Kiwi Prop and anchoring

[Ken13559]

This happens to me each time I tried anchoring when there's a >1.5 knot tide flowing underneath my boat. After dropping anchor, I reversed to set it, my engine started loading and rpm won't go up beyond 1000, black smoke & soot came out from exhaust and sometime rpm dropped to 500 with engine doing the Harlem Shake. I thought the engine was going to explode. Then I realise, this only happens when there is a >1.5 knot tide flowing pass the Kiwi Prop. When not anchoring, the Kiwi Prop provides very good power going astern like when berthing into slip. So it is probable that my engine don't have the power to feather the Kiwi Prop blade into reverse hence it is fanning flat against the water. I have a Yanmar 2GM20F.
Has anyone experience this problem with Kiwi Prop?

 

[Don12364]

Known problem suggest you read all the paragraphs relating to Kiwi problems in reverse.
See:-
http://www.kiwiprop.us/installation/reverse_issues.shtml

SPRING TENSION:
Another occasional problem we have seen particularly for Kiwiprops that have been re-assembled is that the internal torsion spring tension is too high causing reverse engagement 1/2 way through cycle leaving blades at — 45 deg of pitch. This will cause the engine to overload in reverse. In these situations the blades are in effect beginning to rotate and generating reverse thrust before they have adopted the full reverse position.

ENGINE POWER LOSS:
We have also seen a number of situations where after much research as to why the engine was overloading in reverse (and to some lesser degree in Ahead) it was discovered that the engine had lost compression on one cylinder (always nearest the water injection bend) and that the marginal loss of power coupled with small increases in pitch (all Kiwiprops go to a maximum pitch position in reverse) was sufficient to create an overload situation in reverse.

 

[Ken13559]

This loads only happens when at anchor with tide flowing fast under boat. When manoeuvring in tidal flow, no issue with reversing 'cos boat is also going with flow. Immediately after having this problem, my thoughts was to swap back to flexofold. But after analysing my observation, I think I know what the real problem is. I think when next time when I anchor in tidal flow, I'll try moving boat forward some then let it drift with tide and engage reverse same time, that way the prop would have a chance to fully feathered to reverse position.