Can you reuse the prop nut that secures the propeller to the shaft?
LaRea
Member, Moderator Posts: 7,765 mod
The "book" answer, quoted recently on this forum, is: No, the propeller nut is a single-use item and should not be reused.
That's news to me, and I've never heard of anyone replacing prop nuts as routine annual maintenance. So I'm wondering: Why? On which drives? What's the risk if you reuse it?
I've had Bravo 3 drives on a 342 (10 seasons) and a 370 (8 seasons). Every spring, I remove the props for maintenance, and reinstall them using the same prop nuts. Every time I remove the nuts, they are exactly as tight as when I installed them. After I loosen them, it's impossible to spin them them by hand ... a wrench is required. I can't imagine they could ever back off on their own.
To me, annual replacement seems like a waste of $40, but I'm willing to be convinced otherwise.
That's news to me, and I've never heard of anyone replacing prop nuts as routine annual maintenance. So I'm wondering: Why? On which drives? What's the risk if you reuse it?
I've had Bravo 3 drives on a 342 (10 seasons) and a 370 (8 seasons). Every spring, I remove the props for maintenance, and reinstall them using the same prop nuts. Every time I remove the nuts, they are exactly as tight as when I installed them. After I loosen them, it's impossible to spin them them by hand ... a wrench is required. I can't imagine they could ever back off on their own.
To me, annual replacement seems like a waste of $40, but I'm willing to be convinced otherwise.
Comments
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
Go Steelers!!!
Even when properly torqued, reused crush nuts are known to vibrate loose. Maybe one or two. Luckily there are many more to hold the blades on hedgetrimmers. Unfortunately our props where there is only one.
Reused nylon nuts came loose constantly.
I went to using only brand new crush nuts on all brands with a dab of blue loctite, issues went away.
I do the same on turbo down pipe mounting studs, exhaust studs and turbo mounting studs.
Having lost a prop before (luckily on a sailboat) i wouldnt risk it.
You can recrush your lock nut if needed, ive even crushed regular nuts when in pinch.
I guess my point is if there is a lot of heat or a lot of vibration involved i go the extra step and replace.
My alpha 1 has a spider ring with tabs i lock in place so i dont have the issues you guys have with your bravos. My prop is also half, maybe even a 1/4 of the cost of yours.
I may be a little ocd.
If i was going 10 miles off shore fishing and found the guy was reusing nylon lock nuts on his props I'd find another boat to go with another boat.
At least use some loctite(blue)
You can get stainkess lock nuts at your local fastener supplier or online. Probably not a bad idea to keep one or two in your junk drawer, you may not need it but may help a fellow boater in need.
want to guess where his lower foot is right now after three or four seasons in salt water?
he's been 'looking' for it for about a week now. my guess is it hit the bottom and sank in the muck, there... and since it's in a channel that changes seemingly by the hour with tides and the massive amount of traffic it sees, well, it's a goner. the bottom is around 20' deep there... i'm guessing the foot is at least 24' deep at this point.
who knows.... maybe he'll get lucky and find it.
i'll be curious to see how he fastens the replacement foot on that thing.
back on point: alphas tighten as they spin forward.. reverse is when you'll discover your fastener is weak. B3's have some strange harmonics... i don't have a clue what to suggest.
This is what happens when you don't torque the nut down on your stationary bike
For older B3 drives, without the anode, you can buy the nut for $20.
There's no cotter pin.
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)