What are the symptoms of bent prop shaft?

[Jeano222]

Bought a used boat and engine ran fine at idle, forward, reverse, fast, slow, stop and nothing sounded or felt wrong. Took to marine place to have oil changed and caught them in 2 lies, now they are saying the prop shaft is bent, the skeg and prop have no damage whatsoever. What would be the signs of a prop shaft being bent? Sorry to be so suspicious but their track record so far hasn't been too honest.


1995 Chaparral 1830ss
1996 Mercruiser I/O 4.3L alpha one 180HP

 

[arks]

Re: What are the symptoms of bent prop shaft?

Vibration only when in gear, possibly some oil seal leakage around the shaft.

 

[jcturf311]

Re: What are the symptoms of bent prop shaft?

There would be quite a bit of vibration, unresonable amount.

 

[usskydvr]

Re: What are the symptoms of bent prop shaft?

take a piece of stiff wire (like an undone coathanger) and clamp it to the lower unit somewhere ( like the skeg) bend it up to just touch the very edge of the propshaft. (with the engine in neutral and off of course) spin the prop
prop by hand note if there is a change in distance from the end of the wire to the edge of the prop shaft. anything significant and the shaft is bent (or
perhaps bearings are worn) only real way to tell is to disassemble the lower unit. (you can also check to the edge of the prop hub, but that assumes the hub is good)

 

[Jeano222]

Re: What are the symptoms of bent prop shaft?

That's what we thought too, and there was nothing like that when we had it out for about an hour and a half. They said we can pick it up now and use over holiday but we need to bring back so they can install a new shaft for 1600.00. We will have it checked out but it won't be there that's for sure.

 

[Jacket4life]

Re: What are the symptoms of bent prop shaft?

I think I'd be done with them, myself. And what area are you in? Want to know if I need to avoid them! LOL.

 

[cougar1985]

Re: What are the symptoms of bent prop shaft?

That's what we thought too, and there was nothing like that when we had it out for about an hour and a half. They said we can pick it up now and use over holiday but we need to bring back so they can install a new shaft for 1600.00. We will have it checked out but it won't be there that's for sure.

is the shaft gold plated with diamond studs?even and im saying even if your shaft is bent it can easily be fixed by any competent machine shop for less than 1 hour shop rate!had one done for me a few years back ,total cost maybe 50 bucks,it certianly wasnt 1600,heck that would get you a complete lower if you shopped around.

 

[Jeano222]

Re: What are the symptoms of bent prop shaft?

Cougar1985, you crack me up!

Jackets4life, it is a marine place in the Metroplex and they sell Skeeter and Chapparal, you can figure it out from that I'm sure.

 

[Jeano222]

Re: What are the symptoms of bent prop shaft?

Usskydvr: We did the wire test and it shows nothing out of balance, so we plan to put in the water again to see if it still performs correctly. Thank you everyone for your help!