Spun Hub on Propeller or something else

[Bubba_in_ct]

I have a 1987 Celebrity 210 Cuddy with a Mercruiser 260HP Alpha One. Repowered 4 years ago, less than 300 hrs. on new engine. End of the season last year I got caught up on a sandbar and spun the propeller. I didn't hit anything hard like rocks and the prop wasnt mangled. Did my normal winterizing routine, changed all the fluids. I did not see any metal or water in the outdrive oil. I bought a Solas Alluminum 14 x 21, installed it and put her back in the water last week. I took her out for a real ride today and for the first hour or so no issues at all. She was performing beautifully when all of a sudden my RPM's surged and I fell off plane. Backed off the throttle and never took her out of gear, was making headway nicely. When I tried to get her back on plane, RPM's surge and falls off. Stays in gear the whole time. No grinding, clunking, nothing. When I got back to the marina, I raised the outdrive and had no visible damage, missing paint, weeds or lines tangled up .... nothing. Did I get a bad prop right out of the box? Am I missing something else? I am going to yank her and swap props and see if that fixes it. I can't understand the prop going an hour into it, especially with ZERO damage. Anyone have any issues with Solas propellers?

 

[lilmandavis]

Re: Spun Hub on Propeller or something else

does it say "made in china" ?

 

[Bubba_in_ct]

Re: Spun Hub on Propeller or something else

Ya, I know. Taiwaneese Prop. I should have known better, but I asked around, searched forums and never heard one bad thing ever.

 

[Don S]

Re: Spun Hub on Propeller or something else

New things have problems all the time.<br />If it's the prop replace it, if the prop is ok, look at the coupler. Did you smell any rubber burning when it was slipping?

 

[lilmandavis]

Re: Spun Hub on Propeller or something else

"its so sad to get all happy bringing home something new, just to be devistated as its already bad" -really old indian friend.

 

[ron7000]

Re: Spun Hub on Propeller or something else

never used a solas but i once bought michigan prop from west marine, a standard 14x21 with the rubber hub, for my 24' boat. I don't remember how many hours I put on it, less than 10 I'm sure, never hit nothing and never wore any paint off it. It spun, boat wouldn't plane and what was a 20 minute trip in from charles isl ended up being an hour at 10 mph. Brought it right back for a refund, so it doesn't surpise me at all your new prop just spun the hub if that's what it has. Which is why I won't buy another prop with a rubber type hub. I prefer just a solid hub, and the plastic insert hubs seem to be ok also.

 

[Bubba_in_ct]

Re: Spun Hub on Propeller or something else

I can't honestly say I smelled rubber when it was slipping because as soon as it started, I backed off the throttles, just in case. I got it online ... need to find the receipt. Not as easy as hitting your local West Marine.<br /><br />ron7000 - I was in the Housatonic right near Caswell Cove and the powerplant when it happened. Mid tide, had about 7' under my outdrive. Luckily I was about 1 1/2 miles to my dock - between the bridges.

 

[Bubba_in_ct]

Re: Spun Hub on Propeller or something else

Well, the trim indicator was stuck and i was trimmed way wrong. I had gone over some grass floating in the river when it broke loose the first time. Must have broken the water flow to the prop. Took her out and could not recreate it. Operator Error!!!!!