i bent my prop and i cant get it off

[bdubnlb]

i bent the prop on my 2001 Super Air after hitting my head riding, not a good day. I tried to pull the prop to get it fixed, but the rudder is so close to the end of the drive shaft I can not get the prop puller in there. Do I need another prop puller with a shorter pin, or do I need to remove the rudder. removing the rudder seems like it would suck, please someone help me out.

ps, I think someone popped an ear drum, and another twisted an ankle on that dreadful day............ I almost cried when the prop bent, but i think it could of been worst...... **** low tide......and salt water

[Rick]

Don't remove the rudder

Pull the cotter pin out loosen the nut but don't remove it. Try hitting the back of the prop with a dead blow hammer. It may come loose that way. If not move the prop around until the prop puller fits between the blades. It should fit Worst case you could cut some of the screw off to get it to fit, You shouldn't have to though.

[wakejunky]

If the blades are so bent that you can't get the prop puller on, it sounds almost like it needs replacement. If that's the case try bending back one of the blades and get the prop puller on there. If the dead blow hammer method doesn't work you can heat up the prop with a propane torch and see if expanding the prop through heat can get the prop off.

Chris

[airhuck]

put a torch on it. itll come right off.

[bmh2208]

pic!!!

[WakeSlayer]

If it is that close to the rudder, did someone put the wrong length shaft on there? Or different rudder? i have heard the torch works, but never done it. Be careful doing that. Removing the rudder will not be terribly difficult either.

[Mikeski]

My dad didn't have a prop puller for the first 10 years we had an inboard. When I was 14 I bent the prop and dad made me pull it as part of my "learning experience". The key is getting the prop hot and keeping the shaft cool. The hot prop expands and pops right off, if the shaft gets hot nothing moves and you can damage the strut bearing as well. Work fast.

[Chattwake]

Use a torch, a 2x4 and a dead blow. I always heat the prop with a torch for a good 15 minutes - rotating the prop as you go. Heat the body of the prob only and avoid the blades. Once it's good and hot - you'll be able to tell b/c it changes colors and looks like it's sweating - take a 2x4 and stuff it up behind the back of the prop so it's sitting on two of the blades. Leave the nut on the end of the shaft so the prop doesn't fly all the way off when you hit it. Making sure you've gotten out of the way, start banging the **** out of that 2x4 and rotate the prop every few hits so that you're working one side of the prop then the other. It will pop off if you've heated it enough.