Preventing Weedring Meltdown

		Last updated: 01/02/05
	PREVENTING WEEDRING MELTDOWN by Rowdy

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For those who run the weed ring and/or the Bass Renegade prop, this will help stop the weed ring from melting and prevent failure of the rubber prop hub over time as well...

The 200 and the 225 Fichts have a hotter exhaust that will in time burn the weed ring and the prop hub out if you run WOT enough down the lake or river. The following procedure will address this somewhat. I know it's hard to do on something you spent so much for, but it will work and, even though we have to drill a couple holes in her, she won't feel the pain.

You need a drill bit set, a cordless drill, something to measure with, a center punch and a hammer. Removing the prop is best, but you don't have to.

Measure 4" forward from the back edge where the prop and gearcase meet down the side of the bullet of the gearcase and along the skeg on each side. Once you have 4" marked off, measure up the bullet 1" from the edge of the skeg. Now you are 4" forward and 1" up from the edge of the skeg, right??? Center punch that spot on each side of the skeg.

Starting with a 1/8" drill bit, drill a hole right on the punch mark, but this is the spot you need to make sure you follow me! Drill this hole perpendicular to the gear case and parallel to the skeg. Now you with me here so far? This is a little hard to get started as it's on the curve, but the center punch mark will help hold the bit from walking up the side of the gearcase until you get the bit started. Drill both sides. Once you have the two holes that are looking straight down (if the motor was tilted down) running with the skeg, put a 5/16" bit in the drill and drill the two holes to this size, staying parallel to the skeg. Once this is done, insert the drill bit through the gearcase into the exhaust housing and angle the drill forward (toward the bow) to flute the hole so it will act like a small scoop and pull lake water into the exhaust housing when running forward down the lake. Don't stick the drill bit through the side of the bullet into the exhaust housing too far either. There is plenty of room in there. Your bit will be going toward the prop shaft. Just get it into the housing enough to clear all the way in, then angle drill it fluting the hole to make the scoop. Hold the drill parallel to the skeg, 1" off. Basically, as you angle the drill forward, don't wallow the drill around as you flute the holes. Just angle drill the holes about 45 degrees forward. Everyone with me here??? Won't need alot...You be the judge here...Just don't overdo the angle as, although a little is good, more is not better.

This will look a lot like the low water pickups on nose cones once you are through. We are nowhere near the front of the gearcase, but will still get the water from the fluted hole. This will scoop the water as you run down the lake and bring in enough water to help cool the exhaust at this point, cooling the prop hub and keeping the weed ring from burning in those long WOT runs. Once you have all this done, I recommend some paint on the fluted holes. A dab of black will do if you don't have the matching the gearcase paint.

So... you with me???

This is TRW (The Rowdy Way)...