Re: Spun hub replacement? Do it myself???
I have done it on 10 and 13 inch props. You need a good press--6 ton or better but you can get away with 2 ton. I believe the prop shops have a cone shaped jig to press in the new hub but I have found that if the metal of the back end of the prop hub is tapered enough, the new rubber will fit in without much fuss. If you need it, you can try to fabricate an outer sleeve to keep rubber "doughnut" from becoming barrel shaped as you press it in--this will make it easier. (similar to a piston ring compressor)
MARK the position of the old hub. On some, the rubber will not contact the end of the prop and if you press the new one in too far, the prop will rub on the gearcase housing. Look at the fit of your prop in relation to the gearcase since you can adjust a little to compensate.
Press out the old hub. Slather the inside of the prop and the rubber hub with lubricant--rubber lubricant, or rubber cement, not oil. Actually, I prefer to use silicone RTV--lubricates it quite nicely and eventually it solidifies. Messy though! Press the new hub in firmly, quickly, and accurately. Just like plugging a tire, only bigger.
If the hub protrudes through the front of the prop, use a large socket or something similar for clearance. If it has a shear pin drive in the front like old Chryslers, then press it in just far enough to clear the shear pin hole--maybe 1/32 inch extra
I have even repaired one or two small prop rubber hubs with silicone but It will not hold for high horsepower applications. Buy a new hub for them. You won't be saving much, but you will have the satisfaction of doing it yourself.
I have also replaced the rubber "doughnut" with some flat sheet rubber cut to fit, wrapped around the cleaned and roughened old bronze hub and glued to the bronze hub with 3M Scotch-Grip 1300. If you try that, be sure the rubber is thick enough to need a good bit of pressure to be shoved in and also be sure it is a hard enough durometer rating to take the stress of the horsepower. Soft rubber just won't do here.
As you might be able to tell, I am so cheap that my shoes squeak. Tighter than a crab's a**hole and that's water tight. Actually, this type of thing is a challenge to me the first time. I do it just to see if I can, and if it works, well, then it becomes part of my repertoir. If it doesn't --well, live and learn. after all, that's what the hobby is about to me. I also mount my own automobile tires by hand using only tire irons and a big hammer--just like in the old days. Although I must admit, the radials are much tighter on the rims and much more difficult.
If you decide to do it, let me know how well you did. If you don't want it on the forum, PM me.
