bent prop.

[coualla]

hello,
I have a 15 foot fiberglass boat with a 1972 vintage 50 hp johnson outboard. I had it in the river and I hit something or grounded out the prop, i heard a clunk and then the motor reved right up but I had no drive. at first I thought I lost my prop but once I got it out of the water I saw that the prop was just bent. my question is is there some kind of saftey devise that knocks the transmission out of gear when the prop hits something or did I just wreck my transmission? when I turn the prop by hand every thing seems ok. thanks for your feedback.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: bent prop.

You have no doubt spun the rubber hub in the prop. It is the built-in safety that saves the lower unit gears. You can have a prop shop repair the damage to the prop and hub or pick up a new one. It would also be a good idea to have the propshaft checked to make sure it didn't get bent by the impact...

 

[5150abf]

Re: bent prop.

Will it still go into gear?
I have hit tons of stuff(on my 3rd lower unit)(slow learner) and never spun a prop.
I have exploded forward gear and the cluthdog though.

If it still goes into gear you are okay but if the prop spins freely when it is suppose to be in gear you have other problems.

Pull the prop and put it in gear if the shaft doesn't turn it is the prop, if it does you broke something in the lower.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: bent prop.

My evinrude outboard has a sheer pin, I'll bet thats what you have, the prop is held on via a cotter key through the spinner, you pull out the cotter key, remove the spinner and there's your sheer pin through the prop. Sound like it did it's job.

 

[coualla]

Re: bent prop.

thanks for the info, I'll pull the prop when I get home from work tomorrow.

regards,
coualla.

 

[coualla]

Re: bent prop.

well, I just finished pulling the prop and I fired up the motor, the shaft does not spin in either forward or reverse, it doesn't sound like the transmission is going into gear at all, ie: no clunking or engaging sound. when I turn the prop by hand I can hear some movement in the upper leg so I don't think there is anything wrong in the lower half. let me know what you guys think.

 

[Solittle]

Re: bent prop.

Disconnect the shift cable and see if you can shift it by hand. If so adjust the cable.