I originally posted this under the Mercury topic board...should have posted here - Rookie learning the boards:
Recently moved up from a small bass boat with a little tiller handle kicker to a used 1986 - 16.5 foot bass boat - So I am used to looking at a cotter pin and prop nut to pull.
The boat and motor run great, although there seems to be some sluggishness out of the hole...not bogging down, just a lot of throttle throw/delay when trying to get up to speed. Reading some other threads I saw recommendations to check for fishing line, etc. around the prop shaft. Easy enough - I'll go pull the prop and take a look...
Well, newbie to man sized motors that I am, I saw one of these prop rings you see below and had no idea how to deal with it.
I spent some time on the internet and saw some saying use a screwdriver to pry up the tabs and others that said a prop ring tool and a prop puller is needed.
Can anyone help me out in the removal, replacement technique? Does it just snap back into place?
And while I am probably dipping in the well too many times here AND looking like the proverbial rookie, is there a Sheer Pin inside??? With my little kicker, I would carry 3 or 4 spare sheer pins whenever I went out. Of course, there was no skeg on that kicker so throwing a sheer pin happened a few times over the years.
Looking at the blades on the prop, there is some chipping around the edges - nothing bent and no chunks missing - should I use my dremel and sharpen those blades like a good lawn mower blade?
Recently moved up from a small bass boat with a little tiller handle kicker to a used 1986 - 16.5 foot bass boat - So I am used to looking at a cotter pin and prop nut to pull.
The boat and motor run great, although there seems to be some sluggishness out of the hole...not bogging down, just a lot of throttle throw/delay when trying to get up to speed. Reading some other threads I saw recommendations to check for fishing line, etc. around the prop shaft. Easy enough - I'll go pull the prop and take a look...
Well, newbie to man sized motors that I am, I saw one of these prop rings you see below and had no idea how to deal with it.
I spent some time on the internet and saw some saying use a screwdriver to pry up the tabs and others that said a prop ring tool and a prop puller is needed.
Can anyone help me out in the removal, replacement technique? Does it just snap back into place?
And while I am probably dipping in the well too many times here AND looking like the proverbial rookie, is there a Sheer Pin inside??? With my little kicker, I would carry 3 or 4 spare sheer pins whenever I went out. Of course, there was no skeg on that kicker so throwing a sheer pin happened a few times over the years.
Looking at the blades on the prop, there is some chipping around the edges - nothing bent and no chunks missing - should I use my dremel and sharpen those blades like a good lawn mower blade?
