Prop Puller

[scotthons]

My new prop came in yesterday. So I start packing everything up for our trip this weekend. I notice I can not find my prop puller anywhere. I tore threw the garage and shed and nothing. I am about 95% sure I must have given it away when I sold the old boat. I start calling every marine shop in Albuquerque....not that hard since there is only about two of them. No one has a prop puller in stock. I called my mechanic up at the lake and he said he did not have one (I don't really understand that one but whatever). So I go to Harbor Freight and purchase this 2 jaw puller set. It fit between the blades of the prop fine and hooked to the back. So I am going to give it a shot on Saturday when I reunite with the boat. Anyone ever try something like this? It seems I have read mixed reviews.

[wotan2525]

Emergency prop pullers:

1) Heat. Just heat the hub up with an acetylene torch. Leave your nut on the end of the shaft because the prop will "pop" off and could hit you.

2) Two by four. Your taking your prop off because it's bent anyway, right? Use a two by four as a giant lever. It will come off.

3) Rubber, 5lb mallet. Hit, spin, hit, spin, hit, spin repeat. Again... leave your nut on the end or the prop will come flying at you. A propane torch will make this go faster.

I've used them all. I think this year I'm going to invest in one of those harmonic prop pullers. They look pretty damn slick.

[sybrmike]

8" Harbor Freight special took mine right off. Well, I started to question it when the puller was bound up pretty tight, but then gave it one light tap with 3 lb hammer. Glad I left the nut on like Wotan suggested cause it did "pop" off.

[scotthons]

Thanks for the advise! The prop is fine, just upgrading to what is supposed to be a much better one. I have the two by four and rubber mallet ready to go. I will give it a whirl without the torch since I do not have one.

[Okie Boarder]

I'd be a little hesitant about the torch method. Aren't you risking hardening the shaft which could encourage fracture down the road?

I'd think the HF puller you got or tapping it off would be a better way to go.

[Fman]

I just ordered this kit and new spare OJ Fusion prop from Nettle Props. This kit looks real nice, it carries everything you need to pull a prop and hold a spare.

http://www.nettleprops.com/store/p/4...uller-Kit.aspx

[wotan2525]

I'd be a little hesitant about the torch method. Aren't you risking hardening the shaft which could encourage fracture down the road?

I'd think the HF puller you got or tapping it off would be a better way to go.

Not sure about that, but it's the method that my local prop repair guy uses. I figured he's probably done it a few thousand times so it must be somewhat reliable.

[87SunSportMikeyD]

Well on my boat the prop had not been removed for YEARS so it was really stuck on good. 2x4 wouldnt work for me, and the 3-arm gear puller that I got did not have fine-enough threads. When I got a real puller it came off in 30 secs hehe!

[Okie Boarder]

Same here. I got the puller and mine came right off. I never tried another method, but it certainly was really easy with the proper puller.

[jet]

Weird but TRUE! You should pull your prop off every year. When I replaced my 3-blade for the 4-blade it was frozen on, The prop guy said when was the last time your prop had been off? And I said 4-5 years. And he said great, this is going to take a while. The key they use rusts and cements the prop to the key. After a hour of trying to get it off, they gave up and I said I'll take it from here. I went home and had it off in 10 mins. But probably a good idea to pull it off in the winter just to make it easier to pull off next time you need to. Jet