Tighten Prop?

[tournyman]

I have a force 120, the prop is loose, you can rattle it with your hand, i have had one friend of mine say don't worry about it, another say i need to pull the pin, block the prop with a 2x4 or something and tighten the nut all the way then back it off about 1 turn. If i pull the pin and tighten the nut-can i do this with a socket or wrench or do i have to have a Prop wrench to do this, i have a tournament coming up but i don't want to leave the prop on the bottom of the lake. Thanks-keith

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tighten Prop?

Are you sure you have the correct prop. Are you sure all of proper hardware is in the right place (thrust washers, etc.). And finally, tightening a nut and then backing it off one full turn still leaves it loose. you turn a nut with whatever size wrench fits the nut. Prop wrenches are nothing more than -- well -- a wrench.

 

[tournyman]

Re: Tighten Prop?

Silvertip, Thanks for that info, i am confident i have the correct Prop, could be wrong though. It seems the Prop has gradually gotten loose, gotten worse. By the way, what part of the midwest are you from, i was raised in Missouri & Iowa

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tighten Prop?

Copntinuing to run it loose will continue to make it looser until you reach the point where something comes apart. You need to have a look at a parts breakdown to make sure you have all the washers that should be there. As for where I'm from, check your private messages.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Tighten Prop?

First: Your comment about the pin confuses me. NO large Force ever had a shear pin type prop. Is it a newer Force after say 1990? If it is earlier, the prop has several pieces of hardware that must be on it:

1. thrust washer behind prop
2. prop
3. flare washer OR spacer.
4. Prop nut washer
5. prop nut

If you remove the nut and washer, you will see that the prop shaft protrudes about 1/8 inch farther than the prop hub. This is assuming that the thrust washer is in place behind the prop. If you just tighten the prop nut with the regular washer, the prop will slide forward and backward that 1/8 inch because the regular washer bears against the shaft instead of the prop hub.

There is no danger of losing it though.

You must find a washer about 1/8 inch or slightly thicker with a hole large enough to fit OVER the prop shaft (I THINK it might be 7/8 inch--don't remember exactly) OR, find and replace the FLARE WASHER---it will be a tapered black plastic piece about 4 inched in diameter and 1 inch thick. Problem is that it will NOT fit properly inside the newer style black Semi-Cleaver flared hub prop. It will, however fit inside a stainless Michigan prop. Your Merc dealer should be able to hook you up with a spacer. It has a couple of tits that fit the splines of the shaft.

You also need to double check that the thrust washer is installed behind the prop. If it has broken or is missing, the prop hub will rub on the gearcase wearing it until the splines of the prop hub jam on the prop shaft splines. Not a good situation and MUST be rectified before you continue running. Again, this will allow the prop to move forward and backward on the shaft with the nut properly tightened.

The prop nut only holds the prop on in reverse and need not be killer tight--but not backed off. Snug enough to prevent prop movement and to keep it from backing-off should do it, but be sure it is a self locking Nylock insert nut.