Bent prop....machine or replace now?

Liquid Pleasure II

Liquid Pleasure II

New Member
Oct 19, 2009
83
Lenexa, KS
Boat Info
340 Dancer 2003
260 Dancer 2001
Engines
Twin 496-mags, v-drive
Ran aground going into another marina yesterday. Just barely hit the rocks b/c the water is up 10 feet and the breakwater jetty is underwater.

They marked it with a pole stuck in the rocks with float noodles taped to it. Calling the Corps this morning to complain about inadequate marking of the jetty!:smt013

Now I get a vibration out of the starboard side at about 1200 to 1400 rpm's. Port side may be OK.

The marina said machined props never come back the same and replacing them is the way to go. Insurance is covering this but just want some opinions from the veterans who have been through this before.

Still steaming mad!!

Thanks
 
Captain Crispy said:
A decent prop shop can repair them with no problem.
Click to expand...

I bent the sh*t out of my Volvo Penta DP getting them off. After my local shop was done with them, they looked brand new and balanced perfectly!!! Just find a decent prop shop that knows what they are doing.
 
From the way it sounds that you are only getting a vibration at this RPM range you can definetly have them fixed. I would find a good prop guy that uses Prop Scan or one of the other computerized ballancing systems, and have them do both props together allready and have them brought to a "0" or "S" class. Even new out of the box props need to be ballanced. If you havn't had your props ballanced this way before you will be very impressed by the new found smoothness as well as fuel effeiency.
 
I've been rebuilding props of all size and shape for 25 years and have never had anyone come back unhappy. There were a couple who thought I didn't repair properly but it turned out their shafts were bent. It is far cheaper to have the repair done than new ones, and as Larry says even new out of the box can have some imperfections, not typically but sometimes. If you still have the vibration after the rebuilds than you know your shafts need some work. Be sure to tell your insurance to keep the ticket open just in case.
 
+1 to having them redone at a PropScan (or similar) shop. Sounds to me as if your marina is trying to sell you some props. Don't buy their story or their props.
 
Thanks to all who responded. I have one small problem...I live in Kansas, plenty of corn, beef and wheat but GOOD prop shops are hard to come by.

Any recommendations on where to send the twins to get worked on??

Thanks!
 
I would be glad to but I'm a bit far away, shipping fees would be $100+ dollars. I know there are good shops around Minneapolis, and there has to be some good ones off the Mississippi river closer to you. If you can send me some photos I could tell you what it should be worth. Do you know the size? they will be marked by Diameter x Pitch and likely a left and right hand rotation.
 
Liquid Pleasure II said:
Thanks to all who responded. I have one small problem...I live in Kansas, plenty of corn, beef and wheat but GOOD prop shops are hard to come by.

Any recommendations on where to send the twins to get worked on??

Thanks!
Click to expand...

LPII,
There is an excellent prop shop in Chicago called Airmarine that is currently providing my new props. My damage I believe was far more extensive than yours since my props were bent beyond repair without welding. I also have to replace my shafts, strut bearings, couplers and have my struts repositioned. Another endorsement for Airmarine came from one of my dock mates who has a marine transmisson repair business. He said Airmarine and a shop in Detroit are the only two he uses for any prop repairs. The phone number is 773-582-0100 and ask for Kathy.
 
I have gone aground twice - once on hard rock and once on not so hard. Ended up with pretty bad vibrations both times. After the second grounding, which was on rock, I pulled the props and sent them to a well known prop shop in Fort Lauderdale. They have never been better. Also got them cupped properly.
I wouldn't buy a new prop unless they were in terrible terrible shape. The repair and cupping cost me $400.00 for everything.
 
Box them up and send them to: Frank and Jimmy's Propeller Shop, 200 SW 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale. 800-228-6077
You will be happy. Thats where I got my props cupped and balanced. Great work . Literally better than new. Send them UPS, it won't cost much.
 
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