Sterndrive lower unit prop shaft bent.

[julio rodriguez]

I was boating to port washingtons fish day and bottomed out on something. When I got the boat out of the water I looked it over for any damage. I spun the prop and it has a slight wobble to it with one of the blades bent and the fin is slightly bent(almost unnoticable). There were no visible cracks or leaks. What is the most inexpensive way to get this back in balance?

 

[redjmp]

Re: Sterndrive lower unit prop shaft bent.

Well you won't know for sure if the proshaft is bent until you pull the prop off...

Chance are if its an aluminum prop, the the prop took the damage and saved your shaft.

There is no way to properly fix a bent prop without taking it to the prop shop.

But sometimes they want as much as a new prop especially if it is an aluminum as they can be found for under $100.

 

[julio rodriguez]

Re: Sterndrive lower unit prop shaft bent.

I have a new spare aluminum prop that I can replace it with. I will change them out to see if it still wobbles to eliminate that possibility and hope its not the shaft. If it is the shaft can it be fixed cheaply or the lower unit have to be rebuilt?

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Sterndrive lower unit prop shaft bent.

While you have the prop off, make up a wire (old coat hanger) and fasten it to something heavy, then move the whole thing over to stern drive. Adjust the end of the wire so it just touches the side of the prop shaft at the threaded end. The side, not the blunt end of the shaft. Then slowly rotate the shaft with your hand and watch the distance at the wire. You will be able to see if it is bent or not.

 

[Don S]

Re: Sterndrive lower unit prop shaft bent.

If it is the shaft can it be fixed cheaply

Have no idea how cheap it will be, would help to know what drive you actually have.