prop loose

[schipwrk]

On my 115 Johnson prop...I noticed before splashing my boat this year that there was a small ammount of black oil/grease/whatever coming from behind the prop. Not the end where the nut and safety pin are. Then I noticed the prop its self was loose. I tightened the prop/ then I noticed the black exhaust looked like what was leaking...anyway no problems when using the engine in forward gear, but when I use reverse the prop became loose again. Did I not tighten it enough?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: prop loose

Did you remove the prop over the winter? If so, you may have not installed the thrust washer behind the prop or the washer in front of the nut. Might check it out... How much "Slop" is there when you move it back and forth toward the nut and the lower unit? Does the black oil/grease smell like gas/oil mix or lower unit lube? I would change the lower unit lube and check out it's condition anyway. Should be done anyway...

 

[schipwrk]

Re: prop loose

Thanks Rick for the reply, I didn't take the prop off during the winter. The black stuff didn't smell like lube or oil. More like exhaust. As I usually do I replaced the lower unit oil before the start of the season...That looked fine,"the old stuff" not milky! About the play..about a 1/4 inch or so I'd guess. Could I put some washes Above the nut and below the pin to take up the space after I tighten it??? Like I said it only loosed up after I'd use reverse a few times...Thanks again...Paul

 

[Solittle]

Re: prop loose

Paul - 1/4" is way too much. You got something out of whack and I wouldn't mickey mouse it. Get the manual for your motor or go to a shop and aee if you can smooze the parts gut into looking at his manuals.

 

[schipwrk]

Re: prop loose

Thanks..SoLittle, The 1/4 inch is the distance between the nut when it's tight and the safety/pin. When I tighten the prop nut there is no travel in the prop. It's tight! Everything is solid...it's when I use reverse a few times the nut lossens up and moves all the way to the safety pin. Thats where the prop travels along the shaft.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: prop loose

You are definitely missing a part. Like the main washer/spacer. You need the proper washer for your engine, not something you find at hardware store.

 

[schipwrk]

Re: prop loose

Sounds like I need a manual to see just what I'm missing, if anything. Thanks to all that replyed,Cobra,So Little, and Rick. You guys are great. One last Question, Anyone know a good resourse to obtain a manual...it's a Oceanrunner Johnson 1998 115hp engine. By the way I went out fishing yesterday, used forward and reverse and when I returned to the dock the prop was tight. Go figure!! Again, Thanx....Paul

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: prop loose

Sounds like at this point, it's more than a washer missing. But anyway, you can get a Factory Manual at the link below:<br /><br /> Manual