LOST PROP..ever happen to you??

[Robby321]

Ya gotta do two things in life boating..launch, and forget the damn trans plug, and lose a prop.
Back in the 70's, my Switzer/XS1500, 14/28 cup 2B..
Put the prop on, and nut, night, just got to the lake..GF, distracted me, and forgot to torque the nut!

Launch, bat out of hell, the takeoff the Chain of Lakes, Ill.

Layed off the "foot", and nothing but a free wheelin Merc.

No one in site, paddled up to a small island on Pistakke..near the Fox river down south..and ended up spending the night there..putting the GF "butt prints in the sand"...so all was not lost..."call it a $400 bill .."butt print"...
Stuff happens!

[Superbender]

I used to loose props all the time,I loan them to a buddy they like them so much I never see them againnow I just don't loan them out unless I'm there while testing

[Robby321]

I used to loose props all the time,I loan them to a buddy they like them so much I never see them againnow I just don't loan them out unless I'm there while testing

I have many props, Merc IL 6's..I'll loan to any, but ya gotta cut me a check for value first...prop back not dinged?..heres the check back

[Alan Power]

Drill the end of the propshaft and put a splitpin in it.

[Dave Strong]

I see a lot of people just putting props on with a bare hand holding the blade while they tighten it , not good . The prop regardless of type requires some firm torque to properly preload the assembly for the stresses of running . A little drop of medium loctite goes a long way for a nut that may have a slightly worn nylock section . I use a piece of regular soft fir 2 X 4 to bear against and if the prop is thin , a leather glove on the block . Never had one fall off of any boat I've owned ...lucky I guess . Tight is right !

Torque wrenches are your friend, most bolts and nuts have a listed spec in the manual for a reason.
Dave

[Robby321]

Torque wrenches are your friend, most bolts and nuts have a listed spec in the manual for a reason.
Dave

Machinist decades, as a wrench...some time "tits", get in the way?..(wasted. girl..ya know what I mean?)

On NyLock nuts?...take a dremel ..cuts a cross hatch back side the nut, with grooves ..and use a lock washer..never depend on the plastic on the nut to stay put...lots of torque back there, off WOT..goodbye prop..

NEVER a prob, a lock washer, on a grooved nut... make a bunch...never reuse!

[Dave Strong]

Machinist decades, as a wrench...some time "tits", get in the way?..(wasted. girl..ya know what I mean?)

On NyLock nuts?...take a dremel ..cuts a cross hatch back side the nut, with grooves ..and use a lock washer..never depend on the plastic on the nut to stay put...lots of torque back there, off WOT..goodbye prop..

NEVER a prob, a lock washer, on a grooved nut... make a bunch...never reuse!

My policy with nylocks is, if used more than twice, replace or loctite.
You have to pay attn to the tab washers "Merc style" if the inside where the hex for the nut gets worn the tab can't do its job. If the tab washer is in good shape, tight fit on nut things should stay put.
Dave

[Robby321]

My policy with nylocks is, if used more than twice, replace or loctite.
You have to pay attn to the tab washers "Merc style" if the inside where the hex for the nut gets worn the tab can't do its job. If the tab washer is in good shape, tight fit on nut things should stay put.
Dave

Yep on Merc style. But I run a hubless SS, so its a lock washer, and nut...and I really crank it tight!

[Bsprout]

Must be that cold florida wheather making your wheels fall off.
Keep rubbing it in. Ill have the snow off mine by april.

[Dave Strong]

Yep on Merc style. But I run a hubless SS, so its a lock washer, and nut...and I really crank it tight!

Been more than a few years since I have seen a 2 blade prop, like the 60's, most were bronze.
Dave

[Robby321]

Been more than a few years since I have seen a 2 blade prop, like the 60's, most were bronze.
Dave

My old XS150 SS Switzer, ran a surface 2 B, 14x28. Went like a bat out hell, real nice "tail".. but went through a few L/U cases. 2 blades tear them up.

This prop, 12x24, is on my Flatty..135, 15 feet, 350 boat, 300 motor, 200 my azz, weight. I have many Il6 props, my Merc guru an easy dozen or more. I scored the 12x24 off ebay, $75..good find! I tried the same pitch old 2B, hub, in bronze, and my prop works the best. Tried a 12x24 chopper, and it was a yank punch one side, lay off, and dragged the azz end all over..scary. Like tossing a water chute, tied the side of the hull.
This prop on now, is "tits"! A punch, spins to 3500, starts to grab, down to 2500, then freaking takes off to 5800. Less blade area in the water, does not yank me around much at all, when shut down. Boat being a Flatbottom, with the pad, and chines are 1 inch drop, its an "air ride"...so I more or less run a flat level motor, most the prop in the water. Works fine. Can't touch the trim much, or it "blows out". Simply .."old school cool"..and the sucker is a real rocket, on a punch! A pic..(and don't think that sucker can't turn..see the twin fins, the hull? Also two tabs, rear, keep the butt out the water..

[Dave Strong]

Cool boat, when I was a kid a guy down the lake had a Cat with 2 100hp Mercs he ran 2 blade bronze. Was the fastest thing on the lake except for a couple V-Drive Flats.
Dave

[Robby321]

Cool boat, when I was a kid a guy down the lake had a Cat with 2 100hp Mercs he ran 2 blade bronze. Was the fastest thing on the lake except for a couple V-Drive Flats.
Dave

That little Flatty is a gas! Have a 20, and 26 footer too, as a 26 foot slip here..they are the "normal boats"

But when the water is flat...(that Flatty hitting a wake will knock yer eyeballs silly"...)...its a real grin!

[Robby321]

except for a couple V-Drive Flats.
Dave

DAMN..V Drive Flats...

Dude here just picked this up...(I got new competition!), and has a 2 blade!

Out SoCal, supposed to be sitting 13 years..lot of motor work done now, aint wet yet..will be spring. BB motor, one speed..should be a grin! pix..

[Dave Strong]

Needs a blower, was a flat with a blown 427, zoomie's. Nothing could touch him, between the blower and v-drive whine and the pipes was the coolest sounding thing around. The windows in the cabin would rattle, wonder what the tree huggers would think if it showed up today.
Dave