How to remove stuck prop?

[Dennis Crews]

Sheared a pin on my stock 302 and stuck the prop up near the propshaft cone. Any tried and true methods of removing the prop without damaging anything else?

[Mike Schmidt]

PB Blaster on the shaft, some heat on the prop and a big guy with heavy leather welding gloves has worked in the pits. Borrow a prop puller. Several teams have prop pullers that pick up on the shear pin hole. Last resort is to pull the prop shaft / tail cone out and use a press.

[Larry M]

I made a simple puller out of 1 inch round stock about 2 1/2 inches long and threaded it for a 1/2 inch all thread or bolt. Now this is the part that people will say are you nuts welding on your prop. If you have someone with a tig welder put two very small tacks on the prop hub and the round stock. Now screw the bolt in and press the prop off. You would be surprised how much force the two small tacks will take. I have a puller that will go into the shear pin holes and it will pull most of the props but sometimes props with a very high rake it won't line up. I took a unit home that people had tried to get the prop off for hours heat , penetration oil, dead blow hammer with no luck and had it off in 10 minutes.

[bill van steenwyk]

Sheared a pin on my stock 302 and stuck the prop up near the propshaft cone. Any tried and true methods of removing the prop without damaging anything else?

Dennis:

Know that this is probably the first time this has happened to you. BE SURE you are using a titanium rivet or bolt for a shear pin. These can be purchased as most aircraft supply houses or Steve Litzell the Konny/VRP dealer in Atlanta has them.

A good hard, but not brittle, shear pin will last forever. I have some out it the garage I first used on a Konig I bought from your Uncle Bob in the early 70's, used them again on a RB Model 80 and they are bent but still usable.

[HydroKyle93R]

Sometime, if a press fails, the shaft has to be chucked in a lathe, and drilled/bored from the propeller. We learned that using a cotter-pin or safety wire ensures the pin keeps from shearing. In any case, be careful.

[Flyer]

Years ago we had a prop we couldn`t get off what we ended up was a impact cutter to cut off sheet metal.I ground the end blunt on the tool,put the prop nut part way on {so the driver doesn't round the threads over}and drove the prop shaft out.You need 2 people to do this.Hold the prop with welding gloves and towels and sit down putting rags on your legs and the lower unit between your legs. This takes the shock out so it dosen`t hurt the gears.The other person runs the impact {make sure he is a good friend}.Short burst to make sure you stay straight.
I read this and almost deleted it because sounds crazy but it works great
Leigh {FLYER}

[ZUL8TR]

FWIW when I mount props I use heavy wheel bearing moly water resistant grease on the shaft and in the prop hole then bolt up. Then if the pin shears and shut down is fairly quick at least there is some grease in there to help remove a stuck prop. Of course a good shear pin is always a must.

[Jack Stotts]

Dennis, I have resolved issues like this by removing the gear foot and placing shaped wooden blocks ender the blades and driving the shaft out of the prop. Ensure that gear case has room for movement under the supported blocks. Be sure to put prop nut on loosely so you don't damage the threads. Some heat on the prop will help it release.

[runabout333]

Just buy another engine and give me yours for my 65th b-day coming up this summer!!!
I take care of the problem!!!
I am on it today!!!! Stotts,,,, you had better LIKE this!!! LOL!!!

[Guest]

Make a prop puller.
I used a 3/4" threaded rod coupling to start, welded a couple of steel legs to it and drilled holes for the shear pin hole. Use socket head screws to insert into the shear pin hole. Coat the push screw with anti-seize lub. Use some large wrenches to hold the body and to turn the push screw.
Worked for me!

[blueskyracer]

I was told back when I first started to coat the shaft with anti seize before installing the prop.. Then I moved to D mod and had a lot of shear pin problems till I found the right material to use for pins.. Never had a prop seize so you may want to try it after you get this problem fixed

[Dennis Crews]

Wow. I guess this happens more often than I thought. I should have time to work on it tomorrow evening. Ill update my progress and thanks to all for your responses and advice...except for you runabout333...lol!

[runabout333]

Darn!!!! Will see you at Grove!!!! Hope to be able to give you the checkered flag for 1st place in CSH!!!

[Jack Stotts]

Dennis, if the prop has not moved forward and against the tail cone you may be able to use the gap to insert a prying devise. Also you can use some alum to make a puller that splits in half and will open so you van slide it between the prop and the tail cone. Fabricate some all thread pulling devices and another piece to pull against the end of the prop shaft. Two all thread pulling lengths should do it. Heat the prop and tighten the pullers.

[Fastjack]

take the lower off and send it to Mike.!!

[1100-one]

Dennis - I made prop pullers years ago made good entry money along with making buzz boxes. Used to pull of the toughest props on the old 6 mercs and my Konig units. I gave my last one to Mike Krier. They worked great on 2 and 3 blades never tried on anything else. If I get a chance I will call him and see if he made any as he was supposed to but knowing Mike its on the way back burner. I know it dont help you now but I will check anyway.