MaxProp grease

[Nograss]

By the way, for MaxProp anodes try here: http://www.zincsmart.com/

They are A LOT cheaper than the Darglow MaxProp anodes.

Click on Prop nuts & anodes in the left-hand menu, then Maxprop replacement anodes in the middle window.

 

[Nograss]

Our previous posts were made at the same time so in case you didn't get notified of a new post - for anodes see above.

 

[Channel Sailor]

I read a few years ago that Blake’s Seacock grease was a possibility on Maxprop- any comments?. I’ve been using it, should I change?

I have an old Darglow Featherstream and have been using blakes seacock grease for three years, which I have anyway for other reasons. It appears to work really well, easy light movement on feathering the blades, really sticky so it stays in there, easy to syringe in and still some in there after a long season.

 

[sailorman]

I've been quoted £30 inc vat and delivery for a 400gram tube of MaxProp grease from the official MaxProp UK dealer. I don't recall paying that two years ago when I last ordered some (although having just bought the boat money was going out so fast I may not have noticed).

I think the important bits are: Calcium-based and NLGI 1 grade.

Can anyone point me to an alternative grease or supplier?

My Yorkshire genes are telling me there must be a better (i.e. cheaper) alternative!

Thanks.

Blakes seacock grease is the same spec as MaxProp
It seemed expensive at the time ( £16 ) but that must be 8 yrs ago now, so not too bade in the scale of things as im still on that same pot

 

[Kukri]

Our previous posts were made at the same time so in case you didn't get notified of a new post - for anodes see above.

Thanks again!

 

[sailorman]

I turned to this thread with interest, as the new to me boat came with one of these impressive things.

I need all the help I can get. The prop apparently needs its own special grease gun fitting, which in our case we have not got, and Martin Evans (surveyor) has suggested that I might usefully improve the shining hour by replacing the cutless bearing, which would involve taking the prop right off...

Where do I go for (a) advice (b) grease (c) grease gun fittings...

Just a long series straight grease nipple & any trigger type gun ( well i prefer trigger ) all instructions are on-line
http://www.pyiinc.com/downloads/max-prop/max-prop-2-blade-classic-instructions.pdf
http://www.pyiinc.com/downloads/max-prop/max-prop-3-blade-classic-instructions.pdf

B4 you dissemble keep notes / pix of ALL settings
When you nxt see Martin pls remember me to him ( Jolie Brise )

 

[Kukri]

Just a long series straight grease nipple & any trigger type gun ( well i prefer trigger ) all instructions are on-line
http://www.pyiinc.com/downloads/max-prop/max-prop-2-blade-classic-instructions.pdf
http://www.pyiinc.com/downloads/max-prop/max-prop-3-blade-classic-instructions.pdf
When you nxt see Martin pls remember me to him ( Jolie Brise )

I shall. Giving Martin a lift back from Ostende in Mirelle in the summer of 87 was one of the best things I have ever done in a boat...

Sfortunatamente, non parlo italiano di ingegneri; Non ho mai posseduto una Ferrari!

 

[sailorman]

A 3 blade MaxProp may req 4 hands to remove / re fit

We saw a 5 blader at SIBs what a work of art that was

 

[Roberto]

I turned to this thread with interest, as the new to me boat came with one of these impressive things.

I need all the help I can get. The prop apparently needs its own special grease gun fitting, which in our case we have not got, and Martin Evans (surveyor) has suggested that I might usefully improve the shining hour by replacing the cutless bearing, which would involve taking the prop right off...

Where do I go for (a) advice (b) grease (c) grease gun fittings...

No special tool is needed: a normal grease gun with (by memory 4mm) grease nipples; in cas you do not have it handy, you can do it with a big syringe (without needle of course) by just keeping the tip tight against the holes, a bit more messy than with the gun though.

Up to 3 blades can be mounted/dismounted by one person, I don't know about 4 blades. If the propeller is new to you, read the instructions carefully before touching it, so when you open it you can read the reference the previous owner chose for the pitch, there are letters engraved on the body where the blades are fitted, their position must be noted before you put all the pieces apart. Of course if you do not have the pitch figure already

 

[ip485]

No special tool is needed: a normal grease gun with (by memory 4mm) grease nipples; in cas you do not have it handy, you can do it with a big syringe (without needle of course) by just keeping the tip tight against the holes, a bit more messy than with the gun though.

Up to 3 blades can be mounted/dismounted by one person, I don't know about 4 blades. If the propeller is new to you, read the instructions carefully before touching it, so when you open it you can read the reference the previous owner chose for the pitch, there are letters engraved on the body where the blades are fitted, their position must be noted before you put all the pieces apart. Of course if you do not have the pitch figure already

Obvioulsy different from mine. I have a "special" adapter that screws into the "ports" on the prop assembly. The adapter then plugs into the nipple. It would be impossible without the adapter. The adapter can be purchased from Darglow if you do need one.

 

[sailorman]

No special tool is needed: a normal grease gun with (by memory 4mm) grease nipples; in cas you do not have it handy, you can do it with a big syringe (without needle of course) by just keeping the tip tight against the holes, a bit more messy than with the gun though.

Up to 3 blades can be mounted/dismounted by one person, I don't know about 4 blades. If the propeller is new to you, read the instructions carefully before touching it, so when you open it you can read the reference the previous owner chose for the pitch, there are letters engraved on the body where the blades are fitted, their position must be noted before you put all the pieces apart. Of course if you do not have the pitch figure already

And note the rotation too :encouragement:

 

[Roberto]

Obvioulsy different from mine. I have a "special" adapter that screws into the "ports" on the prop assembly. The adapter then plugs into the nipple. It would be impossible without the adapter. The adapter can be purchased from Darglow if you do need one.

Curious: did you buy the propeller in the US? There are maybe differences. Are your set screws metric or imperial, the allen key you use that is? Mine definitely metric, both the hex recess and the pitch, propellers bought in continental Europe.
rgds r

 

[ithet]

The adapter then plugs into the nipple. It would be impossible without the adapter.

Are you referring to plugging the grease gun onto the "adapter"? The part that screws into the ports is the (standard) grease nipple. The Americans call them "Zerk" fittings after the inventor as using the term "nipple" in public makes them faint!

 

[john_morris_uk]

Up to 3 blades can be mounted/dismounted by one person, I don't know about 4 blades. If the propeller is new to you, read the instructions carefully before touching it, so when you open it you can read the reference the previous owner chose for the pitch, there are letters engraved on the body where the blades are fitted, their position must be noted before you put all the pieces apart. Of course if you do not have the pitch figure already

It's tricky to put a three bladed on by yourself and MUCH easier with a spare set of hands. I've put ours on twice and it's a bit of a juggling act to get it all together.

 

[ip485]

Curious: did you buy the propeller in the US? There are maybe differences. Are your set screws metric or imperial, the allen key you use that is? Mine definitely metric, both the hex recess and the pitch, propellers bought in continental Europe.
rgds r

Bought in the UK, the boat is American but was delivered with a fixed pitch prop. You are correct the grease points contain a screw that is removed with an allen key - I am not sure if it is metric or not, but the nipple adapter supplied by Darglow fits and screws in. The adapter then connects to the grease gun.

I cant see how the grease could be pumped in without the adapter as it requires some pressure from the gun.

 

[michael_w]

My Maxprop takes M6 grease nipples. Readily available for pennies from http://www.eabs.co.uk/

 

[Roberto]

I cant see how the grease could be pumped in without the adapter as it requires some pressure from the gun.

Done plenty of times with a plastic syringe, with both more fluid greases and the thicker cream coloured one.

A few years ago I bought a grease gun and just bought a (possibly)4mm nipple. Pretty much like this picture.



This is taken from a MP web site

 

[ip485]

Roberto - well that is a useful trick to know. I would have imagined more grease would come out from around the syringe that actually go in!

 

[sailorman]

Roberto - well that is a useful trick to know. I would have imagined more grease would come out from around the syringe that actually go in!

a grease gun forces grease into the prop hub & the grease exists around the blade pivots, i fail to see how this can work with a syringe

 

[ip485]

- further to Darglow have some "tubes" of lube at the show and the price is very good, not least because posting costs are such a big part of the overall charge - well worth picking up a tube if you need some or like to keep a tube in stock.