frozen prop on older 8hp evinrude

[watt476]

I was in forward gear when I heard a popping noise, and prop stopped moving. The motor started to rev, so I slowed it. I moved shift lever to neutral, then to reverse, then back again, with no results. When I got it out of the water, I noticed that prop was frozen. The motor starts and runs normally, just don't have a prop. Can someone help with this?

 

[ezeke]

Re: frozen prop on older 8hp evinrude

Your propeller has a cotter pin holding the cone-shaped nut which covers a stainless steel drive pin which may be broken. The drive pin protects the gears by breaking first when an object is struck. Additionally, the hub is actually two parts with a rubber sleeve between them. the rubber sleeve can also let go from age or from striking an object.

Remove the cotter pin and the nose cone and see if the drive pin is still intact; if it's OK, you will need to consider either finding a prop shop to replace the rubber grommet or replacing the propeller.

 

[watt476]

Re: frozen prop on older 8hp evinrude

Thanks Ezeke! I think you're dead on about the grommet. After I posted I thought I'd have a closer look-so I pulled the nose off, and found a grommet that was falling apart. I didn't know it's function until I read your reply just now. It must have put some pressure on the drive pin when it went, cause the pin was bent. And when I removed the pin, it took the pressure off of something-the shaft started to rotate freely. I'll take it to the local shop, and see if they can repair the hub. As far as I know, I didn't hit anything-I was in 50ft of water. It's just really old...