Removing the prop shaft

[Unregistered]

have a C&C 30 1972 Model with original Atomic 4. I am planning to remove and replace propeller shaft in a few months. What is the best way to pull shaft out of coupling? Would using a slide hammer on prop hub damage the engine thrust bearing? Can the set screw hole be used to hydraulically push shaft out of coupling half?

[Don Moyer]

Under no circumstances should you use a sliding hammer to remove your prop, as you will be at great risk of damaging the cast iron thrust bearing retaining plate at the aft end of the engine.



After separating the prop shaft coupling and engine output coupling, the best way to remove the prop shaft from the prop shaft coupling is to place a nut or small socket between the front of the prop shaft and the aft end of the tail shaft of the reversing gear. Be sure that the set screws in the prop shaft coupling are removed, and then pull the prop shaft coupling and engine output coupling together again, using three fine-threaded hardened bolts. The bolts will need to be slightly longer than the originals (approximately 2”) and continuously threaded.

As the prop shaft coupling is pulled forward against the output coupling, the prop shaft itself will be extruded out of the prop shaft coupling by pressing against the socket. You may have to insert progressively longer sockets (or combinations of nuts and sockets) between the couplings as the prop shaft moves out of the coupling.

Don