Folding prop... Servicing?

[KevO]

This is my prop. Anyone have any guidance about it's servicing requirements? Simple strip clean and reassemble? Special grease? Anything to watch out for in particular?

 

[Tranona]

Clean it. Does not look like it has anodes. Check for play in the gears and play in the pivot pins.

 

[West Coast]

Clean it. Does not look like it has anodes. Check for play in the gears and play in the pivot pins.

I have a 3 blade VP folding prop on my saildrive, there is a very small amount of play in the gears and pivot pins, but how much is 'too much' play?

 

[KevO]

Clean it. Does not look like it has anodes. Check for play in the gears and play in the pivot pins.

Sorry mate, old photo used to show the type. It is clean now I just wondered what to do with it over the winter before launch.

 

[Tranona]

Sorry mate, old photo used to show the type. It is clean now I just wondered what to do with it over the winter before launch.

Do what the rest of the sentence suggests. Clean it bit was just to indicate how little you need to do!

 

[Tranona]

I have a 3 blade VP folding prop on my saildrive, there is a very small amount of play in the gears and pivot pins, but how much is 'too much' play?

Not sure what the wear tolerance is. Guess you have to ask Volvo. Wear usually manifests itself in noise - rattling and sticky operation.

 

[West Coast]

Not sure what the wear tolerance is. Guess you have to ask Volvo. Wear usually manifests itself in noise - rattling and sticky operation.

Thanks, will try Volvo, but not easy to get answers from.

 

[Quandary]

Thanks, will try Volvo, but not easy to get answers from.

Volvo advice - 'take it to a dealer', he will be pleased to sell you a new one.

My advice, (if it is rattly with a lot of waggly play) take it along to your local precision engineering workshop, every town has one, they will bore out the pivot holes which will now be slightly oval, and turn new pivot pins (make sure they use the correct grade of stainless) Bobs your uncle!

If you know of someone in your area with a steam roller, traction engine etc. he will know who does this sort of stuff.

 

[rob2]

It really isn't necessary to repair it until the blades can go out of mesh, which will leave one blade parked while the other is deployed. The advice with my new one (a few years back) was to strip and grease the pivot pins annually. The one it replaced had so much play you couldn't get grease to stay in there!

Rob.

 

[onesea]

I remember someting about a place near Wareham that might service them, when I bought my boat surveyor recommended servicing the prop.

Marine engineers on south coast said its warn but fine, no need for service, it has not been done.

 

[Woodlouse]

My feathering prop just gets pumped full of grease once a year. It looks to me there's a grub nut on the hub in that picture, remove it, screw in a grease nipple and fill it, then put the grub nut back.

 

[alahol2]

I take mine apart, remove it from the shaft and clean it all up. If I have any Trilux left over from the boot top I paint the prop with it, otherwise normal anti-foul. At least I know it will all come apart with no possibility of corroded screws/bolts etc. which could happen if left for several years.

 

[savageseadog]

It's possible to check the blade play and think they're OK when they're not. To check for wear on the blade gears where there is usually the most corrosion and/or wear, fold one blade out while pushing the other one in and check they don't bind at a range of angles.

 

[KevO]

Wilco... Thanks all.

 

[fortynine]

As all above have advised however re Woodlouse that grub screw is not for grease, it screws down onto the retaining nut to stop it from coming loose (after which your propeller falls off).

 

[Woodlouse]

As all above have advised however re Woodlouse that grub screw is not for grease, it screws down onto the retaining nut to stop it from coming loose (after which your propeller falls off).

Ah, best not grease that bit then.

 

[NormanS]

This is my prop. Anyone have any guidance about it's servicing requirements? Simple strip clean and reassemble? Special grease? Anything to watch out for in particular?

If you're really desperate for something to do, you could turn that hull anode around the right way.

 

[rob2]

I remember someting about a place near Wareham that might service them...

That'll be Darglow Engineering - they used to make their own folding props, but now sell Flex-o-Fold props amongst others, but they can machine them to suit your shaft. I phoned with the serial number of my knackered prop (1986) and they machined the new prop as per the details in their ledgers! I haven't any experience of their refubishment service, but with service like this, I bet they're good.

Rob.

 

[West Coast]

It's possible to check the blade play and think they're OK when they're not. To check for wear on the blade gears where there is usually the most corrosion and/or wear, fold one blade out while pushing the other one in and check they don't bind at a range of angles.

There is no discernable wear on the blade gears and all 3 blades open and close easily and positively together. The pins are a close fit in the boss, will check for looseness in the blade when I dismantle the prop this year.

There other (newer) boats in the yard with the same VP prop - I may take a look to see what play they have.......!