Propeller Replacement

[Bueford]

Hello evryone,
I need a little help in replacing my Dad's propeller on his boat. It is a I/O 7.4 Volvo Penta motor. He is pushing a 2788 Seamaster W/A. Is this something that I could do or should I have him take it to a dealer. I can take the tilt and raise it to the top of the water and see a cotter key and bolt. Is there anything special that I should need to do this. People tell me to get the same Pitch and Diamiter, but i dont know what it is. I guess I will need to take it off and take it in. How hard is this to do, and where should I get a new propeller at. Thanks for any help.

Fish Hard and Enjoy Tuck_Junior :-)

[rebelrn]

You will need to straighten the cotter pin and remove it. Probably will need to get a new one...they are cheap. Will need to have a prop wrench or socket of correct size. Will need to wedge a piece of wood or something in the skeg area so the prop won't turn when you remove the prop nut. Be careful if you are removing it in the water as there may be parts behind the prop that will sink very quickly unless you catch them. Look on the side of the prop to find the proper size and pitch of the prop (you can look before removal if able and get the proper prop to change at the same time). If you can't see them take them to a marine dealer and they should be able to find them or make an educated guess on the correct prop to replace this one. Put the new prop on as you took this one off. Good luck.

[perchjerker]

Is it a duoprop? If it is it will have 2 propellers on the shaft. Like rebel said, its pretty straightforward, but it might not be setup like he said at all.

My last Volvo had a propeller cone nut. It didnt have a cotter pin and lock nut. There is an allen head bolt right in the end of the prop shaft. I think it takes a 1/4" allen wrench. Unscrew that. Then you will see a hole in the propeller cone nut. Put a large phillips screwdriver in there, wedge the prop like rebel said, then unscrew the prop nut with the screwdriver in the hole twisting the nut off. There will be some large tabbed washers that are behind that nut, make sure you put them back on in the order they came off. Then slide the prop(s) off. There is a fish line cutter on shaft after you take the prop(s) off, check it for line.

Sounds complicated, but its not really. All depends if you have a 270, 280,etc or an SX drive. The SX drive is the one rebel was talking about. Doubt you have that with a 7.4 though. But if you can see a cotter pin, then maybe you do have that setup.

If it is an SX, make sure you use a stainless steel cotter pin.

[Mr. Obvious]

If you've never done this before, take the boat out of the water first. You'll end up with tools, props, nuts, washers and your sanity at the bottom of the lake. Maybe this is your plan but it sounds like you're thinking of changing it in the water.

Its one of those things thats easy once you know how to do it, but you need to learn and working in water is not the best classroom.

By the way, why do you need to change it? If its been damaged by hitting something, you'll want to check the prop shaft to see it its straight. If you've hit something hard enough to need a new prop, it sounds like you should have a pro take a look at it.