175 Yamaha bent prop shaft HELP!

Hellibut · 05-14-2009, 02:42 PM

It's looking bleak for me for the Hali week-end as I just noticed my prop shaft is bent. It's not bent much but I can see it quite clearly with the naked eye. I'm not much of a risk taker when it comes to the ocean so am thinking about just staying home and trying to fix this thing. Does anyone know if you have to drop the whole lower unit to replace this? Thanks and happy fishing.

Finscent · 05-14-2009, 03:26 PM

To fix a bent prop shaft is pretty labor intensive. Lots of shims, seals, and parts in that lower unit. And if you don't get everything right, you start over. This is not a job I would take on myself. Some shops say just buy a new lower unit? Good luck but I probably would not head out to the deep water this weekend. Are you getting alot of vibration when your running?

Hellibut · 05-14-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finscent

To fix a bent prop shaft is pretty labor intensive. Lots of shims, seals, and parts in that lower unit. And if you don't get everything right, you start over. This is not a job I would take on myself. Some shops say just buy a new lower unit? Good luck but I probably would not head out to the deep water this weekend. Are you getting alot of vibration when your running?

That's just it, no vibration at all. I just put a new prop on today and that's when I noticed it. I just did a read out and at the end of the spline it is
3\32 out which isn't much but you can sure notice it visually.

Finscent · 05-14-2009, 03:54 PM

That's interesting, if it truly is bent I would say you would be getting some vibration. It may be an optical illusion, I sworn before I had a bent shaft but it worked, maybe it is within a certain (grace) tolerance , that it hasn't effected its performance. All depths for Halibut. I swear I am not in Garibaldi, and I am not fishing in the morning . Did you have an impact with something? How do you think it got bent?

Hellibut · 05-14-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finscent

That's interesting, if it truly is bent I would say you would be getting some vibration. It may be an optical illusion, I sworn before I had a bent shaft but it worked, maybe it is within a certain (grace) tolerance , that it hasn't effected its performance. All depths for Halibut. I swear I am not in Garibaldi, and I am not fishing in the morning . Did you have an impact with something? How do you think it got bent?

I didn't, but without mentioning names, someone else did. Those steel props don't have much give. It trashed the prop and skeg but we thought that was it. It is no optical illusion. As I said it is exactly 3\32 out. There may be some tolerance on these but I have no idea what that might be. It's a dang long trip on the kicker if something goes wrong at the Banana.
Hoping someone with some real knowledge on these can let me know if there is some sort of tolerance.

Finscent · 05-14-2009, 04:38 PM

My real knowledge now tells me you need to take it to a shop. good luck.

GSD · 05-14-2009, 05:27 PM

Just looked in my Honda service manual and it states the maximum allowable runout on the propeller shaft is 0.008"

A note from the manual: "Repairing or straightening the propeller shaft is not recommended"

I would imagine Yamaha would be similar

Hellibut · 05-14-2009, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSD

Just looked in my Honda service manual and it states the maximum allowable runout on the propeller shaft is 0.008"

A note from the manual: "Repairing or straightening the propeller shaft is not recommended"

I would imagine Yamaha would be similar

The folks at the local Yamaha shop said if I ONLY change out the shaft it is a fairly easy swap with the right tools. The problem they said is the salt which sometimes makes them impossible to pull apart without snapping parts. Many times that means a whole new lower unit which is $2176 vs a new shaft at $264. Man this really sucks! I'm going to start looking for a used lower unit.

budnate · 05-15-2009, 05:57 AM

I dont know these guys personally but have seen there adds, stuff looks clean and back ground pics in the shop is clean, probably a good place to check out, you cant work on that many Yami's and not know them.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1171268767.html

peace,B.

keermit · 05-17-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budnate

I dont know these guys personally but have seen there adds, stuff looks clean and back ground pics in the shop is clean, probably a good place to check out, you cant work on that many Yami's and not know them.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/1171268767.html

peace,B.

i have delt with these guys and are very good and honest lots of knowledge and info bought lower unit myself worked great very reasonable shop ,,

and carry about all brands.