I wanted to share how I removed a badly seized propeller from my Volvo Penta Duo Prop. I bought a 1999 boat about five months ago, and it appears the previous owner never removed the props or applied shaft grease, which allowed corrosion to lock them in place.
Since the props must be removed to change the gear oil on a DP-SM drive, I tried several methods without success. Rather than spending about $220 on the Volvo prop puller—with no guarantee it would work—I came up with an alternative.
I fed 1/4-inch stranded steel cable through the openings behind each of the three prop blades, creating loops that attached directly to a 5-ton hydraulic puller. After securing the loops with cable clamps and making sure everything was centered, I applied steady pressure with the puller.
The prop was extremely stuck, but it eventually came off without heat, cutting, or any damage. It moved in small increments at first, making some loud noises as it broke free.
This simple setup saved me from potentially damaging a $1,200 prop set, and I hope it helps anyone dealing with a seized Duo Prop.
Since the props must be removed to change the gear oil on a DP-SM drive, I tried several methods without success. Rather than spending about $220 on the Volvo prop puller—with no guarantee it would work—I came up with an alternative.
I fed 1/4-inch stranded steel cable through the openings behind each of the three prop blades, creating loops that attached directly to a 5-ton hydraulic puller. After securing the loops with cable clamps and making sure everything was centered, I applied steady pressure with the puller.
The prop was extremely stuck, but it eventually came off without heat, cutting, or any damage. It moved in small increments at first, making some loud noises as it broke free.
This simple setup saved me from potentially damaging a $1,200 prop set, and I hope it helps anyone dealing with a seized Duo Prop.
