Off season project: prop replacement

[Jim Walsh]

I’ve decided to retire my old prop, a Michigan three bladed 13 RH 12 dated 1983, with a new Max-Prop Easy three bladed feathering prop. The new prop just arrived this afternoon and I’ll be test fitting it in a couple days.

[wikakaru]

I know you will like that Max Prop, Jim. Most of my boats had fixed 3-bladed props, but one had a Max Prop and there was a vast difference in sailing performance once that Max Prop was feathered. They are expensive but oh what an indulgent luxury!

Smooth sailing,

Jim

[S/V Ethan Grey]

You're going to love it. Congratulations.

[Steve Laume]

This may create 4 day trips to Bermuda. I thought you liked spending time offshore.

That is a thing of beauty, Steve.

[jbenagh]

This may create 4 day trips to Bermuda. I thought you liked spending time offshore.

Hee hee

[Jim Walsh]

This may create 4 day trips to Bermuda. I thought you liked spending time offshore.

Hee hee

Don’t encourage him, Jeff.

[John Stone]

That’s a nice prop. You’ll notice the difference for sure. Looking forward to reading your report on it. Happy early Christmas.

[Jim Walsh]

Today the old prop was removed and it was discovered that the shaft is a couple inches too long for the new prop. The shaft was pulled with a slide hammer and has been delivered, with my new prop and the shaft coupling, to a local prop shop to be shortened. The shaft will be cleaned, inspected, and the new prop checked for proper fit. If there are any issues a new prop shaft will be made.
Since the shaft was pulled it made sense to replace the cutlass bearing, it didn’t appear to have any side-to-side movement but it was in there since 2008.
A mechanic from the yard did all the bull work and I was the assistant. I’m happy to be profiting from his experience and I wasn’t envious when he crawled under the cockpit to remove the shaft coupling…..not one bit….

[John Stone]

Very cool Jim. Sounds like you are in a good yard.

[wikakaru]

Hey Jim W.,

What's going on here:

Split.jpg (1.96 MiB) Viewed 883 times

It looks like the fiberglass shaft tube has been split along the set screw holes. I hope it's not serious...

Smooth sailing,

Jim

[Frenchy]

I was kind of surprised the mechanic used a slide hammer to pull the shaft out of the coupling. There's a risk
of damaging the transmission, I thought. MaineSail even noted one instance where the transmission case was
cracked using a slide hammer on the prop shaft.
Anyway, I hope all is well and maybe I'm too alarmist. - Jean
Here's a link: https://marinehowto.com/a-new-prop-shaft/

[Jim Walsh]

Hey Jim W.,

What's going on here:

Split.jpg

It looks like the fiberglass shaft tube has been split along the set screw holes. I hope it's not serious...

Smooth sailing,

Jim

That’s a groove in the shaft log to accept a safety wire to ensure the set screws for the cutlass bearing can’t back out. Mine were installed with a little Loc-tite and I’ll replace the safety wire. The only locking wire I had on the boat was too large for this application.
This is the original shaft log so this style must have been used on other CD’s.

[Jim Walsh]

I was kind of surprised the mechanic used a slide hammer to pull the shaft out of the coupling. There's a risk
of damaging the transmission, I thought. MaineSail even noted one instance where the transmission case was
cracked using a slide hammer on the prop shaft.
Anyway, I hope all is well and maybe I'm too alarmist. - Jean
Here's a link: https://marinehowto.com/a-new-prop-shaft/

Appreciate the concern and heads up. I have a PSS shaft seal which is twelve or thirteen years old. They recommend replacement of the boot every ten years. It’s being replaced and the shaft coupling had already been disconnected from the transmission output shaft. Since my shaft has to be trimmed the prop shop wanted the coupling also to face it off to ensure a 90° angle between the coupling and the shaft.
The main reason the slide hammer was used was to make the job easier.

[keneasley]

Hi Jim,

In order to replace the PSS Seal on my boat last Winter I removed the shaft from the flange on the transmission myself (after some very helpful tips from this forum). It is tight getting under the cockpit but the PSS Seal replacement was pretty easy after that. Hope that your project goes well.

I was going to have my prop balanced and the shaft and flange machined but I couldn't get the prop off.
How did you get the old prop off?

[Jim Walsh]

Hi Jim,

In order to replace the PSS Seal on my boat last Winter I removed the shaft from the flange on the transmission myself (after some very helpful tips from this forum). It is tight getting under the cockpit but the PSS Seal replacement was pretty easy after that. Hope that your project goes well.

I was going to have my prop balanced and the shaft and flange machined but I couldn't get the prop off.
How did you get the old prop off?

Heated it with a MAPP torch. It helped that it was about 35° that morning. Three whacks with a four pound sledge against an aluminum drift, so as not to damage the prop or shaft.