Check your Prop Folks!!

[ddrieck]

I pulled my 1985 Mercruiser Alpha 1 outdrive this weekend to change the gimbal bearing and inspect the bellows (I do this every spring). New bearing installed and the bellows I installed spring 2024 still in great shape.
However, I found this plastic prop part was starting to fail.
Sooooo happy I pulled the prop off and found this!!!

 

[1960 Starflite]

Good Catch !

 

[Chris1956]

Do you think that could have been caused by not tightening the prop nut enough? I would think that if the prop hub had some room to move, it might crack like that.

 

[ScottinAZ]

I would put that up to age more than anything else. Given that part is "supposed" to fail first to save the lower unit, it had a good life, and is due for replacement

 

[Davetowz]

I always pull the prop every year, usually hafta clean out some fishing line. Always wonder when I will see the flo torque hub start to fail. Good catch.