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Author Topic:   Mercury Propeller

goody115 posted 02-10-2009 02:32 PM ET (US)
First and for-most love this site, it's great to see people who love Whalers as much as I do!!
Anyways bought a used SS propeller for my 91 Mercury Outboard "48-16990 20P" which seemed to be the recommended size in most of the threads that I read on the topic. I have two questions 1) WOW is this propeller ever heavy, do I have the right size?? I don't want to put this on my motor and damage it. Secondly yes, I bought it used (ebay) and there was very little description except "mint" and not damaged or dinged, but it didn't mention that there was no "Hub" in the middle is this a big job, to put one in?? Live North of Michigan so I have a while till the boating season starts to play around with things!!
Ryan

Buckda posted 02-10-2009 03:05 PM ET (US)
Well, you have a 20" pitch SS propeller, and you know that it is fairly recent because it has the removable hub.
What motor will this go on? (HP?).
SS Props are quite heavy compared to the aluminum ones - I was pretty surprised at the weight of mine when I first got it as well.
The good news: the Hub - you need to buy a hub kit - they are available from Michigan Wheel or from Mercury - and they are different based on what model of engine you have. They are inexpensive - about $30-$45 for the Michigan Wheel XHS hub system - they are pretty much the same as the Mercury version, and the price will vary based on where you buy. Your local Merc dealer should have a kit in stock if he sells props.
The reason Merc (and others) went with this removable/exchangable hub system is that they can make one prop and it will fit all brands of motors, despite the drive shaft spline count - you just buy the appropriate hub kit and insert it. You slide it all together and perhaps tap it with a rubber mallet to get it to seat fully, then put it on the engine. It is great!
Good luck...water getting slushy here in mid-Michigan...but I fear it's only a short intermission before winter begins Act II.
Dave
goody115 posted 02-10-2009 03:31 PM ET (US)
P.S it is a 90HP mercury
L H G posted 02-10-2009 04:14 PM ET (US)
It sounds like you have a 20" Laser II. That's a good prop for a Merc 2-stroke 90, and should give you up to 45 MPH top end.
You will need to buy a Flo-Torq II hub kit for it, about $40, and readily available.
With that propeller, the engine should be mounted in the 3rd (middle) set of holes on the engine's bracket.
Buckda posted 02-10-2009 04:21 PM ET (US)
Thanks Larry - I kept forgetting the proprietary name for Mercury's hub kit. Flo-Torq.
It is the same/similar as the XHS kit from Michigan wheel though, right? I believe you can interchange them.
Tom W Clark posted 02-10-2009 05:14 PM ET (US)
Yes, 48-16990 is a Mercury 13-1/4" x 20" Laser II propeller.
If this propeller is a square bore prop (uses a Flo-Torq hub kit) that it will also have the large PVS vent holes and will have "LASER II" cast into the hub and be plainly visible.
If, however, this prop has only the part number and small 1/4" vent holes drilled in it, then it is an earlier version that will need to have a press-in hub installed by a propeller shop.
Mercury/Quicksilver Flo-Torq, Michigan XHS, BRP TBX and Precision's Guardian hub kits are all the same Mercury square bore hub systems.
Tom W Clark posted 02-10-2009 05:16 PM ET (US)
If anybody needs a Flo-Torq II kit for a Mercury motor, I have a box full of them. I'll deliver one for $25.
goody115 posted 02-10-2009 05:27 PM ET (US)
Hello Tom,
The propeller is a Laser II, which is clearly labelled on the shaft, with the PS vent system at the inner end. Do you have the proper Hub system and parts for this particular Propeller? If so were are you located?

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Author	Topic: Mercury Propeller
goody115	posted 02-10-2009 02:32 PM ET (US) First and for-most love this site, it's great to see people who love Whalers as much as I do!! Anyways bought a used SS propeller for my 91 Mercury Outboard "48-16990 20P" which seemed to be the recommended size in most of the threads that I read on the topic. I have two questions 1) WOW is this propeller ever heavy, do I have the right size?? I don't want to put this on my motor and damage it. Secondly yes, I bought it used (ebay) and there was very little description except "mint" and not damaged or dinged, but it didn't mention that there was no "Hub" in the middle is this a big job, to put one in?? Live North of Michigan so I have a while till the boating season starts to play around with things!! Ryan
Buckda	posted 02-10-2009 03:05 PM ET (US) Well, you have a 20" pitch SS propeller, and you know that it is fairly recent because it has the removable hub. What motor will this go on? (HP?). SS Props are quite heavy compared to the aluminum ones - I was pretty surprised at the weight of mine when I first got it as well. The good news: the Hub - you need to buy a hub kit - they are available from Michigan Wheel or from Mercury - and they are different based on what model of engine you have. They are inexpensive - about $30-$45 for the Michigan Wheel XHS hub system - they are pretty much the same as the Mercury version, and the price will vary based on where you buy. Your local Merc dealer should have a kit in stock if he sells props. The reason Merc (and others) went with this removable/exchangable hub system is that they can make one prop and it will fit all brands of motors, despite the drive shaft spline count - you just buy the appropriate hub kit and insert it. You slide it all together and perhaps tap it with a rubber mallet to get it to seat fully, then put it on the engine. It is great! Good luck...water getting slushy here in mid-Michigan...but I fear it's only a short intermission before winter begins Act II. Dave
goody115	posted 02-10-2009 03:31 PM ET (US) P.S it is a 90HP mercury
L H G	posted 02-10-2009 04:14 PM ET (US) It sounds like you have a 20" Laser II. That's a good prop for a Merc 2-stroke 90, and should give you up to 45 MPH top end. You will need to buy a Flo-Torq II hub kit for it, about $40, and readily available. With that propeller, the engine should be mounted in the 3rd (middle) set of holes on the engine's bracket.
Buckda	posted 02-10-2009 04:21 PM ET (US) Thanks Larry - I kept forgetting the proprietary name for Mercury's hub kit. Flo-Torq. It is the same/similar as the XHS kit from Michigan wheel though, right? I believe you can interchange them.
Tom W Clark	posted 02-10-2009 05:14 PM ET (US) Yes, 48-16990 is a Mercury 13-1/4" x 20" Laser II propeller. If this propeller is a square bore prop (uses a Flo-Torq hub kit) that it will also have the large PVS vent holes and will have "LASER II" cast into the hub and be plainly visible. If, however, this prop has only the part number and small 1/4" vent holes drilled in it, then it is an earlier version that will need to have a press-in hub installed by a propeller shop. Mercury/Quicksilver Flo-Torq, Michigan XHS, BRP TBX and Precision's Guardian hub kits are all the same Mercury square bore hub systems.
Tom W Clark	posted 02-10-2009 05:16 PM ET (US) If anybody needs a Flo-Torq II kit for a Mercury motor, I have a box full of them. I'll deliver one for $25.
goody115	posted 02-10-2009 05:27 PM ET (US) Hello Tom, The propeller is a Laser II, which is clearly labelled on the shaft, with the PS vent system at the inner end. Do you have the proper Hub system and parts for this particular Propeller? If so were are you located?