Do i have a bent shaft???????????

[ifishhard]

Does this sound like i have a bent shaft.........First off, everone knows that there is a little gab inbetween the prop and the housing the prop is in. Mine is around a quater of an inch or less. The reasonn i am suspecting a bent something is because when i spin my prop at certian points the prop is a little higher agianst its housing than at other certian points (i guess that can be assumed as a wobble) it doesnt hit the housing it just doesnt spin EXACTLY the same in one fluid motion. However, i have taken the boat out probably 20 times and have had NO problems with it whatsoever!! I purchased the boat from another individual who must have hit something because i know i havent! the skeg under the prop is bent barely to the left when looking at it from behind. What damage could i cause by running my engine if indeed something is bent?? But like i said i havent had any problems with the engine running normally even at WOT! Help please!

Thanks.

 

[ifishhard]

Re: Do i have a bent shaft???????????

Bump????

 

[5150abf]

Re: Do i have a bent shaft???????????

I would pull the prop off and measure the shaft off a fixxed point, either the cavitation plate or the ground, that sounds like the easiest way to tell.
If that measures out okay it is your prop that is bent.
Also there is a spacer that is suppose to be on behind the prop make sure that is there and facing the right direction, if not it could make the prop wobble.
As far as what will it do, I would imagine your prop shaft seal could leak, your lower slowly fills with water and you have to get a new lower.
Change your lower unit oil soon, you will be able to tell right away if it is leaking, either water will come out or it will be milky looking.
Lower oil is $4.50, a new lower is $1500.00.
If it is bent post again and we will go from there

 

[F_R]

Re: Do i have a bent shaft???????????

Agreed, check the runout of the shaft with the prop removed. The wobble could also be a problem with the rubber hub in the prop. Nah, come to think of it the thrust washer should center it up pretty well.