Prop connection to shaft

[Steve Laume]

When I first bought Raven, I tried to remove the prop and it just wouldn't come off. During my next haul out, I built a puller and after a considerable amount of PB Blaster and effort, I finally managed to get it off. I cleaned the mating surfaces and gave them a light coating of white grease before I reinstalled the prop. I pulled it again this summer and it came off without much trouble.

My question is just what if any sort of lubricate is recommended for this application. One of my concerns is making sure that I maintain a good electrical bond between the prop and shaft. The other is that i will have no trouble in removing the prop the next time I want to take it off. Both the prop and shaft are bronze on Raven. Should I use white grease or something thicker? Would never seize be a better choice?

I am not sure that I have ever seen this addressed before, Steve.

[Frenchy]

Permatex copper anti-seize lubricant has good electrical conductivity, according to their website - so may be a decent choice
for you. I am a little bit curious, though, as to why you remove the prop every season. - Jean

[Steve Laume]

I don't remove my prop every season. I did need to remove it when I pulled the shaft to rebuild the transmission. I also had to take it off to replace the cutlass bearing and I took it off this year to give me better access to do a new barrier coat. I just want to be sure I can continue to get the thing off if I need to. The first time I tried to remove it, it took rather heroic effort and that just didn't seem right.

The white grease seemed to have worked pretty well and I suppose the electrical connection is being made good by the nut against the hub of the prop, Steve.

[Jim Walsh]

Thankfully I've never had to pull the prop on any of my boats. I helped my brother pull props several times and we always used Lubriplate white grease. I wouldn't hesitate to use Permatex anti-seize if it was sitting within arms reach.

[Tom Keevil]

When we first bought Rover, we hauled her, and lived on her in the yard for a month. We borrowed a prop puller, and had it cranked as tight as we could with no result. The boat next to us was an old tuna fisherman. He told us to heat it, and hit it with a hammer. We got out Jean's hair dryer and our ball peen hammer, again with no result. He came over, watched us, muttered and rolled his eyes. He returned with a huge propane torch and a sledge hammer, and popped it right off. When it came time to put it back on, he lent us his can of Never Seeze.

We next removed the prop nine years later, and it came off easily. Our shaft is stainless steel.

[mgphl52]

He came over, watched us, muttered and rolled his eyes. He returned with a huge propane torch and a sledge hammer, and popped it right off.

Heheh... I know people just like that!

[Frenchy]

I think I would be very careful and judicious using a hammer on the prop. There are bearings in the transmission that could
be damaged. I think MaineSail recounted an incident where some over zealous yard workers used a giant hammer slide on
the prop and broke the transmission casting. - Jean

[Steve Laume]

When I first needed to remove the prop, I had to resort to applying heat and tapped the end of the prop puller. This was after days of PB Blaster and tightening the puller to the point where I was bending it. The prop had probably been in place for over 20 years and really liked where it was. The idea of pulling your prop and adding some grease might be good, even if it doesn't have to come off at the time. If you ever need to remove it, again, at least you know that you can.