Loose prop

[wakefun]

Went out for the first time yesterday (was really nice by the way) and noticed a slight vibration - made the miror jiggle - at idle and slow speeds. It went away at wakeboard speed but came back as we picked up down riders and idled back to the ramp. Once on the trailer I noticed that the prop had a very slight amout of wiggle in it. In the past it has always been real solid on the shaft. I assume thats the source of my vibration.
Is the fix as simple as pullng the cotter pin, tightening the nut and reinstalling the pin. Sorry for the stupid question but I hate to hual my boat up to Portland just to have the tech put a 1/2 turn on a bolt...
Thanks for any help.

[Rick]

RE: Loose prop

Yes Check to see the key is in it's slot and not bent or sheared. Then take the cotter pin out tighten the castle nut til snug then replace with a new stainless cotter pin. This might be a good time to pull the prop off check the key ( the 1/4 X 1/4 brass bar in the slot.) Then put a small amount of grease on the shaft ( this will make it alot easier to get the prop off next time) and then replace everything. Make sure you use a new cotter pin It stinks to loose a $350 prop because the reused cotter pin sheared off and the nut fell off when running.

[surroundsound64]

RE: Loose prop

Another thing to add when it comes to isntalling the cotter pin...

Tighten the catle nut to the furthest available slot that lines up with the hole in the shaft. If need be, add a washer or 2. Don't back the nut off to get it to line up with the hole.

[todda]

RE: Loose prop

Hey Wakefun, another thing that I have done on our 196 is replace the brass nut with a stainless Nylock nut (the ones with the nylon lock inside on the thread). This has completely reduced any little vibration that we have had. It stays in place great. I still used the cotter pin for added insurance in-case it were to ever back-off any little bit.

Todd

[wakefun]

RE: Loose prop

Thanks all for the input. I will make a stab at fixing this tomorrow and report back if I have further questions or issues...
John

[Mikeski]

RE: Loose prop

Pull the prop, check the key to make sure it's not too tall. If it is file it down.

[slob02]

RE: Loose prop

My dealers have always told me to go back to the last hole if you can not tighten it enough to get to the next one. This loose prop nut was an issure on my last two nautiques and the one I have now. Am I just getting lucky or is this right????? I would think to tighten it up or add washers, but they tell me this is wrong.

[surroundsound64]

Re: RE: Loose prop

My dealers have always told me to go back to the last hole if you can not tighten it enough to get to the next one. This loose prop nut was an issure on my last two nautiques and the one I have now. Am I just getting lucky or is this right????? I would think to tighten it up or add washers, but they tell me this is wrong.

Don't ever adjust it looser. Always tighten it to where you want, not loosen. You ad the washer so that when you are tightening it, it will line up with the holes.

All this just insures that it won't come out.

[wakefun]

RE: Re: RE: Loose prop

OK - I spent some some time Saturday afternoon and pulled the prop (came off real easy) with my 5 year old never touched before prop pulling tool. Everything looked good so I reinstalled and spun the castle nut tight. After blocking the prop with a 2x4 and few taps with a rubber hammer to the box wrench I was using to tighten the castle nut, all lined up just right to where I was able to push in a new stainless cotter pin.
It is supposed to be back to the 70's here tomorrow so, hopefully, my little vibration issue will be resolved when we head away from the ramp to do a little riding...
Thanks again for everyones input.
John

[ag4ever]

RE: Re: RE: Loose prop

When I reinstall my prop, I have to run the boat a bit to get the nut fully tight. I may think it is tight, but the force of the prop works it further on the shaft, and I can usually get a quarter turn or so out of the castle nut even after a He-Man nut tightening session. I would personally believe a slight looseness in the nut should not cause a major vibration problem as the force from running FORWARD would cause the prop to get tighter on the shaft. Now when in reverse, the prop wants to pull off the shaft, and that is when you would feel the vibration.