>>> prop is auto prop new in 2005. I just bought the boat and did no sea trial because
price was very good....<<<<
- - Aha! that does make a big difference. I used to sell and
service the AutoProp. Dive under the boat if it is in the
water - and - with some sort of bracing, try to shove the AutoProp further up onto the prop shaft and also try to pull it off the prop shaft. If there is any degree of movement forward (up onto the prop shaft or away/off the prop shaft) do not operate the vessel!
- - Assuming the boat is in the water, Tie a secure
rope around the AutoProp and to an
anchor point on the top of the boat - you are going to partially remove the AutoProp from the shaft so you need to make sure it does not drop into the mud/sea-bottom under the boat. AutoProps are very, very heavy. Remove the cover from the end of the hub and examine the tube-nut. If there is a cotter pin through the nut part of the tube-nut remove it to see if it is sheared.
- - If there is no cotter pin through the tube-nut use a very large long handled wrench and try to tighten the tube-nut. If you can tighten it - then you will need to haul the boat out of the water to make a modification to the AutoProp. PM me and I will explain what you need to do.
- - If the AutoProp is tightly secured to the prop shaft and no movement is possible and the tube-nut cannot be further tightened - then most likely your cutlass bearing or other bearing through which the prop shaft passes as it exits the
hull is badly worn.
Some boats use a sealed pillow block bearing instead of a cutlass bearing. With great strength check to see in you can move the whole AutoProp and shaft up and down or left and right. You are checking for a worn cutlass bearing. If you find a worn cutlass bearing then the boat will need to be hauled. PM me and I will tell you of the proper type cutlass bearing to use with the AutoProp.
- - The AutoProp is extremely heavy compared to normal fixed blade props or even other folding/feathering props. This wears out the cutlass bearing very quickly and at certain rpm's the harmonics will cause the prop and shaft to vibrate.