How to remove pressed prop hubs before recycling

ratdude747

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 30, 2023
Messages
472
Here's an atypical prop question: I have four aluminum props sitting around with rubber hubs. One has a spun hub (pressed Mercruiser), one has hub starting to dry rot (Michigan Wheel that appears to be pressed), and two have substantial damage (both are pressed Mercruisers, one has a rotted hub, cavitation, and a hub crack; the other is severely corroded).

Is there a good way to remove the rubber hubs to allow me to sell the damaged ones (and any others not worth re-hubbing) for scrap aluminum? I have access to a couple shop presses at work. I don't know if my local scrapyard will take them as anything other than mixed steel with the hubs present.

FWIW I'm good on props otherwise; I have three different Piranha setups and an untested decent-looking aluminum Solas. But, no sense in clogging my driveway pile with props that may have some scrap value.
 

Mc Tool

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 7, 2024
Messages
1,514
Here's an atypical prop question: I have four aluminum props sitting around with rubber hubs. One has a spun hub (pressed Mercruiser), one has hub starting to dry rot (Michigan Wheel that appears to be pressed), and two have substantial damage (both are pressed Mercruisers, one has a rotted hub, cavitation, and a hub crack; the other is severely corroded).

Is there a good way to remove the rubber hubs to allow me to sell the damaged ones (and any others not worth re-hubbing) for scrap aluminum? I have access to a couple shop presses at work. I don't know if my local scrapyard will take them as anything other than mixed steel with the hubs present.

FWIW I'm good on props otherwise; I have three different Piranha setups and an untested decent-looking aluminum Solas. But, no sense in clogging my driveway pile with props that may have some scrap value.
Chuck em on a fire ....burn the rubber out and you get both the ally prop and the splined (brass?) bush for scrap .🙂
 

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,992
I would try to press them out, either that or use a band saw to cross cut
The cutting them in half is a great idea. When you get the hub out you can cross cut the rubber to get the brass bushing out. I would expect both actions would require some clean up work but you now would have access to what you want to do.
 
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