Prop/Hub Problem

[davisx]

Gentlemen,
Need some help, my buddy has a '96 Mercury 200 EFI and he keeps ruining his hub on his prop. This is the fourth one in under a year and half, I forgot to ask him what prop he has but I believe it is a trophy. Any ideas or suggestions as to what the cause is and how to fix it?

[J Risco]

Might be able to help better if you define "ruining" or post a pic, is the thrust washer wallowing out, hub melting, things cracking?... Initial thought is if its a standard flo-torq hub (not fat shaft) that he is under or over tightening, both can cause a failure. That can be fixed by running the optional forward (cone) bushing that is available for purchase separately. With it you can make sure you get the hub/prop tight enough without worrying about over-tightening (within reason haha)

[QuickBullet]

Might be able to help better if you define "ruining" or post a pic, is the thrust washer wallowing out, hub melting, things cracking?... Initial thought is if its a standard flo-torq hub (not fat shaft) that he is under or over tightening, both can cause a failure. That can be fixed by running the optional forward (cone) bushing that is available for purchase separately. With it you can make sure you get the hub/prop tight enough without worrying about over-tightening (within reason haha)

^^What He Said^^

[davisx]

Melting the hub is the most common problem. He has just recently had the gearcase PM'ed IE: new impeller, etc... it is the standard flo-torq.

[J Risco]

Melting the hub is the most common problem. He has just recently had the gearcase PM'ed IE: new impeller, etc... it is the standard flo-torq.

First Ive heard of a Merc EFI melting a hub (thought that problem was more specific to the E-tec's). Sorry but I cant offer any help with a solution on that one, hopefully someone that knows Mercs better can...

[Bullet 250]

Might post on the motor forum, but I've never heard of a hub melting

[Tstarratt]

Very strange for a merc. Only real solution is getting one of the metal mercury racing hub kits

[Merc Doc]

Ive fixed 2 3.0l mercs that were melting the flo torq hubs. Problem was under powerhead in water port on exaust plate, there was sand trapped there clogging the drain holes to the mid. Both boats were bass boats on the upper missippi river which is a very sandy environment.

[Tim Powell]

Ive fixed 2 3.0l mercs that were melting the flo torq hubs. Problem was under powerhead in water port on exaust plate, there was sand trapped there clogging the drain holes to the mid. Both boats were bass boats on the upper missippi river which is a very sandy environment.

+1, I know of 2 300xs engines that did not have a water passage drilled out correctly and was melting hubs.

[BASS 1]

I had a 225 Supermag that melted a couple hubs, think we figured out it was a power head gasket issue restricting water flow.

[kllr bee]

I'm with Merc Doc and Tim Powell. Passages in midsection clogged.
Rchard

[mercpromax]

Sounds Like Your Exhaust Is Not Getting Out Of The Motor,

[spider1]

+1, I know of 2 300xs engines that did not have a water passage drilled out correctly and was melting hubs.

one of those was mine. The hub would get hot and crack or the prints would start leaking in the lower unit

[kllr bee]

The water passages make it rain though the exhaust It is the only thing that keeps flames from coming out thru the prop.
Richard