taking off a propeller

[turkeycreektrout]

hello
i posted a couple days ago about getting a new prop. i found one but i need to take the current one off. the motor is an 89 merc 80 horse.

there is a nut and what appears to be a lock washer underneath it. the lock nut has flanges and two or three are bent over. i cant tell if i need to remove the lock washer first or the nut first. and are the threads traditional righty tighty lefty loosey?
thanks for your time
sean

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: taking off a propeller

Well I've done it and I'm sure others have as well.

Tried in vain to remove a prop but the nut wouldn't move. Got a bigger tool and still it wouldn't budge. Must be seized I thought.

Then I realized I forgot to bend the locking tabs away from the nut.

So, first bend the locking tabs away from the nut. The nut will then unscrew normally (CCW). Once the nut is off, the locking tab slides off the shaft as does the prop and thrust washer in behind. Hopefully the prop will not be seized to the shaft as sometimes happens if its been left on for a very long time.