Acme Harmonic Prop Puller?

[SEMIJim]

we're pretty confident our motoring issues are very likely the prop. (Just got another vote in favour of that from a sail club mate.) So we're looking into how we might get our prop changed in the water.

The Admiral found this: Changing prop underwater, by Fstbttms. Looks like a challenge, but doable .

Then she found a reference to an "Acme Harmonic Prop Puller."

Here's the question: Has anybody here ever used an Acme Harmonic Prop Puller? It doesn't pull the prop, per se, but irritates it free Has anybody used one under-water? I would think the water would seriously dampen its effect.

Secondary questions: Any way to find out what sizes of key and cotter pin we need, just in case, you know, butterfingers happen?

Thanks,
Jim

[sailaway21]

I assume you've looked here: The ORIGINAL Illustrated Catalog Of ACME Products

[sailaway21]

OK, jokes over. Found this description of it in use. Group Buy - Harmonic Prop Puller [Archive] - TeamTalk

Procedure for changing a propeller [Archive] - TeamTalk

I'd probably have the finger puller Fstbttms uses on standby, myself.

[Fstbttms]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

I'd probably have the finger puller Fstbttms uses on standby, myself.

I don't use a "finger" or gear puller. A nightmare to use underwater and not really designed for the job. I have a variety of prop pullers but the most versatile is this one:



Don't know anything about the Acme puller. Have never seen one in use, certainly not underwater.

[SEMIJim]

Fstbttms,

For better than $300 , it damn well better be "versatile!" Do you have a suggestion for something a bit less versatile, and a heckuva lot less expensive that would be adequate for the job on a 7/8" shaft?

Btw: Make no mistake: If I can find a professional nearby that can do this job, I'll hire him/her in a New York heartbeat!

Sway,

The principle behind the harmonic "puller" is sound. So are the principles of heating the outside and/or chilling the inside. But whether it would work underwater, where I question the ability to get it to... uh... "harmonize" , seems questionable. The thing is certainly inexpensive enough--that's not the problem. The problem is getting the necessary tools on-hand and getting this damn issue solved so we can get back to sailing the boat sometime this season.

Thanks,
Jim

[gc1111]

I made a prop puller. Went to Sears and bought a sheet of (I think) 1/4" steel plate. Cut it half, cut a u-shaped notch in one large enough to just fit over the prop shaft. Drilled matching holes in the two where rods would slip over the hub between blades. Got some threaded rod (same source) and cut 4 pieces of appropriate length. Fit the notched piece over the shaft and behind the prop. Put the other plate over the end of the shaft, joined the two with the all-thread and some nuts and washers. Tightened the nuts - keeping the tensions balanced and sure enough BANG it popped free.

[Gary1]

Thanks, Sailaway. When I saw the name ACME, my mind immediately fell upon the Roadrunner and Coyote cartoons...

[Fstbttms]

Originally Posted by SEMIJim

Fstbttms,

For better than $300 , it damn well better be "versatile!" Do you have a suggestion for something a bit less versatile, and a heckuva lot less expensive that would be adequate for the job on a 7/8" shaft?

This little guy will do the trick on a 7/8" shaft. Less than 70 bucks:



PRO-PULL REMOVAL TOOLS PROPELLER

[sailaway21]

I notice on the Acme site that they also offer the C-clamp type that fstbttms shows. At around $30 I'd probably give it a shot. I didn't find anything where an owner said don't buy that thing in looking around. And, it's certainly a technique often used for removing similar items. I wouldn't say Jim's description of irritating it off was correct, more like shocking it off which sounds worse than subsonic harmonic pulsations.

The one site, the guy said don't use a dead-head hammer with it. (there's a name for those shot-filled hammers that escapes me at the moment).

[sailingdog]

sway-

They're called Deadblow hammers, since they don't "rebound" after impact.

Originally Posted by sailaway21

I notice on the Acme site that they also offer the C-clamp type that fstbttms shows. At around $30 I'd probably give it a shot. I didn't find anything where an owner said don't buy that thing in looking around. And, it's certainly a technique often used for removing similar items. I wouldn't say Jim's description of irritating it off was correct, more like shocking it off which sounds worse than subsonic harmonic pulsations.

The one site, the guy said don't use a dead-head hammer with it. (there's a name for those shot-filled hammers that escapes me at the moment).