Can't shift the bolts on my prop shaft

[Miker]

Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Thinking of fitting an Ambassador or Hayles prop protector on my boat but need a spacer. I thought I would try to undo the bolts on the Volvo shaft with an Allen Key before I ordered anything , but can't shift them. It looks as though I will need a special tool with plenty of leverage. Any suggestions, please?

Incidently, saw an advert for Gator prop protectors in Jans PBO. Anyone recommend them?

 

[hlb]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Well theres no special tool, that I know of. Except perhaps a piece of tube over the allen key. Might undo it, but something will probably break. So then its plan B. Cut the head off, then try to get the stud out. or drill the thread out and re-tap. Or go to plan C. Forget about it!!

Haydn

 

[pvb]

I had that problem, and used...

I had that problem, and used a special gadget from Halfords. It's an stubby Allen key fixed to a square-drive socket head, and you can use it with the ratchet lever from a normal socket set, or indeed with a torque wrench.

If you have difficulty loosening the prop shaft once you've removed the bolts, you can reverse the bolt (ie screw it in to the opposite end of the hole), put a thin piece of sheet steel in the slot in the coupling, and then screw the bolt in against the sheet steel to prise the coupling open.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Before resorting to (too much) brute force it might be worth trying a liberal spraying of WD40.

If that doesn't work a bit of heat might help (after removing the WD40 and anything else flammable)

 

[philip_stevens]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Mike,
JohnK suggests using WD40. This is not a very good penetrating fluid - more of a protection fluid. For a better penetration fluid use PlusGas.

But as JohnK says, try some heat - maybe first. If it doesn't come adrift then, allow to cool and apply some PlusGas.

As for the rope cutter, I have a Stripper, and can attest to it working - well! I went over my own moorings pick-up buoy, and all that was left was the buoy. The glass fibre pole had been chopped away. It also chopped away trawl dumped rope south of Start Point LH. A small piece remained on one blade of the prop, but allowed me to get into and dry out in Dartmouth to remove it. Because it was still on one blade, it was hitting the P-bracket when in astern gear.

Going alongside the pontoon was like something out of the Flintstones - everyone (all 2 of us) over the side and come to a skidding stop and two ropes on cleats.

regards,
Philip

 

[Miker]

Re: Thanks everyone.

I shall pop along to Halfords for the stubby Allen keys and also apply some penetrating fluid. Not sure about the practicalities of applying heat in the awkward confines of an engine compartment. Certainly not with a blowlamp as I would most likely catch the fibre glass floor or something equally horrific. Also I shall not be drilling out the bolts. Plan 3 - do nothing - would seem a better bet.

 

[LORDNELSON]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Use all the gentle methods first - heat, plus gas (allow plenty of time for plus gas to work) then if you can get at it use an impact driver with an Allen bit in it; use gentle taps at first but tap frequently; it worked with a volvo connection I undid some years ago, but do resist the temtation to use brute force!

 

[onenyala]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Try a 'nut cracker' It is a steel ring with a threaded a bolt tapped into the circumference of the ring. The bolt has a chisel end which when tightened against the seized nut cracks it. I got one from Halfords or some such place.

 

[gus]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

It can sometimes work if you try tightening the bolt/allen bolt first before you try to undo it. Make sure that the socket part is clear so that key fits right in. What can sometimes help also, is with a piece of rod or a broad punch to give a sharp blow onto the head of the bolt.

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Be very careful about using an impact driver, or a hammer in any other way. Any blows you apply will be carried by the output bearings in the gearbox, which will not thank you for indenting the raceways.

You will be very unlikely to be able to drill out Allen bolts as they are very hard. A hex drive socket is by far the best method but make sure that any grease and muck is cleared out of the bolt head first, enabling the tool to seat at the bottom. Otherwise you will round off the internal corners of the bolt and your problems will really begin.

 

[SNAPS]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

I had that problem too. In the end I came to the same conclusion do nothing. It works fine, move on to next problem.

JACKTAR

 

[claymore]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Nip round to David Moss and don't be there to watch whilst he does it!!

 

[tony_brighton]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Second that w.r.t. the Stripper. I severed a pick-up buoy in Newtown Creek with mine (1.5" rope) without feeling it (did notice the buoy poping up out of the water though). Might leave it another year before returning...

 

[Michael]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

Try using a 4inch electric grinder with a cutting blade (preferably a diamond blade), take plenty of precaution in case of fire, Use sensably and cut the allan screws through the slot. You can hire this machine from your local plant hire firm

Hope this might help

Michael

 

[Miker]

Sounds like a good plan B

John

I ended up doing just that last year when I couldn't get my old prop off.

Mike

 

[lezgar]

Re: Can\'t shift the bolts on my prop shaft

try with Coca Cola, wait 5 minutes and is amazing that Coca Cola do to old and rusty bolts and nuts.

 

[pvb]

Sorry, don\'t know why I didn\'t think of this...

Sorry, Miker, I don't know why I didn't think of this before! You said you wanted to fit a spacer for a rope cutter, and that you'd had difficulty undoing the Allen keys on the Volvo prop shaft clamp. Well, you don't need to undo them! To fit the spacer, just undo the nuts and bolts around the flange where the propshaft clamp bolts on to the gearbox output. These are ordinary nuts and bolts.

When I had to undo the Allen keys on my boat, it was to change the stern gland.

 

[Miker]

Re: Sorry, don\'t know why I didn\'t think of this...

Thanks for your advice. I was thinking of the flange, not the clamp around the shaft itself. Just had another peep at the prop shaft this morning and found that all the bolts, both on the clamp and the flange, need the same size Allen key to shift them - and which are rock solid. There is no sign of rust or corrosion. I just think that the bolts have been tightened on assembly with a powerful tool.

It did strike me that, perhaps, I could loosen the clamp and move the shaft the 5mm required, and do without the spacer. But the spacer looks the easier option, if I can shift those B**** bolts.