Busted Prop on Long-tail...Common?
 

Some of you may have read my brothers post about losing our prop while scouting yesterday. By watching the video we hit a stump leaving our area going about 10mph then it appeared to just come off while driving several seconds later (the shaft broke). What I am wondering is, how common is it to lose your prop like that? Could the shaft possibly of had a defect? The boat is used so complete honest history is out of the question. Just wondering what ya'll take/experience is with something like this???

mud motor
 

Man not to steer you away from advice on here but Mud Motor Talk has some expert advice on all shallow water motors. Not quite as friendly of a forum as this group of guys but it still has a wealth of info with a section dedicated to long tails. Maybe someone on here can help you though, good luck.

Yeah, I am aware of that site. Just trust this group of guys a little more as a whole. Thank you for your input.

I have ran them off and on for several years. I can only remember one time that we broke a shaft.

Now really dinging up a prop occurred more often.

We're not that bad on MMT, are we? :lol: Just need thick skin. There are a lot of young guys that start **** and the older guys dish it back out.

Many of the guys there have run longtails before SDs. Just use the search feature first and they shouldn't give you a hard time.

Have you ever heated the prop to get it off?

I wasn't trying to bash MMT by no means but like you said you better not ask a stupid question! They ain't skeered to lay it on ya!

No offense taken.

It's common, it is possible of a weak shaft, but it's not unheard of to break the shaft!

Shearing the shaft on a long tail is fairly common at least in my experience.I have done it 3 times so far.:)

How often is the shaft supposed to be greased?

Keep the lubricator 3/4 full if it's a newer model and grease everything else when you fill the lubricator. Break the prop loose every 25 hours and put nickel anti seize to keep the prop from freezing up. If you don't break the prop free every now and then, you can break the shaft from the prop over tightening. Every time you hit something the prop tightens more and more. Eventually, the shaft will break. Heating the prop improperly for removal can weaken the shaft, but if you put the anti seize every 25 hrs you won't have to worry about that.

I have seen some shafts pretty scared up from bad lower bushings or bearings. I like to grease it at least every other trip to be safe. On the newer go devils dont grease the auto lube contraption ,shoot it directly into the greese zerk on the shaft housing. That came from Warren Coco himself.

^ that, too.

I have an 11 year old 6 hp Godevil that I use 4 to 6 times a year to make a 45 minute ride. Yea, it is slow when loaded down with hunting stuff. I hit stumps and logs fairly often when traveling the bayous.

The prop is worn ~ 1/4 inch. Seals probably need changing for a second time.

This past spring, I broke the motor shaft while riding in open water. Inspection showed the the motor shaft must have been cracked for a while and only about 1/3 of the metal was still holding it together.

Thanks for the information on keeping the prop "easier" to take off. In my case, taking it off every 15 to 20 hours..... is still very hard to get off. I will grease it next time.

Use a nickel based anti-seize to prevent washout. Grease probably won't do the job. You can also get a 1/4"x2" flatbar and drill a 3/4" hole 3" from the end. Take off the two nuts and washer, slip this on, and break the prop free. I prefer to snug the prop hand tight to prevent any potential washout of the anti-seize and to prevent shaft thread wear. I know go devil says to float it, but I've had shafts wear and the prop starts to fit sloppy.

Where exactly did it break?

Thank you kibb for all your very useful input. It broke right before the last nut that is before the back bearing housing...there are two before the prop and one after...the only one left was the last one.:redface:

Most likely, from repeated hits and not being loosened periodically, the shaft was stretched between the prop and thrust nut until failure.

FYI: the thrust nut is tightened against the end of the threads upon installation. That's why it the tightening occurs between the nut and prop, and not the nut and the end of threads.