need help changing props

[67hat34c]

I have not changed props before. Now need to do so as i bent one over the weekend. Plan to haul and hang to change. Have a prop puller, never used it before, came with the boat. My question is how tight to make the nuts and any other suggestions

 

[Liquid Asset]

If you do a search, I think Karl (Genesis) has a good bit of posts about this. I would look them up, as they coudl be of good use.


There are many different opinions on how to install a wheel on a boat, but I do not want to start a discussion about that. They main focus, is not ot have your wheel ride on the key, it is very important that the shaft key is not carrying the load of the wheel as it will sheer or jam and you will not like the results.

 

[67hat34c]

thanks for the info, will look up threads. The spare props use to be the primary props so the taper should be fine, have spare keys, nuts and pins as well.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Never assume that the taper is fine. You should always lap your props in. It is an easy process and if they are a close fit, it takes very little time to get it right. Stop down at the auto parts store and get a tube of Prussian Blue and a tube of valve grinding compound and you will be ready to go.

 

[Freebird]

Hey Steve, there is a lot to be said for doing it yourself. However, it appears to me that if you are going to pay some yard to haul your boat, let them change the prop. It can't cost that much, and they would be liable if they screw it up. Just a thought.

 

[67hat34c]

was planning on checking that anyhow. there is a napa on the way. Also plan on scheduling yard to do the job just incase I dont feel comfortable with it.

 

[thoward]

I am with the bird on this one. I just had mine changed in the water for $100 each....

 

[SKYCHENEY]

You can have the yard change it or you can have it done right. I'm sorry for the skepticism, but I have seen too many yards where the only attention to detail is the detailed line items on the bill. If you don't do it yourself, be sure to keep a watchful eye on them while they are changing it and make sure that they lap the prop to the shaft. The last time I did mine, the yard left the boat in the slings while they went to lunch. I lapped both props and had them tightened down and ready to go before they got back. My only mistake was hitting myself in the head with the trailing edge of the prop while I was lapping. Oh well, nothing a few stitches over the eye didn't take care of.

 

[Genesis]

Hey Steve, there is a lot to be said for doing it yourself. However, it appears to me that if you are going to pay some yard to haul your boat, let them change the prop. It can't cost that much, and they would be liable if they screw it up. Just a thought.

No they won't. You'll never prove it and the shaft won't snap for a couple of hundred running hours most of the time if its done wrong.

You have an almost-zero chance of forcing the yard to pay for the shaft and wheel if they screw it up.

 

[67hat34c]

my only thing is torque, no idea what is should be, 1 3/8 shafts. no idea what size the stud is. wanted to do it this weekend but no one around to help, 2 of us doing lapping will go quicker, know they frown on holding up the travel lift for extended time. want to inspect pick ups and scrape the barnicles off.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I have no idea of the torque either and I'll bet the yard won't know. I have a 2-5/8" open end wrench that is about 24" long and I tighten them as tight as I can get 'em. Most yards do the same thing, but they mess of the nuts with a pipe wrench instead.

 

[Freebird]

My only mistake was hitting myself in the head with the trailing edge of the prop while I was lapping. Oh well, nothing a few stitches over the eye didn't take care of.

Hey Dick, sounds like the basis for a lawsuit in today's climate! Question is, did they sue you for trespassing and bleeding on their property, or did you sue them for not wrapping the prop with yellow caution tape!

If I'm going to pay someone to do a job, I'll let them do it with no input or help. I don't want someone coming back on me and saying I was to blame for a failure and find myself getting stuck with yet another bill because I voided a warranty for messing with it myself.

My advice, let them do it all, or do it all yourself.

 

[Freebird]

No they won't. You'll never prove it and the shaft won't snap for a couple of hundred running hours most of the time if its done wrong.

You have an almost-zero chance of forcing the yard to pay for the shaft and wheel if they screw it up.

We have people in TN who know what they are doing when they work on boats. If they don't live up to standards, the word spreads fast, and they're history.

Unfortunately, I am in a whole nother world when I'm in FL. I'm used to people doing what they say they are going to do, and doing it when they say they will. FL seems to be a foreign country when it comes to things like that. To that end, I'm seriously looking at opening another office there. Those folks won't know how to act when they deal with me.

 

[thoward]

We hire outside contractors for all work. We pull at a DIY yard so I can be in the yard pittiling(overseeing). There are things I will not do because of the safety factor and one of them was change a prop in the water. Since you are going to have your props tuned why not see if the prop company does that stuff or recomends someone that does?

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Whatever you do is OK. I hate to see people use the "lawsuit and lawyer" excuse for hiring work done, or for not doing something. I really think this country needs to close all law schools for about 10 years so we can get something done.

 

[Beckytek]

I hope I didn't screw up my shaft. This past week I was working on my boat and saw my neighbor remove his props. He offered his prop puller for mine. We tried it and it was a wee bit too small as the puller didn't fit perfectly flat at the and of the shaft. We tried anyway using heat and tightening as much as we could. Finally gave up on the small puller. When I tried to put the nuts back on they would go on like real easy as they came off. Had to wrench them on and didn't drive them home, (too tight)! I contacted the yard and they said it would cost about $600 to remove, and have 2 inches of pitch removed and put back on. I'm sorry I messed with it now and should have had them do it in the first place. I only hope I don't have to replace a shaft because of this. Sometimes it is better to have somebody do it for you, especially if you haven't done it before. Ron

 

[Wild Bill]

Were it not for the fact that I will be out of town this weekend, I would be glad to lend you a hand. We are almost neighbors. I'm at Cape Marina.

 

[67hat34c]

wild bill, May do it the following weekend so if you are around...

 

[67hat34c]

Oh I forgot to mention that I plan to use the Cape Marina to haul instead of Harbour Town.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I hope I didn't screw up my shaft. This past week I was working on my boat and saw my neighbor remove his props. He offered his prop puller for mine. We tried it and it was a wee bit too small as the puller didn't fit perfectly flat at the and of the shaft. We tried anyway using heat and tightening as much as we could. Finally gave up on the small puller. When I tried to put the nuts back on they would go on like real easy as they came off. Had to wrench them on and didn't drive them home, (too tight)! I contacted the yard and they said it would cost about $600 to remove, and have 2 inches of pitch removed and put back on. I'm sorry I messed with it now and should have had them do it in the first place. I only hope I don't have to replace a shaft because of this. Sometimes it is better to have somebody do it for you, especially if you haven't done it before. Ron

Ron,
I doubt you wrecked a shaft. You probably just rounded over the end of the shaft a bit. I would look closely at the end of the shaft and smooth it back off with a file. The nuts should then screw right back on. If the threads are messed up a little, that can be fixed too. In either case it won't require a new shaft. You just need the right puller for the job.