Fixing a Bent Aluminum Prop
- Remove the propeller from the boat and place it on a flat, sturdy surface. The damaged side should be facing up with easy access to it. ...
- Put on the welding hood and gloves before welding. Make sure the welding wire is correctly being fed into the machine by checking it before use. ...
- Allow the weld to cool completely, which takes about 20 minutes. ...
Full Answer
How do you fix a bent prop on a boat?
Then, using two adjustable wrenches. You work your way across the bend. Carefully bending just a little bit of the bend out at a time. Evenly work your way back and forth across the bend, evenly bending it as you go back and forth. Take your time with it, but eventually, you can work some bends out of the prop.
Can a bent propeller be repaired or replaced?
Boat Repairing! Anyone that has spent enough time on the water will tell you; it happens. Eventually, you will run aground, run over something, hit something, and eventually damage a propeller. The next question then is: Can A Bent Prop Be Repaired or Should You Repair Or Replace it? Yes, a boat propeller that has been bent can be repaired.
Why does my boat prop spin out of balance?
The bent prop, or propeller that is missing a blade, now this is a problem. A missing or bent prop throws the weight of the prop out of balance. The high RPM’s of the engine will spin that out of balanced prop no problem.
How strong is a damaged prop after repair?
It is also important to mention that after a damaged prop has been repaired it is not nearly as strong as it once was. The size and weight of your boat will determine the load that is put on the prop. Propellers that have had knicks and bends taken out of them, now have a weak spot on them.
Can a bent propeller be repaired?
Yes, a boat propeller that has been bent can be repaired. Depending on the amount of damage will determine whether the prop should be repaired or replaced.
Can aluminum boat props be repaired?
Most small dings or bends in an aluminum prop can be repaired for a reasonable price. If you do repair, make sure the shop does not file down the blade edges thereby reducing diameter. If your damage includes bites or chunks out of the blade, you should consider a new prop.
How do you fix a bent boat prop?
1:052:05How to Fix a Damaged Prop-iboats.com - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnother good tool is a hammer always hammers work great the old saying is it won't fit get a biggerMoreAnother good tool is a hammer always hammers work great the old saying is it won't fit get a bigger hammer. This one will work if you will take two hammers.
How do you repair Aluminium propeller?
0:002:36Aluminum Propeller Repair Using HTS-735-11 - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEven brand new aluminum is dirty so make sure you get it clean I plant a piece of steel here.MoreEven brand new aluminum is dirty so make sure you get it clean I plant a piece of steel here.
Can you weld a aluminum prop?
Keep in mind that while aluminum propellers can be welded back to look like new, there is significant strength loss when you do. Since a light tap could then put you back where you started from, you shouldn't spend money on an expensive repair.
Can you run a boat with a damaged prop?
Run your boat too long with an unbalanced prop and even a small amount of cavitation will do damage to the inner hub, bearings and shaft on the lower unit. Don't let prop damage go unrepaired! It's far easier and cheaper to fix a damaged prop than it is to replace the entire lower unit.
Can you straighten a bent propeller shaft?
1:402:29How to straighten a bent propeller shaft on your outboard motorYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStraight. If you're in a pinch to straighten this thing out this is probably the easiest.MoreStraight. If you're in a pinch to straighten this thing out this is probably the easiest.
Will a bent prop cause vibration?
So to answer one of you questions, yes a slight bend in the prop will cause a bad vibration.
Will a bent prop cause cavitation?
Propeller blades that are bent or have pieces broken off the edges will also suffer from cavitation. Probably the sneakiest propeller problem is worn blades.
How do you weld an aluminum propeller?
0:0313:09Tig Welder vs Boat Prop - Everlast 210ext - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis week we're doing a little TIG welding aluminum on the edge edge welds on aluminum the practicalMoreThis week we're doing a little TIG welding aluminum on the edge edge welds on aluminum the practical. Application and we're doing toward the end of the videos a little boat prop repair.
Can you weld a propeller?
Manual arc welding is the most common welding technique for welding propellers regardless of their material; metal inert gas (MIG) is used.
How much does it cost to rebuild a propeller?
Boat Propeller Repair A typical repair to an aluminum prop will cost $100 to $150, but expect to pay $200 to $400 to repair a stainless steel prop. It may be more cost-effective to simply replace a damaged aluminum prop, but when a new stainless prop costs $400 to $700, the repair makes economic sense.
Is a chipped propeller bad?
A dinged, bent or chipped propeller won't work as it used to and can even affect the overall engine performance. Even if you examine yours on land and don't see any aesthetic changes, keep in mind that the damage could be internal. It can affect your pitch and throw your entire boat off-kilter.
How much does it cost to replace a boat propeller?
Boat Propeller Repair A typical repair to an aluminum prop will cost $100 to $150, but expect to pay $200 to $400 to repair a stainless steel prop. It may be more cost-effective to simply replace a damaged aluminum prop, but when a new stainless prop costs $400 to $700, the repair makes economic sense.
Do boat propellers wear out?
The simple answer, Yes props wear out. They are thin and undergo severe cyclical loading and like any other metal they will fail through fatigue.
How do you fix a propeller blade?
0:418:11How I repaired propellers - Blade Alignment (Part 1 of 6) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPutting a bit of weld on the ends and then just cleaning it up this is said not too involved we'veMorePutting a bit of weld on the ends and then just cleaning it up this is said not too involved we've got one way here pretty bent this one's fairly straight.
What is an outboard propeller?
Outboard propellers are fitted with an inner hub made of a material designed to shear away upon heavy impact, and so protect the drivetrain from shock damage. When the hub shears, it's known as " spinning the hub .". Usually, there is enough friction with a spun hub to allow you to operate the engine at low rpm.
How to tell if a propeller blade is burred?
The edge of a propeller's blade gets burred — or rolled over — when the prop rotates through sand. Up close, the prop may look finely saw-toothed right on the blade edge. By rubbing the tip of your thumb over the edge, you can feel the burr. ADVERTISEMENT.
How to fix a dinged blade?
Affix the jaws of one wrench on the edge of the blade adjacent to the dinged area. Affix the jaws of the other wrench onto the ding itself. Holding the first wrench firmly to prevent the entire blade edge from bending, slowly apply pressure to the wrench on the ding. You should be able to work most, if not all, of the unfairness out of the blade edge.
How to spot a broken hub?
One way is to place a mark or scratch across the inner and outer hub with nail polish, a marker or an awl. If you’ve spun a hub, a simple visual inspection will show your line or scratch as broken.
What to do if your home repair doesn't fix it?
If your home repair doesn't fix it, prop shop time .
Do marine propeller shops repair propellers?
There are plenty of "prop shops" out there that do nothing but, repair all sorts of propellers. Marine is an especially large facet. Just goolge it:
Is running on a bad prop bad?
Running around on a bad prop is equivalent to a bad tire on the car. If it's going low, you might be able to plug it and make it a little while, might work out okay for a good while, if it's flat or really low, and you ride around too long, it's gonna cause a lot more damage. I'm in Austin and used Nettles Props.
Can you take a prop back if you don't have a spare?
If you don't already have a spare/alternate size prop ask the shop you end up taking the damaged prop to if they have a "refurb" (repaired) prop for sale. It's amazing how many people show up to a prop repair shop, find out it's going to take more than a week to get their prop back, and just buy a new one and leave the damaged unit there. Last time I was at a repair shop the "repaired/for sale" shelf had 20+ propellers ready to go.
