www.iFourWinns.com

So I go to the Volvo store and purchase the prop removal tool and the spline grease and think this is going to be a fun project. NOT!!!!!!! it's been a pain in the royal behind. The first propeller was pretty easy to remove I put the engine in reverse or forward don't remember what the book said right now I am thinking reverse and the bolt came off pretty easily. I removed it checked for any damage and I cleaned it up and put it in a plastic bin. Now comes the fun part that inner prop screw was a son of a you know what to remove!! It took some major profanity and some help from above to get it removed but finally it was out also. You have to put the engine in forward gear to remove that one. My present predicament is I can't get the second prop removed for the life of me. I pulled on it really hard and it wouldn't budge. I left it in the driveway and I am going to try again tomorrow afternoon. My thoughts are to take a block of wood and place it behind the blades and tap on it for a bit to see what happens or do you need a special prop puller device that I don't know about. Sorry this was so long but I am so frustrated with my fun project gone awry into the twilight zone of misery I just had to vent a little. Thanks for any tips you all might have for me. BTW is it true that to remove the outdrive gear oil this procedure has to be done since if that is true I will change the gear oil while I am at it. Thanks again Joe frustrated and about to explode in Miami!

This is a known issue with some Volvo DPs, in fact it is recommended that you take off the props at least once a year, to grease the prop shaft so the hub doesn't corrode to it. I'd try soaking it in Kroil or PB Blaster for a day or so before resorting to any deadly force! I have an old single prop Cobra and I remove the prop once a year grease the splines with OMC triple guard grease and the prop always just slides off.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

My thoughts exactly which is what I was trying to do, didn't think I would run into any problems since the boat is a 2008 and was sold in 2009. I am going to enlist some help from my uncle a GM mechanic to see if he can give me some ideas. The first prop to come off didn't have any corrosion on it or the spline it actually looked perfect. I was just thinking that I was doing something wrong or not using enough force or the correct tool to remove the second one. So it should come out with a tug just like the first one I take?

That's exactly what happens when people don't maintain properly (your previous owner). Once you get it off, grease the spline with whatever you want (I too use the Volvo prop shaft grease), repeat annually, and you'll never have this problem again. And that big inner nut will get a little easier to deal with after the nylon part of it gets worn in a little from being taken off and put back on.

If you're torquing them, the front nut should be 45 ft-lbs. and the rear should be 50. I think the dealer put my front one on with a 1" impact gun set on 600 ft-lbs. before delivery. I about put myself in the hospital getting it off the first time.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

That is crazy why would they use an impact gun that is so irresponsible! I can only imagine what you went through. So the inner prop is supposed to pop out easily like the outer prop I take. I looked down into the vanes and I can see some string wrapped around the spline which I am thinking might be the problem. I also found this information which looks like a good way to take it out.
http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=114653

I'm sure they didn't use a gun on mine, it just felt like they did.

You could have fishing line or somesuch wrapped around there, but I bet you're just seeing some of the nylon from the inner nut. Either way, that shouldn't have much effect on getting the prop off.

As to the puller, you may have to do that. It might be cheaper to just have a shop do it though, they shouldn't charge you much if that's all they do.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

In Miami these guys are ripoff artist and thieves. Here is what I have been quoted for some of the work I have done myself and let me know what you think.

Impeller change with O-Ring check hoses and note if change needed- $200.00
300.00 if hoses need to be replaced these prices are labor not including parts.
Starter Change $300 depending on engine compartment access. Without starter!
Outdrive Gear oil change and bellows check- $250.00

I think I screwed up when I called this place and mentioned I was a first time boat owner.

I think their rate is way over 100 dollars an hour and they charge more at the end per their access to area surcharge which they can't estimate until they have the boat with them. I will call them today and post what they want to charge to remove the inner prop will post on here as soon as I get a quote.

I take mine off every fall and yes the front should come off just as easily as the rear. Places around you might charge a lot. But I would go ahead and pay it to have the front prop removed just do you do not do any damage. Then you can maintain it yourself going forward. Good luck.

Standard labor rates for boat repairs are $90 to $100 per hour. Miami or Fairbanks, it does not matter geographically. The prices you were quoted are no surprise to me. Glad you can do some of it yourself and save a few $'s.
Boating in salt water, it should be a no-brainer to remove the props at least once a year and grease the prop shaft each time. It sounds like the dealer you bought the boat from did not even bother.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Yea, salt water corrodes the aluminum hub and they get frozen on, they have a special puller that goes through the holes in the hub to pull the front prop. Try some solvents and keep wiggling, if a dealer has the right tool its no big deal unless its really stuck then they will have to cut it off..

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2006 Vista 248 5.7DP - SOLD
2011 Crownline E6 - SOLD
2007 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer

ONce you get it off, keep pulling it will come, be sure to grease the spline. When you think you have enough grease, add more. It's not going to hurt anything. Good luck!

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Joe - put the spline grease down and post some more "near" topless photos! The boat will still be there!

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2000 Four Winns - 298 Vista

I purchased the boat from North Carolina so it was a fresh water boat most of it's life but just to make sure everything was ship shape I had a marine surveyor go over her and he noted on his comments about a page of small items that I missed that were in need of repair. The dealer actually went through the list pretty well but the fishing line at the back of the prop was still there when I took delivery in Miami. Here are some funny pictures I took while in between my profanity rants.
Rear prop was simple to take out, this is coming along well!

This screw is a pain to remove

Painted the throttle body looks like roadkill doesn't it Blame it on the millerlite



The simple joys in life Yes!!! screw is out, time to get the front prop out UUUGGGHHHHH

I will upload some tomorrow when I hopefully get the presently soaking in breakfree prop out. That will be my celebratory dance, Thanks for all the help and trust me everyone once this prop is out I will take that sucker out every six months just to make sure it doesn't happen again. It has been fun trying to solve this problem since I have you all rooting for me.