Do you change prop in the water???

[strokeoluck]

I recently had some prop damage and had to change it out (see thread here: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=320206). Granted this was my first time and it was a steep learning curve, and it looks like I misthreaded the nut so I have a minor repair yet in front of me. But even if things had gone well, it seems like changing a prop while sitting in the water would be a bit challenging.

When this originally happened we pulled into some shallow water and I pulled out our spare prop. But I quickly realized why many of you say you carry spare tools on board! All I had was my utility tool and the pliers on it weren't big enough to grab the nut properly. So I guess this is a two part question:

1) do you attempt to change the prop in the water if you can limp back to the ramp?

2) what specific tools/stuff do you bring along in case you need to change the prop? (so far on my list I have: gloves, floating prop wrench and screwdriver)

Thanks!

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

I also have a short piece of a 2x4...to jam the prop against!

I added a screw eye at each end, and a bungee cord, to keep it in place...frees up both of my hands.

And...a spare nut and washer!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

**deleted**

 

[QC]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

Depends on the boat design and size too. If you can reach it, heck yeah I change in the water. Have done it standing in shallow water and done it hanging from the swimstep.

A couple of tips. Pay attention to the maintenance suggestion to grease prop once a season. You can have all of the spares and tools in the world, but if you can't get the old one off you're pretty much done . . .

Annnnnddd, carry a spare thrust washer. It is everything. All of your horsepower is transmitted from the prop back to the thrust washer and ultimately to making the boat go. If you have greased things properly the grease can make the thrust washer stick to the prop when you pull it. One minor mistake and it is in the drink. You can go forward without a prop nut, you can't go anywhere without a thrust washer

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

Thanks guys. I like your suggestions - I'm compiling a (bigger) list! A few addl questions:'

1) what approx. length do you cut the 2x4?

2) what exactly is the "thrust washer"? Is it that ribbed thing that grabs on to the prop shaft? (looks like two gears marrying up together)

3) what type of grease do I buy to properly grease the prop shaft? (I already have waterproof grease for the trailer axle but I'm assuming that's not the right stuff)

4) where/how do you properly grease the prop? When I got my recently repaired prop in the mail they had the inside covered in a sort of metallic grease - is that the stuff? (Though I still have no idea what that is).

5) is there a website where I can easily order these Mercruiser parts, such as a spare thrust washer, prop nut and locking tab (?)? I'd love a site where I can just plug in my boat year, make, model and engine size and voila...I order the parts. Maybe iboats allows me to do it but I haven't explored it.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

My piece of 2x4 is 8" long.

Here are the prop nut kits:

http://www.iboats.com/Mercury_Prop_...9766848--**********.330737925--view_id.271513

Here are the thrust washers:

http://www.iboats.com/Propeller_Nut...89766848--**********.330737925--view_id.45054

 

[QC]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

I slop some grease on the front of the prop and slide it onto the splines on the prop shaft. Pretty much takes care of it. Thrust washer is what the front of the prop rides on on the shaft. It should spin freely on the shaft and slide right off easily. First thing that prop touches other than the shaft.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

This is good for the Alpha drives:

 

[PolishPrince]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

Good Advice folks
Thanks !

 

[QC]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

And because there has been some confusion on this before . . . Thrust Washer and Thrust Hub are the same thing . . .

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

Ok, sorry for being a total idiot but I'm still confused. (The Alpha diagram doesn't seem to apply to my Mercruiser). I put two picture links below.

What do you call the washer-thing w/the bendable tabs in the first link (howdoigetpropoff.jpg)? You're all saying THIS is the item that I should carry a spare of, in addition to the prop nut?

What do you call the heavier thing shown in the second picture link (propring-howdoigetthisoffsmall.jpg)? I DON'T need to carry a spare of this item?

I slop some grease on the front of the prop and slide it onto the splines on the prop shaft.

Again, sorry for coming across like a moron, but what does "on the front of the prop" mean? I would assuming I'd slop some on the inside of the prop...on the rubber insert - yes? If so, what type of grease?

Can you tell I didn't grow up around boats?...or engines?!

BTW, I did run to Northern Tool today and stocked up on extra basic tools, and made a short 2x4 piece w/the eyes on the end to help change a future prop. So thanks again guys.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

The first picture is a tab washer and the second is a spline washer. I carry one of each of the items in the picture in my boat as a spare.

 

[QC]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

Me too on the spares, but just for emphasis, the addition of the Thrust Washer insures that you can get home. You can run in forward gear without any of the stuff in strokeoluck's pics. Reverse means a lost prop, but forward in an emergency you could get away with, but you have to have the Thrust Washer . . . The point being, any spares setup without the Thrust Washer is incomplete.

Yes, a slug of grease on the front of the prop hub and kinda into the shaft hole, as you slide it on the grease is pushed into the splines on both the prop and the shaft. To quote a brilliant mind "any grease is better than no grease at all . . .", Bondo the Magnanimous . . . P.S. Is Magnanimous good?

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

The first picture is a tab washer and the second is a spline washer. I carry one of each of the items in the picture in my boat as a spare.

Got it, I'll order spares of both washers as well as the prop nut. Thanks bhammer.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

the addition of the Thrust Washer insures that you can get home. You can run in forward gear without any of the stuff in strokeoluck's pics. Reverse means a lost prop, but forward in an emergency you could get away with, but you have to have the Thrust Washer . . . The point being, any spares setup without the Thrust Washer is incomplete.

QC you must be sick of me by now () but be patient while I ask this follow-up question. When I disassembled the prop "stuff" I only wound up with four pieces. I'll list them in order as I took them off:

1) prop nut
2) tab washer
3) spline washer
4) prop

So this thing that you're calling a "thrust washer" (and I Googled some pics so I have a little better understanding) doesn't seem to exist on my prop set-up. The spline washer has a bit of a collar on it that seems to lock on to the prop shaft (has almost gear-looking teeth on it that marry up to the ribs on the shaft).

I'm thinking either a) my prop doesn't have a thrust washer and doesn't need one, or b) my prop doesn't have a thrust washer but I "should" add one to my set up , or c) I have one but I'm (and bhammer too???) calling it by the wrong name.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

It's possible your thrust washer (or thrust hub as it's called in the diagram) didn't come off with the prop and is still on the shaft up against the outdrive. It's on the forward side of the prop, between the prop and outdrive. Look in there and see if you can slide it off.

 

[strokeoluck]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

Yup, it's official. I have a thrust washer...and I'm an idiot. It was indeed sitting right on top of the base of the prop shaft, and it slid right up once I grabbed it. I just assumed it was part of the prop shaft. Thanks again everyone. If you get a chance please check out my other forum question about ordering the right prop. I'm sitting online waiting to place the order once I get confirmation from some of you experts on whether or not I've selected the right prop.

 

[Silver Heels]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

Its posts like these that is the reason I love this forum. An honest, simple question, followed by good solid advice. I guarantee more that just one person is planning to stock a few more inexpensive, yet crucial back up parts now...and no "know-it-alls" flew off the handle in the process either!

 

[capt sam]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

I carry complete replacement kits in ziplock baggies for the motor prop, trolling motor prop and axle hub and bearings and tools to do eveything which really isn't alot but it has saved the day a few times.

 

[QC]

Re: Do you change prop in the water???

I just Zip tie the prop stuff together . . . everything has a hole in it . . .

Oh and one of our linguists PM'd me about Magnanimous . . . nope, not Bondo . . . I'm gonna go with Bondo the Magnifluxed . . .