Prop pulling

trapper · Post by **trapper** » Oct 20th, '11, 19:16

Joe,

If you have to replace the prop, the one we discussed is 2 blade bronze not 3 blade. Also, when I asked Ben how he got Saga's off, he gave pretty much the same advise as you have here(he used a puller) but he said he started by pouring a kettle boiling of water over it.

I concur with replacing the cutlass bearing. If it has never been done, it is only a matter of time before you will have to replace it. Better now than pulling the boat in the middle of sailing season.

okawbow · Post by **okawbow** » Oct 20th, '11, 20:11

If you can remove the shaft and prop as a unit; the easy way of then removing the prop is to remove the nut, then plunge the prop end in boiling water for a minute. If the prop doesn't drop off; drop the shaft, prop end first, onto a piece of hard wood or aluminum on a concrete floor. The inertia of the prop, upon hitting the wood or aluminum, will pop it off the shaft with no damage. I've done this twice with the prop coming off first wack.

You may as well replace the cutless bearing and service the shaft seal and hose while you are at it.

Joe Myerson · Post by **Joe Myerson** » Oct 25th, '11, 10:17

Thanks, everyone, for your advice (and for the loan of some tools).

Here's an update on the situation:

I cut away the fishing line from the shaft, removed the zinc collar and got a good look at the situation. It's worse than I thought--but probably not because of the run-in with the winter stick.

The cutless bearing is clearly shot--I could even see a split in the rubber by looking closely. And there is more wobble on the vertical axis than on the horizontal.

Judging from the sound I got when pushing on the prop shaft, I strongly suspect that this was the source of the sound I've been hearing whenever I let the prop free-wheel.

My only hope is that I did not do too much damage to the shaft during all the time when I assumed that prop noise was normal. I'll find out when the prop and shaft come out.

And, I'm somewhat embarrassed to report, I've decided to turn to a pro for this job. He's a meticulous worker, a fellow CDer and fellow crewman on Isabelle's 2010 trip to Bermuda, and I know he'll do a great job.

Thanks again for the advice.

--Joe

sloopjohnl · Post by **sloopjohnl** » Oct 27th, '11, 16:45

if you heat, then cool, then heat again, the expanding and contracting during the cycle helps to break the seal between shaft and hub.

sloopjohnl · Post by **sloopjohnl** » Oct 27th, '11, 16:48

if you heat, then cool, then heat again, the expanding and contracting during the cycle helps to break the seal between shaft and hub.

The Cape Dory Board

Prop pulling

Prop

Update: Doesn't look good