How to remove pressed prop hubs before recycling

[ratdude747]

Here's an atypical prop question: I have four aluminum props sitting around with rubber hubs. One has a spun hub (pressed Mercruiser), one has hub starting to dry rot (Michigan Wheel that appears to be pressed), and two have substantial damage (both are pressed Mercruisers, one has a rotted hub, cavitation, and a hub crack; the other is severely corroded).

Is there a good way to remove the rubber hubs to allow me to sell the damaged ones (and any others not worth re-hubbing) for scrap aluminum? I have access to a couple shop presses at work. I don't know if my local scrapyard will take them as anything other than mixed steel with the hubs present.

FWIW I'm good on props otherwise; I have three different Piranha setups and an untested decent-looking aluminum Solas. But, no sense in clogging my driveway pile with props that may have some scrap value.

 

[Mc Tool]

Here's an atypical prop question: I have four aluminum props sitting around with rubber hubs. One has a spun hub (pressed Mercruiser), one has hub starting to dry rot (Michigan Wheel that appears to be pressed), and two have substantial damage (both are pressed Mercruisers, one has a rotted hub, cavitation, and a hub crack; the other is severely corroded).

Is there a good way to remove the rubber hubs to allow me to sell the damaged ones (and any others not worth re-hubbing) for scrap aluminum? I have access to a couple shop presses at work. I don't know if my local scrapyard will take them as anything other than mixed steel with the hubs present.

FWIW I'm good on props otherwise; I have three different Piranha setups and an untested decent-looking aluminum Solas. But, no sense in clogging my driveway pile with props that may have some scrap value.

Chuck em on a fire ....burn the rubber out and you get both the ally prop and the splined (brass?) bush for scrap .

 

[alldodge]

I would try to press them out, either that or use a band saw to cross cut

 

[Texasmark]

I would try to press them out, either that or use a band saw to cross cut

The cutting them in half is a great idea. When you get the hub out you can cross cut the rubber to get the brass bushing out. I would expect both actions would require some clean up work but you now would have access to what you want to do.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, prop shops press the hubs on and off all the time. Why not try a press?

 

[Jeff J]

I just throw the complete assembly in with everything else when I head to the scrap yard. I threw a prop, lower unit and a lawnmower in the last load which totaled about 6800 pounds. I torn down a pole barn that was in very bad condition. I usually don’t have that much scrap.

 

[Texasmark]

Gee, prop shops press the hubs on and off all the time. Why not try a press?

True! Easy to see pressing the new hub in. My lacking tool in my shop would be the "hub remover" tool.

 

[ratdude747]

Gee, prop shops press the hubs on and off all the time. Why not try a press?

I had always been under the impressing that there was more to it than just a shop press, as ubiquitous as such presses are. Or is that a "if you had to ask, you're not supposed to know" smoke and mirrors show? Perhaps, a "you can but you'll ruin it" situation, which would put me in luck if all I was after is getting scrap aluminum $ out of them.

When I inquired about rehubbing the one Mercruiser prop, I kept reading they weren't servicable. Then again, I also was told (by a prop shop) nobody welds aluminum props any more and that they're effectively disposable.

I just know aluminum is one of the more valuable scrap metals (and ecologically, one of the best for recycling). And I hate throwing stuff in mixed steel that's covered in aluminum... I had some junk outdrives but between extreme corrosion and not having lower drive disassembly tools those will all end up in mixed when all is done, which makes me sad but whatever.