Just wondering how tail heavy is too tail heavy? If I balance my motor at the back of the base plate, it is still kinda tail heavy. I can easily push the front of the motor down (I don't have to lay all my weight on it) but I have a feeling that running for 15 minutes while holding the tail up will get kinda tiring. Will tuning the cavitation plate get rid of the weight while I'm running?

I wish I could look at a factory motor, but I'm in the middle of KS and don't have any friends with motors.

Thanks,

Scott

If its a go-devil, take a cresent wrench and slightly bend the cavitation plate up. not too much though because itll be a pain to lift it up when idleing.

Left out one crucial bit: I'm building the motor. I'm using the plans from mad mud motor and a 13 hp honda clone. I shortened the base plate up a bit figuring that the bigger motor would weigh considerably more. But, I also ended up w/ 1 1/2 in OD DOM for the shaft rather than 1 3/8 (this is what my brother's shop had on hand) which added a little weight on the other end.

From what I read in your post go get'er, you're implying that I can reduce the tailweight by changing the cavitation plate. Is that right? I guess it'll just take some tinkering when I finally get it in the water.

Thanks.

Scott S.

Its gonna be a little tail heavy while out of water. While your running on the water, your cavitation plate should hold the motor at the proper ride height. This is assuming your cavitation plate is set correctly. You should not have to use any effort to hold the motor at a certain height if the cavitation plate is set correctly.

It should go into the water when slightly below level and come into the boat when it goes above level, my motor will be boat heavy past level with a full tank of gas.

When I built my motor it was pretty well balanced so there was no pressure needed to keep the prop off the ground. I wouldn't think it should be heavy in the tail at all. I built mine with my own plans so I don't know the mounting setup for the Mad Motor plans but it sounds to me like the motor is too far up, mine is over the transom in the boat about 6". If you don't have the motor on it yet then it should balance that out though. Where in KS are you? I'm in Great Bend.

Here's the method we use on asian longtails running a 13hp Honda; before drilling the engine mount holes in the bracket, hang a 13 pound weight on the shaft at the prop, move the engine forward on the mounting plate until it balances, drill holes in bracket and secure engine. This will give enough down pressure to keep the prop in the water with little effort. Note: More horsepower requires a heavier weight.