1970 Mercury 500 50HP - Bent prop, get another factory OEM or...?

[Roadblock]

Damn it all to heck! I bent the prop on my 1970 Merc 500! I was on a river trip and hit something. The water didn't seem too shallow but I think there was a rock or something hard sticking up and I heard it hit and whack several times. I took a small chunk out of the edge of one of the blades and bent all 3 of them. Let me tell you, the trip back DOWN river to the trailer was interesting! I thought the transom was going to fall off my boat! My splash-well was vibrating so bad I honestly didn't think we were going to make it. Fortunately once I planed out at WOT, it smoothed out a bit.

SO... Track down another used OEM factory prop for a 1970 Merc 500 OR look into something else? I ask because I would love to get a little more speed out of the boat but will a different proper really make that much of a difference? I'd rather have a little more top end speed then quick hole shots. Right now I guess I just have a general purpose prop, it was the factory prop that came on the motor I know it has numbers on it but I would have to look.

The other thing is that I won't want to spend hundreds of dollars on something that might not really be noticeable.

This motor is on a 1970's Mirrocraft Ski N' Troll boat.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks!

Fortunately, I got some good pictures up river in the downtown area where I live AND I got an OK size bass on the way home! Almost makes up for it I guess! It's only money right?

 

[hotrod53]

Ebay is your friend.. see what the pitch is, it should be marked on the prop. I have a 12 and a 13 for my 1977 Merc 500. You can also send them out and get them repaired if it's not too thrashed. I have no idea on that cost though.

 

[Roadblock]

I did end up finding another prop locally. I called Michigan Wheel as they are right by my house to see if they still sold their 1970~73 Merc 500 10 1/4x13 prop and they do not but they said I should take my current prop to Michigan Prop Repair INC here in town which I did.

Turns out my prop IS a Michigan Wheel prop, I did not know that. Anyway its being repaired for $23 dollars for the service and $5.00 for a crack they have to weld. That includes refinishing it and they said it will look BRAND NEW when it comes back.

They also happened to have a factory OEM Merc 1970~73 prop in-stock, 10 1/4x13 pitch that was fully restored, looks BRAND NEW. They gave me that one for $66.00 out the door. So now I will have a spare said and done.

 

[hotrod53]

Sounds like you did all right!

 

[Roadblock]

I did all right UNTIL I broke the NEW prop too!

Just happened on Saturday. Was on the river heading back up river to where we launched when we hit a tree or stump, something down in the dark we never saw. The boat didn't hit it, the outboard caught on it. Actually hit two things.

Coming down the river at about 25~35mph and all of the sudden BOOM! Felt like the whole back end of the boat got ripped off. We stopped, checked to make sure the outboard was OK and then started to go again, didn't even make it 100 feet when BOOM again. Another tree, same tree, stump, rock, who knows but it was big.

This time when I went to throttle up the whole boat just shook. I knew from the feeling based on what happened recently with my other prop, it was probably bent. Killed the motor and pulled it up to get a look, nope, not bent... A WHOLE blade was missing! Picture below.

Sigh.............

Gotta find another prop now. I had a hell of a time finding this one.

My last prop that was bent, the Michigan Wheel prop is still at the shop I bought this OEM Merc prop from being repaired. They told me 2 weeks like a month ago. I was hoping to have two props, a primary and a spare in case I EVER bent one again. I figured it would never happen but now look, two in one month!

Definitely gotta buy another one as this one I'm sure it not repairable without scuba gear!

Anyway gotta call the shop today and be like what da actual fu.., where is my prop! I'm completely down right now and the season it burning! I JUST bought a brand new 2014 Shimano Curado 200I and a St. Croix Mojo Bass Crankbait Rod. Must find prop!

 

[Roadblock]

Btw, eBay is not your friend on this prop! I've had ZERO luck finding a prop that would fit without a bunch of special crap. I just want to find a stock factory merc 500 prop!

 

[Chinewalker]

What pitch and diameter do you need? No such thing as a "stock merc 500 prop" as your motor could use any one of several different configurations. Keep in mind that many eBayers have no idea what they have, so you're looking for a 13-spline prop of X-pitch. There are several 13-spline props on there right now...

 

[bgc]

PropCo is where I've been getting my props from for my Merc's.