loafing along. Much better snap, damn near leapt over the trailer loading it because I wasnt used to the lunge when you tap the gas. Cannot say enough good about this swap. One thing to note---the sensenich marks are not equal at all. for the 1-2-3 settings. The digital protractor doesnt lie---Sensenich needs to fix this and I am going to call them about it. . Charles
 
Charles, that's great news. Glad to hear it.

You're right about the pitch marks. I set my prop (when I burned in the cam) by the pitch marks and there was way too much vibration.
They build a great prop, but they need to work on that. olf
 
your boat sounded real good leaving the other night as well....on lil timbers boat all you heard was the motor leaving.....that prop was not making a noise??
 
That's good that you guys are finding out that you don't over rev your motors but gain alot more push. I guess most will have to try it to believe it, and most think that you boat will idle at 20 mph but with that swap the boat just barley moves at idle.

I love the way my boat runs now and it takes alot more to get stuck with all that prop and all the push that comes off of it.

I just wish that I my self would have listened to the guys that have already done all of swaps to get to where we are now. instead of taking the long way to get the boat to run the way I wanted it to all a long. sure would have cost-ed alot less.
 
Funny, I'm glad I went DD first. I think it has allowed me to learn how to drive an airboat without getting into too much trouble.

Now I feel like I'm ready to step up to gear reduction power, and I've learned a few tricks along the way about getting unstuck

One thing is for sure, I know which way to go when I build the gear box boat
 
:lol: I think I would have been happy doing a DD, You just get caught up with it all and all of a sudden you have a gearbox sitting there and your saving enough money to buy that Sensenitch 3 blade superwide! :lol: Like Waterthunder said, it would have happened eventually! :lol: I can't wait!! 8)
 
Red, I still think DD is the way tp go for a small boat. Less stuff, less weight, and a whole lot less money. :) olf
 
Nope.......just what works for me!. On a lighter boat, I think a 2.37-1 is the way to go....just my 2 cents. Glad my son hooked up with you. He had never landed at that that airport before. I owe him big. Charles
 
Olf Art":3r406auz said:
Red, I still think DD is the way tp go for a small boat. Less stuff, less weight, and a whole lot less money. :) olf
Click to expand...

More sound though. That is the MAIN reason I want to go with reduction, followed by, of course, performance. I want to be able to ride on anywhere I choose without people getting upset
 
Sweet now the Caddy guy's will start getting the ratio's! IT TOOK A FEW YEARS BUT EVERYBODY IS CATCHING ON! I don't know why but people just refuse to believe this!
 
I'm going to ask a question I know I have asked before but don't think I got an answer. If I did sorry about my scatter brain. With the caddy and 2.68 box and the superwide... how is it when idleing? Is it alot like the old props becasue your engine is idleing at 500 or so or does it push it pretty fast at idle in the water?
 
It depends on your boat. If it's little and light I will move fast at idle If it's big and heavy it will move but not as fast.
 
I guess I didn't think of it that way. How did your old boat do with it being what it was. Mine is an old panther 15x7 with heavy rigging. any ideas?
 
Dan---I cannot tell any difference in idle speed. The propeller is turning so slowly that I think its a wash. Best to you , Charles Morehead
 
Thanks for the info. Time to start saving my pennies... mabye I better up it to quarters. Ha ha

It's good to have a goal. Thanks for the research and testing you all do for the community it helps us set our goals to what works and is proven to work.
 
NOT MUCH AT IDLE ! BUT YALL WILL HAVE TO LEARN ,HOW TO TAP THE GAS, DIFFERENT STORY ! BOTTOM PUSH IS THERE ! LIKE CLARLES SAID! GOT TO RETRAIN YOUR FOOT ! OR YOU TEAR SOME STUFF UP FRONT :lol:
 
Waterthunder---one of the reasons guys don't believe this is when you call some of the gearbox manufacturers, they will tell you that a 2.68 won't work with a Cadillac....ask me how I know....I told Bud Bell at Panther/Classic that its not for raising the rpms but the pitch and the torque....I dunno if he believed me, but I didnt care since I knew it would work and he hasnt run a Cadillac in his life. No disrespect intended. Charles
 
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