Prop shaft, stuck.

[James W]

I've just tried to pull the prop shaft out from the boat through the engine bay (engine removed) and for some reason it's stuck fast.

When I took the engine out two weeks ago all seemed well. The prop turned without any problems and I just thought i'd be able to rock up and slowly draw the shaft out into the boat after undoing the seals. No chance, stuck like a pig. It will move if whacked but is this really necessary?

I'd take the coupling off and take it off aft but a.) I think it'll hit the skeg and b.) the coupling is stuck on.

Is it as simple as just taking a lump hammer next time?

Thanks loads,

James

 

[Tranona]

You need to have a direct pull otherwise it will bind on the outer cutless bearing. Push it back as far as it will go and check there are no burrs on the end. Also remove the Key from the taper. A bit of Fairy Liquid on the shaft may help it slide through the bearing.

 

[James W]

You need to have a direct pull otherwise it will bind on the outer cutless bearing. Push it back as far as it will go and check there are no burrs on the end. Also remove the Key from the taper. A bit of Fairy Liquid on the shaft may help it slide through the bearing.

Thanks Tranona. I had worried that I was doing something completely stupid, but clearly it's just being a pig. I've given the shaft plenty of penetrating oil and will try again tomorrow.

James

 

[oldharry]

Once it has moved from the normal running position and the wear ridges come up against the next bit, a shaft can be very hard to shift. Also particularly if its running on a P bracket, the exposed parts of the shaft which do not bear on anything normally can build up corrosion and muck, which will jam in the next bearing. Proceed with caution here: you may need to pull it out aft first to clean it - it only takes a fraction of a millimeter of additional gunge to make it jam solid, particularly the parts exposed to seawater. A clean off of all exposed parts with a brass wire brush (soft so as not to damage bearing surfaces} may help if you can get at them. I had to draw my new shaft after only one season, and had great difficulty shifting it until I had thoroughly cleaned off ALL the exposed parts, after which it came out quite easily.

Clubbing it with a lump hammer you will almost certainly damage and distort the end.

 

[Neil_Y]

Gentle controlled pull with a block tackle is better than a lump hammer, there may well be ridges where the shaft has worn and as the shaft sits down under its own weight these can snag on bearings. Gentle controlled increasing pull after cleaning is the best way.

 

[James W]

Thanks to all that helped, once again the forum came up trumps.

One engine bay getting cleaner by the day.....

View attachment 43157