2013 monterey 204 fsx prop not operating

[Moneypits]

Hey everyone, so I recently purchased this boat a few weeks ago. So I was cruising "no wake" speed to the ramp and I guess I bottomed out on rocks, I heard and felt it and I immediately put it in neutral. Then I noticed my prop was all mangled, i tried to continue to the boat ramp but the prop would not engage. Throttle feels like its operating normal but something is not engaging the prop. (4.3 mercruiser) local repair shops are backed up and now I'm trying to see if it's a job I can handle myself. I'm pretty handy at automotive repairs and after researching lower unit removal I think thats manageable. But I'm wondering if anyone has the knowledge to help me through this, locating and repairing the problem... ? Thanks

 

[Paintman1960]

Might be the rubber in the prop, has spun
Have you checked it ?

Just seen yer SN , LMAO !!

 

[dubs283]

Might be the rubber in the prop, has spun

this would be the easiest and cheapest scenario, the rubber hub in the prop could very well have spun thus not allowing the propshaft to properly rotate the prop. a lot of mercury brand propellers now use a plastic removable hub as a sacrificial and easily replaceable part.

other causes of prop not spinning when in gear are internal drive damage to gears/shafts/shifting components, broken u joints, faulty/broken shift linkage components, faulty/broken shift cable or shift plate assy, spun engine coupler or sheared coupler splines among other items

the above items range in common to not so common as well as easily repairable to advanced knowledge/patience and cost

the first thing to check is the prop hub, if that is sound report back and more in depth troubleshooting tactics can be provided

 

[Scott06]

Hey everyone, so I recently purchased this boat a few weeks ago. So I was cruising "no wake" speed to the ramp and I guess I bottomed out on rocks, I heard and felt it and I immediately put it in neutral. Then I noticed my prop was all mangled, i tried to continue to the boat ramp but the prop would not engage. Throttle feels like its operating normal but something is not engaging the prop. (4.3 mercruiser) local repair shops are backed up and now I'm trying to see if it's a job I can handle myself. I'm pretty handy at automotive repairs and after researching lower unit removal I think thats manageable. But I'm wondering if anyone has the knowledge to help me through this, locating and repairing the problem... ? Thanks

Yes most likely prop hub has failed as it is intended to brake when yiu hit something.
assume you are back on the trailer take prop off look at the hub there are two styles older rubber pressed in hub, or newer replaceable hard plastic insert. Run tge engine on the muffs and see if prop shaft turn in gear and reverse. Also does it overheat now?if it dies could have damaged drive our coupler and thus impeller in drive is not turning

 

[Moneypits]

this would be the easiest and cheapest scenario, the rubber hub in the prop could very well have spun thus not allowing the propshaft to properly rotate the prop. a lot of mercury brand propellers now use a plastic removable hub as a sacrificial and easily replaceable part.

other causes of prop not spinning when in gear are internal drive damage to gears/shafts/shifting components, broken u joints, faulty/broken shift linkage components, faulty/broken shift cable or shift plate assy, spun engine coupler or sheared coupler splines among other items

the above items range in common to not so common as well as easily repairable to advanced knowledge/patience and cost

the first thing to check is the prop hub, if that is sound report back and more in depth troubleshooting tactics can be provided

Thanks for the reply, great information, ill check into that asap. Stay tuned.

 

[Moneypits]

Yes most likely prop hub has failed as it is intended to brake when yiu hit something.
assume you are back on the trailer take prop off look at the hub there are two styles older rubber pressed in hub, or newer replaceable hard plastic insert. Run tge engine on the muffs and see if prop shaft turn in gear and reverse. Also does it overheat now?if it dies could have damaged drive our coupler and thus impeller in drive is not turning

Thanks for the reply and info, I'm praying its as easy as that... I'll check into it asap and let you know what I've found out. Thanks again.

 

[Moneypits]

this would be the easiest and cheapest scenario, the rubber hub in the prop could very well have spun thus not allowing the propshaft to properly rotate the prop. a lot of mercury brand propellers now use a plastic removable hub as a sacrificial and easily replaceable part.

other causes of prop not spinning when in gear are internal drive damage to gears/shafts/shifting components, broken u joints, faulty/broken shift linkage components, faulty/broken shift cable or shift plate assy, spun engine coupler or sheared coupler splines among other items

the above items range in common to not so common as well as easily repairable to advanced knowledge/patience and cost

the first thing to check is the prop hub, if that is sound report back and more in depth troubleshooting tactics can be provided

Ok i removed the prop, the hub seems fine (prop is destroyed tho). My shaft is a little bent, I startedit up and put it in gear, I can feel the engine engage but nothing at the prop shaft,I don't hear any grinding noises engine on or off. Spins freely and smoothly by hand in neutral and if in gear spins as it should forward and not reverse and vice versa.

 

[Paintman1960]

Ok i removed the prop, the hub seems fine (prop is destroyed tho). My shaft is a little bent, I startedit up and put it in gear, I can feel the engine engage but nothing at the prop shaft,I don't hear any grinding noises engine on or off. Spins freely and smoothly by hand in neutral and if in gear spins as it should forward and not reverse and vice versa.

Well, that sucks big time, I was hoping that was your issue

 

[Moneypits]

Yes most likely prop hub has failed as it is intended to brake when yiu hit something.
assume you are back on the trailer take prop off look at the hub there are two styles older rubber pressed in hub, or newer replaceable hard plastic insert. Run tge engine on the muffs and see if prop shaft turn in gear and reverse. Also does it overheat now?if it dies could have damaged drive our coupler and thus impeller in drive is not turning

I started it and I can hear something in the engine engage in gear... sounds normal. As far as overheating I'm skiddish on letting it run too long. Is it ok as long as I watch the TEMP Guage...?

 

[dubs283]

I started it and I can hear something in the engine engage in gear... sounds normal. As far as overheating I'm skiddish on letting it run too long. Is it ok as long as I watch the TEMP Guage...?

the engine has nothing to do with shifting into or out of gear, the only transference of power from the engine is through the engine coupler

the troubleshooting outlined in previous posts regarding the propeller hub and shaft would require the boat to be out of the water, and running the engine to engage shifting would require the use of muffs supplying water to the drive pickup

edit: sorry didn't see the post with pictures obviously indicating the boat was on a trailer

 

[Rick Stephens]

With that big twist in the prop shaft I expect you have a shaft broken up in the drive. I'd pull the drive off - a 15 minute job, and even an annual maintenance job at that - you can then inspect your way from input shaft, u-joints, downward. Personally, no way I am running that drive until it is gone though. The prop shaft needs replacing. And I'll bet if you split the upper and lower cases - another common maintenance procedure - you will find what is broken.

 

[Moneypits]

With that big twist in the prop shaft I expect you have a shaft broken up in the drive. I'd pull the drive off - a 15 minute job, and even an annual maintenance job at that - you can then inspect your way from input shaft, u-joints, downward. Personally, no way I am running that drive until it is gone though. The prop shaft needs replacing. And I'll bet if you split the upper and lower cases - another common maintenance procedure - you will find what is broken.

Ok, this is kind of what I was wanting to know/do... I was wonder if I should take the lower unit off or just take the whole assembly off the boat to diagnose the issue... I'm ok with doing any other preventive maintenence while it's apart...

 

[dubs283]

looking at a rubber hub in a prop does not rule out that it has failed, with the prop slid on the shaft and the drive in gear (engine not running) try rotating the prop against the resistance of the shaft. if the prop rotates but the shaft is stationary then the hub has failed. it is merely press fit into the prop

the propshaft at the very least needs replaced, twisted splines indicate a severe underwater strike and unfortunately in your case a stainless prop is not nearly as forgiving with the transference of force as an aluminum prop. with the evidence of twisted propshaft splines the likelihood of internal drive component damage increases greatly

 

[Moneypits]

I put the boat in forward and spun the prop by hand freely forward but it wouldn't spin reverse while in forward and vice versa with the gear lever in reverse, spins in reverse but not forward while engaged

 

[Moneypits]

Ok, this is kind of what I was wanting to know/do... I was wonder if I should take the lower unit off or just take the whole assembly off the boat to diagnose the issue... I'm ok with doing any other preventive maintenence while it's apart...

Also, would I not hear any type of grinding noises...?

 

[dubs283]

I put the boat in forward and spun the prop by hand freely forward but it wouldn't spin reverse while in forward and vice versa with the gear lever in reverse, spins in reverse but not forward while engaged

this would indicate that there is less chance of anything internal being damaged but does not rule it out completely. again, with the twisted splines on the propshaft as undisputable evidence of some damage, you cannot rule out internal damage without further investigation, e.g. disassembling the drive which is necessary to replace the prop shaft

one test you should perform is to mark the hub and the stainless portion of the prop the hub is pressed into with a paint marker. then when the paint is cured drive the boat on the water for a bit then check your markings. if they are off set then you know for sure the hub is spun and needs repair

the torque/force the engine and drive exert on the prop far exceeds what any human can accomplish

 

[Rick Stephens]

Are the splines gone in the prop hub? Picture kind of looks that way.

 

[kenny nunez]

Check if your insurance will cover the damage. You may be able to get a new out drive.

 

[Moneypits]

Are the splines gone in the prop hub? Picture kind of looks that way.

No they're still intact

 

[Moneypits]

Check if your insurance will cover the damage. You may be able to get a new out drive.

Paid cash and actually have 2 quotes in my email at this moment. So no insurance...