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Rotator gear box

A

Anonymous

Guest
Anyone out there running or know someone that runs a Rotator gear box on their airboat? Specifically one manufactured prior to 2004.

If so, I'd like to get your opinion on the performance and durability of this unit.

I am currently running one on by boat and it has caused me more grief than anyone could imagine.

rfox
 
My buddy has been running one since 1998 has had no trouble at all with it, has it on a 350 chevy 12 foot boat .
 
THE older gear boxes had 1" gears in them and the new ones have 2" gears
 
rfox - Could you be alittle more specific?

More grief than what I can imagine on an airboat is some mightly bad $hit.

Not wanting to start anything, it is just we have some very experienced people with almost every airboat setup I have heard of. There very likely could be someone here that could give you some tips or information about what you having issues with.

I know of only two rotator gear boxes on rigs I know the operator, and one is a counter rotator.

The counter rotator is on a 454 & the seal went out. But it was apparently was just a few hours after what Panther said you could expect it to be needed to be replaced.

The other is a normal rotator is on a chevy 350 that is supposed to be making around 370-380 horses. It makes all type of noise at idle that I just cannot get used to. It has a leaking rear seal as well, but I know they over filled the gear box for quite a while. Some misunderstanding on the amount of oil to go in it. It leaks just alittle and makes a nasty mess, but they apparently are not ready to deal with changing the seal. So I am thinking the leaking seal is more an operator issue.

So what is the deal with your rig?
 
Gearboxes make noise at idle ... it is because the prop is a constant load and the engine is not a constant source of power ... it has flat spots in it. The prop actually bounces back at those flat spots then the engine catches it and sends it spinning ahead again and that cause a terrible noise out of the box. I have never seen one break from it but it sure is hard on the nerves. LOL When you pick up the throttle a little it all smooths out because centrifigal force keeps it all going across the flat spots which get shorter in duration as engine speed increases. You can have a special cam made to make the engine more smoother .. the drag racers do this in order to get them to idle with the big cams in them. It is called a 4 - 7 cam swap I think, And while your at it let the cam grinder know what you are doing and what your other components are and they will be able to grind you a cam that will work better ... one size does not fit all. Be specific and you get specific results.
 
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