dajohnson53
Lieutenant Commander
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2004
- Messages
- 1,627
Bought an early 70s Merc 9.8 hp late in the summer. I've been fiddling with it - trying to get it to run smoother, winterizing, etc. So, I go to remove the prop just to check it out, etc. and it's stuck fast.<br /><br />3 days later, I've got it off, a little scarred and minus the rubber hub.<br /><br />My belief is that the thing hadn't been removed in 30 years. The motor is in great condition. The lower unit looks brand new. The prop, although not pristine, looks very little used. The cowling is a little beat up, but it looks like "carried in the pickup" kind of stuff. (I also think it's been stored a couple of times w/ untreated fuel because it acts like it needs a carb rebuild, but that's a different post).<br /><br />I tapped it a couple of times with a rubber mallet (didn't beat the bejeebers out of it, being afraid to damage prop or inner gears). I also soaked overnight w/ PB Blaster. No effect.<br /><br />My little gear puller wouldn't reach far enough, so I rented a large one. After getting the right tool, the prop pretty much came right off - but what happened was that it pulled it off of the rubber hub (which was left on the splined shaft).<br /><br />Next step: cut off rubber hub with knife. This left the inner metal prop hub which was pretty much fused hard to the shaft. Dremmel w/ cutting blade and a tiny bit of light tapping the cold chisel work gets the job done pretty easily. The splined shaft has no damage that I can see, and cleaned up good as new.<br /><br />Now, only the "thrust washer" remains - stuck fast. Can't get the puller on it - must require some sort of special spindly arms. Soaking w/ PB Blaster as we speak, but will probably have to cut that off w/ dremel as well, but will check to see if it's a readily availble part.<br /><br />GREASE THAT PROP SHAFT, FELLOWS!