HELP WITH ZX185

[BASSINJAYCT]

I just bought a used zx185 team 2 weeks ago from a locla dealer and i am having problems with the boat the dealer says that there is nothing wrong .but it dosnt seem to get to the speed that others have posted not even close its rpm at wot seem real high no water pressure till it is up on plane .so far the top speed that i have been able to get is 58mph at 6200rpm water pressure is fluctutes between 12 and 15psi . the boat has a 12" slide master jack plate and a yamaha 23 p prop sitting 3" below pad any body have any suggestions please help

[BASSINJAYCT]

forgot the motor is a 150 efi and compression is good on all holes

[mnbassman]

Sounds like you are right in there as to where a zx185c with a 150 normally runs.
I have a 175 yammie on mine and I am running 66-67.
I do have mine higher than 3 inches below pad though. Near 1 7/8ths to 2 " below pad.
My good friend has a 2000 zx185c, Yamaha ox66 injected 150 v max, with a 23m yamaha pro series prop. At fult tilt his rpms are ranging near 6000 rpm. The best speed I have ever seen out of it when I have been in it alone is 62 depending on how much tackle and gas he has in the boat.
In the heat of July and August, when the air is thick and the water is warm, he is getting around 58 with a tournament load.

Now, I honestly think you should try out a 24p Mercury Tempest 2 or some other manufactor that makes a 24 pitch.
I think the yamaha 25 is too much for the 150 V max, and the 23 is too small. Just too much RPM. It is too bad Yamaha doesn't seem to make a 24 pitch.
You want your engine to top out near 5800 at full throttle or even 5500.

Don't worry about a problem with the motor or the hull.
everything sounds to the norm BUT, there are some improvements you can make.

[BucksnBass525]

ZX185 w/ 150 HP efi should run 62-64MPH all day everyday light load. I have found engine height of around 2" below the pad to be best. Depending on motor brand (Merc, Yam) and model (ox66, Merc efi, etc) you should be able to turn a 25P near 6000 RPM's. Sounds to me like you are under propped and the motor is too deep for sure. Assuming your tach is right you will need to look for a 25P prop.

[skeetzx225]

Are you talking 58 mph GPS or Speedo speed?

You're probably at the max for what the 150 can push it...

[mnbassmanstwin]

I WILL HAVE TO AGREE WITH MY BROTHER, OUR FRIENDS SKEETER WITH THE 150 0X66 YAMAHA FLAT OUT WILL NOT HARDLY TOP 60 MPH. WHEN HE DOES HIT 60 IT IS COOL WATER, COOL AIR HERE IN MN. HE HAS NO TACKLE IN THE BOAT AND HE IS RUNNING ON VAPORS. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS HE DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE THE TIME MESSING AROUND WITH HIS JACK PLATTE AND HE DOES NOT WANT TO LOOK INTO GETTING A DIFFERENT PROP. HE IS WOT AT AROUND 6000 TO 6100 RPM, YOU CAN HEAR HIM COMING ACROSS THE LAKE, IT SOUNDS LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN BECAUSE HE HAS THAT THING MAXED OUT ON RPM. I WOULD BE NERVOUS RUNNING THAT HIGH ALL THAT TIME. I THINK YOU SHOULD INCREASE YOUR PITCH A LITTLE.

NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE 0X66 THOUGH, I CURRENTLY HAVE A 99 V-MAX CARBORATED 175 ON MY ZX185, I CHANGED TO A TEMPEST 25 PITCH PROP AND I AM GETTING 68 MPH OUT OF HERE. BEFORE I HAD THE 175 I HAD A 92 150 PRO-V AND THAT BOAT HAD A 25 PITCH YAMAHA PROP ON IT AND I COULD FLAT OUT GET 64-65 MPH EASILY, WITH TWO PEOPLE, FULL GAS ETC I WAS GETTING 63.

I DO NOT THINK THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE MOTOR, IF THERE WAS YOU WOULD NOT BE GETTING 6200 RPM OUT IT. SPENDING MORE MONEY SUCKS BUT I TOO THINK THAT YOU MAYBE SHOULD FIND A 24 PITCH PROP SO YOUR RPS GO A BIT DOWN, YOUR OUT OF THE HOLE MAY BE AFFECTED A BIT BUT YOUR TOP SPEED SHOULD GO UP SOME. I WOULD LOOK INTO A TEMPEST.

ON MY 175 V-MAX WITH THE TEMPEST I AM ONLY RUNNING AT ABOUT 5400 RPM AT WOT AND REACHING SPEEDS OF 66-68 MPH GPS (HUMMINBIRD 937). I WAS ABLE TO GET THE NEW PROP MINUS MY $100 DEDUCTIBLE WHEN MY TWIN BRO HIT SOME ROCKS WITH 25M YAMAHA PROP HINDSITE, I AM GLAD HE DINGED THE PROP UP BECAUSE NOW WITH THE TEMPEST IT RUNS QUITER (LESS RPM) AND IT FLAT OUT MOVES

TOO BAD YOU DO NOT LIVE RIGHT HERE, MY FATHER HAS A 1997 ZX185 WITH A 175 PRO-V THAT RUNS AWESOME BUT HE IS NOT INTERESTED IN TOP SPEED, HE ACTUALLY IS THINKING ABOUT SELLING HIS WHOLE RIG BECAUSE HE LIKES HOW THE 0X66 150 STARTS. TURN OF THE KEY SNAP OFF RIGHT NOW. HE WAS LOOKING AT TRADING OFF HIS ZX185 WITH THE 175 CARB PRO-V TO GET A SMOOTHER STARTING ENGINE? SHOOT HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SWAPPED MOTORS WITH YOU

ANYWAY, GOOD LUCK.

[BASSINJAYCT]

that is gps speed and the tach was replaced last week i have talked to a couple of different people that have same boat and they are getting 64-67mph at 5800-5900rpm

[mnbassmanstwin]

where do they have the jackplatte set? Are they running the same prop as you? There could be some other factors, but I do not think it is a motor issue.

I know when my brother got his first one in 1998 we did not have a chance to go on a forum like this. His skeeter was running pretty well but it is amazing how much you can change things with setting the jackplatte and getting a different prop.

Does your prop have any minor dings etc. that could cause performance issues. It does not take much of curl or ding to cause issues.

jeff

[K.D.]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BASSINJAYCT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that is gps speed and the tach was replaced last week i have talked to a couple of different people that have same boat and they are getting 64-67mph at 5800-5900rpm </TD></TR></TABLE>

You'll quickly learn to ignore what folks "tell" you they run and pay more attention to what they "show" you they can run. You'll be amazed at how many of thsoe 65 mph 150's you'll pass on the water.

[Mark Perry]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by K.D. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You'll quickly learn to ignore what folks "tell" you they run and pay more attention to what they "show" you they can run. You'll be amazed at how many of thsoe 65 mph 150's you'll pass on the water. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Usually you can just deduct 10% from their total stated speed to get their true speed as well.

[skeetzx225]

+1

[skeeterrulz37]

got a 99 ZX 185c and I can get pretty good speed out of my one-five-0 I GPSed 62 mph running a 25 m at around 5200 R's ....no brag just fact

[BucksnBass525]

BassinJay, you never said what year the boat is. The newer ZX is a bit heavier than say a 97' and in 97' Yamaha had the PRO-V carbed motor which is stronger than todays emmission and HP regulated motors. Assuming you have the newer ZX it will still run 62-64MPH light just like I said, properly set-up. Put a 25P A40 Tempest on it and you'll get more. My 97'ran a best of 67.2 (GPS) @ 6100 RPM's-1 7/8 below the pad w/ 150HP Pro-V. It really depends on year, motor, prop, set-up, load and weather conditions, but don't settle for 58 MPH.

[Olddawg]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by K.D. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

You'll quickly learn to ignore what folks "tell" you they run and pay more attention to what they "show" you they can run. You'll be amazed at how many of thsoe 65 mph 150's you'll pass on the water. </TD></TR></TABLE>

1996 ZXD180 - 1996 150 Mariner Magnum lll with a 24p Tempest ll, 65.7 GPS @ 5800 RPMS, 22 psi water pressure....FACT..no BS here.

[BASSINJAYCT]

Thanks everyone for the info ,the boat is a 2000 zx185c team with a 2000 yamaha 150 efi