Thrust washer of Mercury 60 HP 4-stroke

[Oaks81]

Is the propeller supposed to be able to move back and forth on the shaft? Mine had over 1 cm of slack and someone in the dock pointed out that it is not supposed to.

The propeller got slightly damaged last summer and my mechanic sent it for repair. I received it now from the workshop and I tried to install it by myself for the first time.

The thrust washer was still in place and it was bit difficult to remove due to oxidation. I greased the parts and put them back in the same order as they used to be. At this point, I noticed the slack.

If I turn the thrust washer around, there is almost no slack. I will attach a picture of how the washer was.

 

[Oaks81]

My outboard is 6 years old. For some reason, the whole lower unit had to be replaced already twice during this time. I did not hit any objects while driving. It just broke down.

I am starting to suspect that the boat maintenance company I used always put the thrust washer the wrong way and the slack eventually destroyed the lower unit. On the other hand, it is a Mercury certified repair service. They should know how to do it.

 

[Oaks81]

This is how it looks after I turned the thrust washer around.

 

[VicS]

Is this the part

If so I think it fits with the domed side , with the part number, facing the gear case

Would that solve the problem? These huge out boards are a bit outside my comfort zone

There's a service manual on the boatinfo website. I think this is the right one: Boatinfo - Mercury Service Manual for 50-60 hp
but I dont think it helps but it might be useful to bookmark it for future reference

 

[VicS]

Is this the part

If so I think it fits with the domed side , with the part number, facing the gear case

View attachment 91569

But be careful that does not bridge any insulation in the prop hub that would lead to galvanic corrosion

Posting the question on the mercury forum at either / or both iBoats and MarineEngine might be a good idea.

Not been fitted with the wrong prop I suppose ?

Mercury & Mariner Outboards Page: 1 - iboats Boating Forums | 36

Mercury Mariner Outboard Forum

Identify the engine model exactly if you post on either of these .... including year and quote serial number if possible

 

[[159032]]

Looked at a lot of Mercury diagrams and it looks very much as though the broader face is fitted towards the gear casing.
Mercury Marine 60 HP (3 Cylinder) Gear Hsg (Prop Shaft) (Bigfoot) (SeaPro / Marathon / Pontoon) Parts

Especially from this rather odd picture (from a propellor shaft listing)

But that doesn't really help solve your problem.

 

[[159032]]

But this may.

2 minute 40 seconds he shows the thrust washer fitting.

 

[Oaks81]

I got a reply from the Mercury certified mechanic. They said that some newer engines have that slack for reducing the load that comes from shifting gears. So it was initially the right way after all. I will have to flip it back.

Anyway, thanks for the assistance.