I have a GDLT that is rated for a 11hp motor. Can I beef the frame up to where it will safely handle a 18hp? If so what mods need to be done? I have the equipment and skills covered just looking for advise on where to reinforce it. Thanks

Id just put the 18hp on it and roll... wouldnt worry too much about being strong enough

That's kind of what I was thinking! Put it together and see what happens.

That frame will handle it no problem. .

H Finn

Pull up the Go-Devil engine line up and compare the frames as you go up in HP. I don't know which frame you have since Go-Devil doesn't currently offer a 11 HP, but I suspect it is the same as the 9 HP. The next step up is the 16 HP, which has additional bracing along the top of the prop shaft housing. If it were me, I'll confirm the prop shaft wall housing had the same wall thickness as the next frame style up then add that additional bracing and see what happens. I'd be very leery of adding that much HP if the frame wasn't beefed up first. I can't help but feel that bracing is for a reason.

Nate

That's a good idea and simple enough to do. Is the extra bracing needed due to the torque on the prop shaft?

You're gonna make me drag out physics I think you are right about the torque, but I don't know the most common point of failure, That bracing should provide vertical bracing for when the prop grabs something solid. These motors have enough torque to make the shaft whip under a sudden load on a single blade which is likely capable of bending shafts.

Nate

Shooter, I have a 16hp gdlt. I have viewed my frame next to a gdlt 25 hp and to be honest my 16hp has about twice the bracing as that 25hp. So it may depend on the year the frame was made.
Sorry the pics went that clear
Txkingfisher wrote
" is that the one you use to barricade yourself in the shitter?"

My frame is a pre 1992 and has been used and abused. The biggest difference that I have noticed is the support bar running the length of the shaft housing, which mine doesn't have. I'm gonna pick up some 1/4 X 1" flat bar for that up grade. The motor mount base plate and the swivel plate on the transom mount were bent and all torqued up so I replaced them using 3/16" plate.
Finally got around to getting new bushings, seals, caps and shaft from GD. They have been very patient with me and more than accommodating to my needs, Great CS.
My next future hurdle will be chasing the bottom threads on the shaft housing; they are boogered up a bit but I think it will work. Any clue on the thread count they use or should I just break out the file and get busy?

Shooter, give godevil a call and ask Warren. He's been more than happy to help me out many times

I haven't talked with Warren yet but Donna has been a huge help. I thought about taking a road trip to GD for some hands on advice. I need to get this project wrapped up and get it off my bench and on the water!