Alpha one possible damage?

[djtrixx69]

Hi all, hope for some advice....

18' Rinker 4.3 alpha. Just put on a 14.5x 21 prop. went for a 30 mile cruise, no problems. (Boat has had a small vibration since i owned it, very minor) Went up the channel in Menasha for supper, and back down the channel to get back to the landing. Was pretty dark, but I've been there plenty of times. Felt like I hit something with the lower unit (no wake, was about 1000rpms. ) I thought I wrecked the new prop and broke one of the blades, because it felt out of balance.....badly. I only had 150 yards to the landing, so idled it in, got on the trailer, and the prop didn't have a scratch on it!

What could I have wrecked that made it feel that way? I seriously thought one of the 3 blades would be gone, that's how bad it was shaking.

Any advice?

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[harringtondav]

Take a good look at the prop in daylight. A bent blade can cause vibration. Spin the prob and look at the machining center drill in the end of the prop shaft. It should stay on dead center. If not, you bent your prop shaft, but I doubt it I whacked a deadhead submerged log today at no wake, and even climbed over it after I went back into gear. I was sure I felt vibration for the next 1.5 hrs, until I got back on my lift and found everything OK. Paranoia.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... In my experiences, I'd touched bottom, 'n thought my torque-shift prop had been trashed,.......
Back on the wagon, without a scratch on the prop, I pulled the top cap off my drive,....
1 of the gears was missin' a tooth,......

I found another drive for my barge, 'n turned that 1 into parts,.....

Yer experience may vary,.........