Prop rubbing inside hub??

[BigBassBrent]

Hey guys, I wanted to ask if anyone has ever seen this before. There is a little history with this so here is goes. The motor is an 04 3.3L 200 HPDI with the low water intake nosecone.

Almost a year ago I slung a blade off my Tempest plus prop which resulted in a bent prop shaft. I took it to my dealer, where I bought the boat, and had it repaired. While it was being repaired I ordered a Lightning Turbo TXP. While it was in the shop, my replacement prop had not arrived so I told them to just put the stock PowerTech VMX back on. Which they did.

A few days later I received my TXP prop and installed it. Everything was great for about 3 months. Then I noticed that my prop nut was loose after a fishing trip and the prop was rubbing inside the hub. Not just against the sides of the hub, but the prop is driving into the hub and rubbing the face of it. Kinda as if the thrust washer was the wrong one and the prop was going too far down the shaft. So I go to take it off and it is totally suck on there. It takes me several days of prying and pounding to remove it.

I called Turbo props and told them what had happened. I sent them the prop, they re-hubbed it under warranty and sent it back saying that everything was fine and I had the correct thrust washer. There was actually nothing wrong with the hub, but they replaced it for good measure. So I put it back on and was happy again for about 6 months.

Well just the other day, I pull the boat out of the water and spin the prop as I always do, and it does not even make one revolution because it is rubbing so badly. I remove the prop and see that it has now removed at least an 1/8” of metal from the inside of the hub. It is even rubbing the support pieces that come off the propshaft hub. The zerk fitting in there is almost gone. I’mk thinking stupid prop, not again. So I pull the tempest out, which has NEVER rubbed and installed it. When I torqued it down and spun it, IT FREAKIN RUBBED in one spot!!! Not as badly as the Lightning was rubbing, but it did rub. I loosened the nut slightly and it stopped rubbing.

Does anyone have any idea what may be going on? I do not think I should have to pay for this repair again, as I think something was done incorrectly when they replaced the prop shaft the last time. Problem is that I have no idea how to prove they are at fault and no way to prove that I didn’t do something to cause this.

Any help/advice before I go back to the dealer is greatly appreciated.

Sorry for the long post.

Thanks,

[21XDC]

Is it a flo-torq hub? You may need the forward bushing inside the delrin drive sleeve if so... You should have a thrust washer # 12-853948 for your props on the flo-torq. http://www.boatfix.com/bykeywo...earch Also check for a cracked or worn drive sleeve.

[BigBassBrent]

Its a t-lok hub on the TXP. The Tempest has the Flo-Torq II Hub. I have never seen the part you posted!

Does that help?

[21XDC]

for the tempest, you are supposed to run the part in the pic. read the link I posted.

Look here as well http://sites.mercurymarine.com...F.PDF

[stan]

Whats happening is the forward thrust washer is wearing because the prop nut is not torqued enough. The thrust washer will actually spin and wear down agaisnt the prop. Sometimes it can score the propshaft also and the whole propshaft will break off. Take a block of wood and tighten to 100 ft lbs with a new thrust washer. The serv manuals say 35 ft lbs and thats a joke. Basically tighten it as tight as posssible and do not back off to get the cotter pin thru. A surfacing prop will lossen so every other trip out retighten it. I know this is a pain but all outboards will do this some a little worse than others. To remove a stuck thrust washer hit it with a hammer parallel to the propshaft. If the Tempest is hitting now with a new thrust washer you probably have the wrong thrust washer. A Yamaha takes a special Mercury thrust washer which comes with their Yamaha hub kit. Also make sure your propshaft is still straight. As 21XD posted you do need the bushing put in the back of the flo-torque 2 hub or else it will wear the thrust washer faster. The bushing helps to sandwich everything together tighter.

[blazerman]

i have had the same problem in the past and i now run two thrust washers and it has solved the problem. like stated above get it real tight...

[BigBassBrent]

Thanks guys, that really helps. I will run to the prop shop today and see if they have the bushing and I will pick up a new thrust washer for the tempest and the TXP.

I will let you all know the outcome.

[Herbert]

I had the exact same problem with the exact same results. Stan is dead on as to your problem. This seems to be more of a problem with Yamaha motors but you should check the prop nut after every few trips to make sure that it is as tight as possible.

[OkieBoatMech]

Had a similar problem this season. Found that the aftermarket thrust washer was machined different from the OEM washer. And it had cracked all the way around causing the prop to shift forward and rub on the gearcase and bearing carrier.

[jgun]

AustinTXAngler - Did you ever get it figured out?