Repairing phospho-bronze prop shaft?

[sw35750]

My 1946 Norfolk Broads RIver Cruiser is currently having lots of work done to repair a very rotton bottom. During the work it has become apparent that the phospho- bronze prop shaft has got scored where it goes through the cutluss bearings. I have been told that I need a new prop shaft.

Is it possible to get repairs made to phopho bronze prop shafts - can the scoring be filled at all. It seems such a shame to condem an entire prop shaft becasue two inches of it are scored. I also would like to keep it if i can as i suspect it is the original shaft for the boat.

Can anyone help?

 

[ccscott49]

There is a company in Wigan/Blackburn/Burnley or somewhere similar, who will fit a sleeve to your shaft, by the heat/freeze technique, then remachine to correct size. I wil, try and find the name of the company. You could try a google search. This is quite a common problem with bronze shafts. I would consider, if the shaft is not too long and not too large a diameter of replacing it with monel. Because the sleeving will not be cheap.

 

[burgundyben]

No chance you could end for end it so the bearings run on virgin material?

 

[JREdginton]

what about metal spraying. Been used for Ic engine cranks and the like for years. Spray hot metal onto surface, refinish and bob's yer mothers brother. These people do it, not the only ones, just and example link from google... http://www.wyko.co.uk/motor%20repair/Metal_Spraying.asp

 

[gag]

Rebuilding the shaft using heat will cause it to go out of line.

 

[ccscott49]

very little heat involved in metal spraying, my shafts had been repaired that way, but it wore/tore off at that point, dont know how long it lasted, long before I had the boat it was done. I turned my shafts down to the nmext shaft size ( 2 5/8 - 2 1/2) at one end, the cutlass bearing end, thats the way they are now.

 

[david_bagshaw]

personally would not recomend metal spraying as we had a so repaired shaft fail in our first year of boating.

 

[oldharry]

Try Lancing Marine - you will be surprised what a good deal they can do a new shaft. Yes it does seem crazy to scrap a shaft because a few inches is damaged, but thats what happens. A weak point in the shaft is just that, and too much of a risk. Repairing it is not an option, the weakness remains as David B found out.

 

[mickshep]

Whilst living in Sheffield I had the same problem, Yellow pages led me to a firm that welded bronze, 2 days later and £25 lighter I had a shaft that was built up with bronze (Sample taken 1st for matching),in 2 areas, re-turned back to size, still fitted in boat now, no bends, no problems, Mike.