Bent propeller shaft

[littlewinnie]

I have a 1990 48HP Johnson Special on my 16 foot Galaxy.When my daughter brought the boat back to the dock she told me that she heard a strange noise from the motor. I started the boat up and in neutral didn't hear anything. When I put it in gear I heard a thumping noise from the motor. the faster I went the lauder the noise. I don't believe i heard it in reverse. I took it over to out only Marina and he pulled the lower unit and told me the propeller shaft was bent and he would have to send it out to be repaired and it could cost $1,500 to do the job. I told him to put it back together again and think about it. Does this cost that much to fix the unit and should I put this much money into an 1990 motor.

 

[The Marine Doctor]

Re: Bent propeller shaft

All I can say is WOW. The most expensive PropShaft I have seen is around the $500.00 Canadian funds mark. That is considerably less in US dollars. HE must be charging a huge amount for labour.<br /><br />Are you sure its just the propshaft and nothing else was damaged?<br /><br />TMD

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Bent propeller shaft

It takes approximately six (6) hours to dismantle a lower unit, clean its components, estimate the cost of repairs, and repair the unit (engine back in the water). You can figure those six hours times whatever hourly rate.<br /><br />A bent prop shaft can be straightened by any reliable machine shop for less than $100. It doesn't take rocket science to figure the total cost if all you have is a bent prop shaft.<br /><br />However..... A bent prop shaft can be detected while the lower unit is still on the boat. Did not anyone notice that?<br /><br />The thumping noise you mention in forward gear which gets worse as rpms are increased leads me to believe that the engine is jumping out and back into gear..... other problems pertaining to the shifter dog, forward gear, possibly other damaged parts. Did the dealership mention those items or other damage that came to light once the unit was dismantled? That would certainly run the bill up.

 

[Skyhigh]

Re: Bent propeller shaft

My propeller shaft was bent, got it fixed for $ 20.00 at the local machine shop.

 

[littlewinnie]

Re: Bent propeller shaft

Thank you very much for your imput. I may just take the boat to another repair shop.