Home Made Duo Prop Tool

TrentDickson · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 8:27 pm

any one made one? doesnt look like there is much too it.

Graham R · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:16 am

I made mine 10+ years ago;
A 8" length of 2" schedule 40 steel pipe (that's OD 2 3/8", ID something like 2 1/16").
Three 1/4" x 3/4" deep slots 120 deg apart.
Holes at the other end for a tommy bar.
A bracket/ bolt welded on the end for a socket/ torque wrench.

The only thing I would have done different would be to weld on a 30mm bolt, not a 19mm one, so the same socket could be used for both the front propshaft nut tool and the rear propshaft nut. Or perhaps the end of an old 1/2" drive socket extension bar so the torque wrench could fit straight on it. Not worth changing it now though !

A lower schedule pipe (with thinner wall) could be used, but mine with the 5/32" wall thickness is showing no distortion after 10 years use. Schedule 40 is pretty standard steel gas pipe.

Borchik · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:49 am

Wouldn't it just be easier to buy one?

ric · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 7:27 am

I would understand if it was $100 for the tool, but they're only $26 bucks. Just buy one.

Graham R · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 9:13 am

I had the parts I used already in the garage from some other jobs I'd done; my total cost was for some MIG wire, gas and electricity for the welder plus less than an hour of my time; I'd do it again if I had to.

Nearest dealer to me is 40 miles away ( easily an hour each way). They don't do mail order. Generally here in the UK think of the USD price numerically, but in GBP plus 17.5% tax then ( now =20% tax) So, the cost of buying it here now in the UK would be:

USD 26 ===> GBP 26

+ 20% tax ===> GBP 31

14 litres fuel: GBP 19 ( its about USD 2.12 a litre here at the moment)

2 x GBP 1.50 tolls

That makes GBP 53, about USD 83. Plus at least an extra hour of my time compared to making it myself.

Saving USD 80 + and an hour of my time is still worthwhile it in my book ! The consumables probably cost less than a dollar ! I could always order it on line nowdays; but then it's the UK price + p&p, unlikely to come to less than about USD 50-55 ( plus I'd have to wait in all day for a courier !). If I order it from the US I'd have to pay for it, USPS shipping, import duty and then 20% on the total; we're screwed on prices here all ways !

230 Mike · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 12:29 pm

What some may be missing is that there are two different tools. One is the $26 thing which works well enough assuming your nuts haven't been over-torqued; the other is considerably more expensive and is built like a tank. I have both and recommend the "built like a tank," or, making that version yourself, which indeed would not be that hard if you have some time and the right tools.

The great thing about the $26 version (aside from the price) is the fact that it's all self contained. The one tool (which is actually two) handles both front and rear nuts and has a cross handle for applying force. The "built like a tank" only does the front nut, so you have to carry around a 30mm socket and a ratchet or breakover bar as well.

Graham R · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 1:22 pm

I think mine equates with the "built like a tank" version; I'm sure VP's supplier would have used the standard schedule 40 pipe when they made it!

How do you torque up the nuts correctly with the lighter gauge tool and bar ?

230 Mike · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 3:16 pm

Graham R wrote:

How do you torque up the nuts correctly with the lighter gauge tool and bar ?

Like this: "Yeah, that seems about right." :wink:

TrentDickson · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:41 pm

Thanks graham that's just the info i was looking for, it makes more sense to use material that is readily accessible to me in my work field then spending money that would be better off used for gas or beer. ill be building mine tomorrow! I just didnt know what sizes or measurements to use.

Graham R · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 5:52 pm

230 Mike wrote:

Graham R wrote:

How do you torque up the nuts correctly with the lighter gauge tool and bar ?

Like this: "Yeah, that seems about right." :wink:

Then you (or the next owner) need the "built like a tank" version to take it off !!!!!!!!!!!!

Graham R · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:22 pm

I got to thinking ( being an old git born in the mid 1950's). We were brought up to save money/ improvise rather than buy stuff at an inflated price; that will never go away .(so why have I got a boat !!)

We in the 1950s and 1960s as a family were below the average income in the UK but in a cheap place to live; no TV until something like 1962, no car until 1970. Colour Tv in something like 1975 ( actually no electricity until 1957; I can remember the first electric lightbulb I saw in 1957 !!). telephone line by 1975 as well ! In the 1960s we used to collect driftwood to build things with.

My US cousins (parents are my dad's older sister with the dad an US Airman; living in Georgia) were surprised as to how how simple things were here. Also that a 1.6 litre engined road car could do 110 mph in 1976!

230 Mike · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 6:23 pm

Graham R wrote:

Then you (or the next owner) need the "built like a tank" version to take it off !!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly. I carry the cheap one in my tool bag for emergencies, but normally I use the good one, my 30mm socket, and a torque wrench. I actually believe my dealer put my props on with an impact wrench before delivery.

TrentDickson · **Posted:** Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:30 am

I think most boat owners that do their own work should have enough ingenuity to try to find away around paying inflated prices for "special tools" or parts that can be made or altered to complete the job. Im not rich.

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Home Made Duo Prop Tool

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