How to remove stuck prop on stern drive?

Question

A friend and I are working on a 1965 Fiberform with a four cylinder 120hp mercruiser. We dropped the botton end and removed the nut which holds the prop on. We've tried hammering it off and sprayed a lot of WD 40. What else can we do?

Answer 1

Replace the nut so it is level with the front of the propshaft.

Have someone pull on the prop, place a piece of wood against the propshaft nut and hit it with a hammer.

Altough this is the rough solution it can come off. (no offend!!!)

If you want to do this the "prop"er way use a prop puller, some marinas loan them out like autopart stores do.

Frank

Answer 2

A prop pulling tool is readily available at almost any boat shop or store. They are pretty cheap and are made for the job. Unless you want leaking seals and bent parts, STOP hammering on it and never hammer directly on it. hammer on a block of wood placed between the hammer and whatever part you want to hammer on.

Answer 3

aThis is a difficult problem.  You cad do more damage (read $$$$$$$) if you don't do it right.  Heat and /or cold is good. i.e. ice packed in the center of the hub. but you need a "puller" that exerts force downward on the prop shaft and upward on the prop hub.  Automotive tool places may have something you can rent for a few dollars.  The problem is that there is no place to get a good grip on the prop.  you might try drilling holes at the back , on the prop not the gear case.  Then hooking the puller jaws (3)in the holes.  You can damage the gear case and of gear shift if you pull forward on the prop shaft.   Sometimes the pop free so be careful.  

      Don't worry about saving the prop, because most of the time the rubber part of the hub will be bad.  This thrust hub is between the alum prop and the steel splinted shaft.

Answer 4

If you can get a little heat on the inner hub without burning the rubber hub it will loosen it from the shaft.  It may not take much. As a last resort take it to a shop that has a puller.