Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hello,

This may not be something that is possible, but I am a avid DIY'er and not afraid to tackle unusual jobs.

Have a SS propeller with pressed in hub that I spun the hub on by nailing a submerged log. The prop itself and splines are just fine, but after it spun the prop, anything over 9 mph it spins out. The hub basically did its job. I already replaced it with a new prop with an interchangeable hub, but I wouldn't mind getting this one back in service as a backup.

All local dealers send them out to have a new hub pressed in and want $100-ish for the job. Seems a bit much to me for a chunk of rubber simply pressed in to the prop.

Anyway... anyone here ever tackle this job yourself with basic garage tools etc? If so... how... and how did it go? And if where did you find the new hub to buy?

Thanks,

Gary

Find a dedicated prop shop and they will be cheaper. Here a lot of dealers send them off to the prop shop down the road as then make money off being the middle man.

http://www.midwestpropeller.com/midwestprice.htm

These guys have done my prop work since the mid 80s. Great prices and fast turn around. I trust them, and them only to my prop work.

+1
yep! "right" down the street from me!

If you still don't want to do what was suggested above, I think you could do the trick yourself with a ball joint press. You can get some amazing torque with one of these, and you can "rent" them for free from AutoZone or Advance Auto. I'd give that a shot before I went to a prop shop myself. Just use some good lube so as not to tear the rubber ( ) .... on the hub. Get your mind out of the gutter.

Might all be a moot question. So far I havent found anywhere to buy the replacement rubber. Still researching that.

[quote="GXPWeasel"]If you still don't want to do what was suggested above, I think you could do the trick yourself with a ball joint press. You can get some amazing torque with one of these, and you can "rent" them for free from AutoZone or Advance Auto. I'd give that a shot before I went to a prop shop myself. Just use some good lube so as not to tear the rubber ( ) .... on the hub. Get your mind out of the gutter. [/quote]

I wouldn't try it, most shops use a 10 ton press. And if you did get it in, but it was just off center by even the smallest amount you'll have vibration problems transmitting through the lower unit which could cause bearing failures... The hub kit's gonna cost you 25 to 30 bucks. Plus you'll have to rent a press, and find and rent an installation funnel that squeezes the hub down in size while pushing it into the prop. The $30 to $40 labor charge is well worth paying.

http://rundquist.com/how_hub_replace.htm

Here is a little reading material for you

http://baumannprops.com/

These guys are the real pros when it comes to prop work. They have been at it 50+ years and are very reasonable in pricing.