Stuck prop

[wil7483]

I have been in the process of replacing my gimbal bearing, oil seal, shift cable, and u-joints due to the previous bearing becoming frozen to the yoke and causing me major headaches. I have finally gotten everything replaced and back together and today I decided to remove the prop to grease the splines and low and behold it is stuck on the shaft. I have tried to spray WD-40 on it but I don't even think it is finding it's way into the that space to offer any assistance. I then wrapped a chain around the blades of the prop and attached it to a bearing puller and tightened down on it but it actually broke one of the pieces of metal that the chain was connected to on the puller. Needless to say the prop didn't budge. I then made all of my adjustments to the shift cables per the manual and ran the engine with the drive engaged in forward and reverse for several minutes hoping to jar it a loose but that made no difference either. So any other suggestions?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Stuck prop

Cut it off and make sure the new one is serviced once a season,even if the boat is not used that year.Unless of course you`ve been hitting things

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Stuck prop

Hey D,


Was that prop even on the drive for a year?

If it won't come off, I suspect you'll need a propeller puller something like below....(Both from http://www.trmarine.com/ )

Or maybe one like this:

You might easily make one though using a regular puller available from Harbor Freight

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stuck prop

Ayuh,... Amazing what a dab of Grease could have done for you,....
At Worst,... Cut the prop off....

 

[wil7483]

Re: Stuck prop

Hey Rick, that bottom picture is what I devised with a puller from Harbor Freight. The metal arm broke off of it. I will try to find a prop puller. You are right though, this prop hasn't been on a year. I was taking it on and off in the water when I was testing what size I needed early last year. I think it was off last maybe in August of last year. I should have taken it off for the winter. Lesson learned.

Bondo, you are right about the grease. In fact I did grease it last spring when I put the drive back on after changing engines but I guess from all of the changing that I did in the water the grease all came off. I will be sure from now on the keep it greased at all times. So you are the second person to suggest cutting it off. How exactly do I do that? Here's a pic, where should I cut and how? I wish there was a less destructive option but in the event I have to go this route I can at least be knowledgable.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Stuck prop

Is that prop stainless? if so I would consider using heat and try the puller method again apply heat right to the hub and tapping it with a hammer what do you have to lose

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stuck prop

Bondo, you are right about the grease. In fact I did grease it last spring when I put the drive back on after changing engines but I guess from all of the changing that I did in the water the grease all came off. I will be sure from now on the keep it greased at all times. So you are the second person to suggest cutting it off. How exactly do I do that? Here's a pic, where should I cut and how? I wish there was a less destructive option but in the event I have to go this route I can at least be knowledgable.

Ayuh,... Slice it any way you can, In-line with the propshaft, to salvage the shaft....

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Stuck prop

I just went through this on my Dad's boat last week - in fact I almost posted a similar question. The puller I rigged up worked - I was able to drill a couple of holes in the side of the prop to fit my two jaw puller into securely. I then started tightening and spraying with PB Blaster. I would leave the pressure on it for awhile and come back to it a little later.

Anyway, I was able to actually pull the outer prop off of the inner hub. The hub stayed on the shaft and it was easy to then cut off.

So I guess my simple advice would be to get a big puller onto it and start cranking away! I cannot imagine having to cut off a stainless prop.

(By the way, I used an air cut off tool to cut off the inner hub and it went through it pretty easily).

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Stuck prop

Here's the pics of what I ended up doing:

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Stuck prop

You are right though, this prop hasn't been on a year. I was taking it on and off in the water when I was testing what size I needed early last year. I think it was off last maybe in August of last year. I should have taken it off for the winter. Lesson learned.

I am REALLY surprised that it won't come off after being on there for such a short period of time. (And there is a little grease on it!!)

I think building yourself a puller like the one in my top picture might do the job. You could probably build one too using a piece of 3/8-1/2" steel plate using "hooks" that would fit inside the exhaust area of the hub.

Just crank up the torque on the bolt and give a healthy TAP on the center bolt with a 2 pound sledge.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stuck prop

Just crank up the torque on the bolt and give a healthy TAP on the center bolt with a 2 pound sledge.

Ayuh,.... Yer missin' a Zero on that BFH......

 

[wil7483]

Re: Stuck prop

Just an update. I finally got the prop to come off this morning. I put the chain on it and tightened it over the course of 3 days and this morning it finally decided to give way. I have cleaned and greased the splines but it is still tight going on and off. It use to slide on and off with no proplem whatsoever and no resistance. Is this a sign of the hub going bad? Is this too much grease or is there such a thing as too much grease.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Stuck prop

Are you in brackish/salt water? If your in a marina have you noticed any corrosion
more than the ordinary you could have an electrylosis problem either on your boat or in the Marina. My 88 Evinrude 50 to my best recollection I have never greased it.
It does have a good bit on there from the start.Motor has been pretty much run hard and put away wet all its life sitting prop in the water(fresh water) from april
to December.December change the lube and fog it.Most of its 22 year life.
Son has boat now I warned him of the horror stories I see on here and to be prepared for a struggle. Once he had the right socket zip boom he was done.
Is the 2 stroke exhaust oilly enough that the shaft stays lubed?
I was shocked pleased and a little mistified.Is it only the I/Os that experience this?

 

[steelespike]

Re: Stuck prop

Bump^