Prop strike, vibration

[Hrkdrivr]

2006 X-45, L18.

Pulling my daughter around on her wakeboard on Lake Oconee, first day of vacation, BAM, feels like we hit something and then we get a terrible vibration. (there goes the vacation )

We're able to make about 1400 RPM and 8mph before the vibrations get too bad.

Got the boat onto the trailer. No damage to the prop. Spinning it by hand I don't feel any grinding or anything out of the ordinary. Shaft appears to be straight and strut seems undamaged. Running the engine in neutral and revving it up is normal and smooth. I can't find/see any pieces/parts/chunks under the engine. Transmission oil is new, full and has no water intrusion.

I can imagine a water-soaked log being stout enough to cause tramsmission issues but maleable enough not to damage the prop.

Here's the question: Is it possible that hitting a log would transmit enough of a jolt to make the dreaded damper plate give out?

Second question: How the heck do you pull the transmission in this boat? It seems like I can get to all the connections, but I cannot imagine how you get it out of the way with the limited work space, fuel tank in the way, etc.

Thanks in advance, this forum has been a lifesaver!

[NatesGr8]

you have a bent prop, look at it from the side, not straight on from the back. i bet you'll probably notice one blade looks off from the others. It doesn't take much to throw the prop out of whack and cause vibrations. I would also check the shaft at the prop seat for excessive runout. That might be bent too, anything over 0.003" is too high.

[Trig2275]

Lots of stumps in Oconee.

[TRBenj]

Originally Posted by NatesGr8

you have a bent prop, look at it from the side, not straight on from the back. i bet you'll probably notice one blade looks off from the others. It doesn't take much to throw the prop out of whack and cause vibrations. I would also check the shaft at the prop seat for excessive runout. That might be bent too, anything over 0.003" is too high.

^^exactly^^

[gusolah]

Same thing happened to me a few weeks ago. Bent prop..went from a three blade to a four blade and 420 dollars later she is running good.


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[Chrisoswald]

I agree bent prop. Especially if the shat spins easily. I just went thru a slightly bent strut and I had to use two hands to spin the prop.

Oconee is basically a forest covered with a little bit of water covering it. Be careful.

[ted shred]

A prop only needs to be bent very little to cause vibration. Sometimes you can hardly tell even when you look at it.

[goebelt]

Check the shaft with a dial gauge. Check behind and in front of strut. Fasten it to the trailer so it is fixed position. I used a piece of angle iron clamped to the trailer.

[Tom190driver]

you have a bent blade this happened to me on lake west point by a log. you need to pull prop an look @ it from the side, one blade on mine was bent toward the hub. i called Eric @ OJ PROPS had a 13-13 LC Force 4 blade in 1 day sent him the old prop it was trashed he said so i got another backup 13-11.5 imp.90 it only takes 5mins to change props with a good prop puller. Both props are great on my 190 prostar.

[Hrkdrivr]

Just got home and am on the way out to pull the prop. Looking at it on the boat I can maybe BARELY see the trailing edge of one blade may be bent the slightest amount...

I'll post pics if you can see anything on them...