[C320-list] Changing the prop in cold weather

[Jeff Hare]

Start with a cold prop and shaft, a MAPP gas torch will heat the hub fairly quickly and the hub will expand enough to get the prop loose well before enough heat can get to the shaft and travel to the cutlass.   

So no problem.   Propane will work too but isn't nearly as hot so you'll heat the shaft more in the process I think.  It's better to just buy a bottle of Mapp gas (yellow bottle usually) and put it on your propane torch.

I keep a propane torch head on the boat in a ziplock bag in propane locker.  Since we have a propane grill on board, we always have fuel for it in case we need to melt a fraying line or seal some wires with heatshrink tubing.  Saved our butts last summer when we needed to repair the webbing that held the sail to the headboard in the middle of nowhere between storms.

Cheers.
Jeff

"fred.lecuyer at live.com" <fred.lecuyer at live.com> wrote:

>Thanks Allen. Any need to worry about heat deforming the cutlass
>bearing?
>
>Fred
>
>Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on AT&T
>
>----- Reply message -----
>From: "Allan S Field" <allan.field at verizon.net>
>To: <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
>Subject: [C320-list] Changing the prop in cold weather
>Date: Sun, Dec 30, 2012 8:22 am
>
>
>Fred - More heat should work.  My experience is that it generally will
>take
>a MAP torch to get enough heat on the prop to break it loose.  The MAP
>applies about 3 times the heat of a propane torch.  The Association
>prop
>puller tool also would be very helpful and we supply an adjustable
>crescent
>wrench with the tool!  The prop puller is out on loan currently but
>should
>be available soon.  The form for requesting the puller is on the
>website.  I
>obviously can't ship a MAP cylinder however.
>
>Allan S. Field - C320 Toolbox Custodian
>Sea Shadow - #808
>Columbia, MD
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
>[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Fred
>LEcuyer
>Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2012 5:09 PM
>To: Catalina320list Catalina320list
>Subject: [C320-list] Changing the prop in cold weather
>
>Maybe one of you has done this before and has some words of wisdom.
>
>I've gotten a three blade prop to replace the original two blade and
>decided
>that, as the weather was about 38 degrees F here, today would be a good
>day
>to do a job on the boat ;>)
>
>Here's what I did:
>STEP 1.     Sprayed PB Blaster in the area of concern and let it sit
>for
>about 10 minutes. 
>STEP 2.     Fiddled with the wrenches that I had and found only the
>vise
>grip was large enough to get around the first nut.
>STEP 3.    Heated the first nut with a propane torch for a few
>minutes.....
>not enough to make it glow and Rudolph was on vacation anyway, so no
>help
>there.
>STEP 4.   Applied the vise grip on the outer nut and (yes, I admit it)
>a
>pipe wrench on the inner nut.
>STEP 5.  Tapped the vise grips with a hammer while holding the pipe
>wrench
>as steady as possible.
>STEP 6.   Grimaced. (Did I mention that I had shoulder 12 months ago
>and now
>the other shoulder is jealous?)
>STEP 7.   Cursed and told myself I either need better wrenches, more
>heat or
>...... a yet bigger yard bill.
>
>
>At this point I like to hear from anyone about what size wrenches I
>need and
>any other tips on doing what I thought was going to be a simple job.
>
>Many thanks for your thoughts.
>
>Fred
>First Light
>Hull 926
>
>
>