Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

[fishon71]

What is the best way to remove a prop that is pretty well stuck on its shaft, probably not greased for a while in a salt water environment. The prop is junk, so do I get a bigger hammer or is there a way to pull it or what? Its on an old 35 HP Mercury.

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

Most dealers will probably have a "prop puller". Before using a hammer on the prop, get a length of 2x4 and apply a little persuasion from front to rear of blades ...

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

Tilt it up and spray the splines liberally with penetrating oil, and let it soak a bit. Then try the 2X4 wedge trick. If no luck, heat it(not too much), hammer it and finally gently chistle the bronze hub off the prop shaft. Some combination of these methods is usually successfully

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

hahahah<br /> good luck <br /> I usually use oxy acetylene and heat it till the rubber hub melts, then cut off a section of the rubber remaining on the splined hub then use a 4" side grinder to carefully split the hub from the shaft. <br /> I hate cutting them off but it usually does less damage that way.

 

[fishon71]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

Ya - HAHAHA It's tighter than a bulls butt, I think it time for cutting, what pain! Its a good lower unit I want to sell but can't do so with a frozen on prop now can I.....<br /><br />Thanks

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

Dremel tool with a cutting blade. The motor's best friend - but not the prop's! Angle grinders can do the job, too, but they can get away from you in a hurry if you're not real careful...<br /><br />And grease the heck out of it the next time you put a prop on!<br />- Scott

 

[jaybirdtx]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

Since the prop is junk, try and cut a couple of slots to allow you to use a gear puller. If not, CUT IT OFF with a die grinder.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

If you use a dremel cutting tool wear protective goggles-it'll catch and shatter if it touches the rubber hub and digs in while cutting-and in my experience the bits are very sharp. A better option is the very thin cutting discs for an angle grinder-these are less prone to shattering and allow a lot better control than the standard thickness cutting discs.

 

[inlineal]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

Ah..prop removal...are we having fun yet??...I've been know to set the hub on fire and wait..Sometimes the expansion makes the prop come flying off like a howitizer...Then cut the hub thats left from the shaft...I save the no good props to sell for scrap..5 cents a pound with hub...upwards to 40 cents a pound without hub...So I get a fire going and toss them in a few at a time.When the hub is burning nicely I use a stick to take them out so the prop doesn't melt..I've learned to face the things away or flat because sometimes they explode and go off like a Roman candle...Had a flaming hub go pass my left ear once and start a brush fire ten feet away.!!...The story here is..be careful...There can be lot of pressure in there..I bought the most powerful air hammer Mac tool offered..It came with a blunt tool that works great for removing stuck props...I loosen the nut almost to the end of the shaft and rattle the end of the shaft..I get quite a few off this way and leaves the prop rebuildable...The tool is so loud it sends the crew outside..I bought over the years every prop puller I could find...Not one survived the torture...I removed a stainless Mercruiser prop as of late by using a harmonic balancer puller with three lengths of chain around each blade...If the hub moves on the splines just a smidgen you are home free.....Inboard props on tapered shafts is another story.....

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

inlineal<br /> good point. I forgot to mention that occasionally the prop comes off rather violently.<br /> on the inbaords I use a hydraulic puller that clamps on the hub and has a cylinder that pushes against the propshaft. so far its not been beat. I also use it for pulling the shaft from the tapered couplers on the V drive hurths.<br /> but here in the salt pond hubs can get a bit tight if the shaft is not serviced regularly.

 

[blueskip]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

I have just had the same problem with a junked prop, I drilled 3 holes in the side of it to take the legs of a small bearing puller, applied heat with a hot air paint stripper, sprayed with WD40 and pop off she came!<br />blueskip

 

[fishon71]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

It was on so tight it stripped the threads on the puller. I tried cutting everything off and it is welded solid. It’s really bad, I gave up sorry - lower unit is in the trash. Oh plus the rear internal bolt just spins, no way to get it out except cut it off and it real hard to get at, sorry no patients.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

You can get the fiberglass re-inforced cutting discs for Dremel tools - they work quite well and don't shatter like the cast ones they also have...<br />- Scott

 

[SimonC]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

I had the same problem, but managed to fix it without resorting to a puller or any more terminal methods. <br />1. Loosen the nut holding the prop on and then make sure you put the split pin back in. <br />2. Take your boat out for a blast around the bay, lake or whatever other bit of water you can find.<br />3. Check regularly to see if it's started to move - mine took about an hour of playing to come loose, and was loads more fun than any of the other methods suggested!

 

[uaw9fan]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

Simon <br />From what the instructors say at merc school, running around with a loose prop is a sure way to snap off the propshaft.Just think with the prop loose you are making forward thrust into sideways thrust which is always changing directions.

 

[inlineal]

Re: Can't get prop off, stuck to shaft - what's next?

I hope everyone remembers what todays date is all about....One of my dads brothers was aboard USS West Virginia (Wee VEE) that fateful morning 1941....He survived to serve through out the rest of the war...He was a Metalsmith !st class..............Back to prop war stories.....Salt water...Oh how it can do a number on you.Sometimes I envy the guys I know over in the fresh water areas...But then again they don't get to experience the great salt water "CHALLENGE" as much as I do...My 50HP Merc has a stainlesss prop that is stuck to the shaft and after wasting a prop puller and damaging the threads so a nut wouldn't fit anymore I just used it as is...Hoping it would maybe fall off...So such luck...After about a hundred guys telling me ..."You know the prop nut is missing on your motor.."..I had to go and buy a die to clean up the threads and put a lock nut on it...