Lots of good advice given here, many years of experience being thrown your way! You should listen to them, as long as it doesn’t have anything to do with buying a larger prop with more pitch or trying to get your WOT up to 5800 RPM! Yea, I looked it up!
If you are getting 4900 RPM WOT, with a “full load”, you are fine and will not be doing any harm to your engine! Personally, I would still like to see it closer to the high side than right on the the low? Getting the tachometer checked is a good idea, if there is any question there? I wouldn’t trust a tach, even after it got checked! I have had so many of those things inaccurate and off – it’s not even funny. As I have stated before, it is the only way to get an accurate reading of your RPM and since you are running on the low side of WOT, that would be nice thing to confirm!
Have you ever noticed all those brand new outboard engines setting at a dealer – they don’t have props on them? Ever wonder why? They match the engine to the boat and then match the “proper size” prop based on “that” particular configuration! You can't just assume since someone else is using a certain prop, it will work for you as your configuration is different. When things are changed – it changes your prop requirements. If I was to buy a brand new boat, I would probably have the prop pitch reduced as I all ready know, I load my boats down with additional gear! I think it has been made fairly clear by now… If you are not at least at your minimum WOT rpm, you are lugging your engine down, which will result in excess wear on it. That is a proven fact and many experienced people on here are confirming that!
If you were to do a little homework, you would find the “correct” WOT along with your “MAX” WOT RPM. That is as easy as going on Mercury’s website. If you want to confirm it, drop an email to Yamaha tech support! I think this will answer some of your questions once and for all! Here are your specs:
http://www.piranha.com/Mercury.php
Motor Specs
Manufacturer: Yamaha
Year: 1992
Horsepower: 90.0
Cylinders: 3
Type: 2 stroke
Gear Ratio: 2.00:1
Min WOT RPM: 4500
Max WOT RPM: 5500
Spline Count: 15
Drive Type:
Not so sure, I would be propping it to 5800 RPM? You, might be getting your wish for a new outboard sooner than you plan, especially on an 18 year old motor! Now we know and don’t have to guess anymore? [:0]
If you were to also go on Mercury’s website and enter your information, you will find they have nine (9) different props recommended for your 1992 outboard! These props are based on the different types of configurations and they are: 14 x 11 x 3; 14 x 13 x 3; 13-3/4 x 15 x 3; 13 x 17 x 3 (semi-cleaver); 13-1/4 x 17 x 3; 13 x 19 x 3 (semi-cleaver); 13 x 19 x 3; 12-5/8 x 21 x 3 (semi-cleaver) 13 x 21 x 3. The complete Prop cost is: $139.25. If you buy the prop and it isn’t the right pitch – send the blades back and they will replace the blades, with a different pitch!
Now, while you are checking that tachometer (or having it done) as suggested, go on Mercury’s website and get an aluminum “13-3/4” diameter prop with a “15” pitch blades. If your true RPM (fully loaded) is reading 4900 the lower pitch should put you right in the 5300-5400 RPM range and will also take care of any future weight additions? You could also take off some pounds if you want to get the RPM back above 5000? But, hey… what do I know, I have only been doing this for around 50 years!
Have you stopped guessing yet?
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