Bent prop - Near Fradley

[NBDensie]

Densie's prop is slightly bent - by rough measurement the edge of the blade is bent back by about 0.5in. It causes vibration on the tiller at slow speeds, but nothing worse. Its a Vetus prop, Vetus tell me that they can be unbent relatively cheaply by specialists, but did not know of any in my area: Trent & Mersey, not far from Fradley.

 

Does anyone know and can recommend one?

 

Thanks

[steelaway]

Densie's prop is slightly bent - by rough measurement the edge of the blade is bent back by about 0.5in. It causes vibration on the tiller at slow speeds, but nothing worse. Its a Vetus prop, Vetus tell me that they can be unbent relatively cheaply by specialists, but did not know of any in my area: Trent & Mersey, not far from Fradley.

 

Does anyone know and can recommend one?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

If you take it of and put it on flat surface you could probably hammer it back - they are not harded

 

Alex

[alan_fincher]

Depending upon access, you may even be able to bang it out whilst still fitted.

 

Large club hammer behind to act as kind of anvil, whilst applying possibly slightly smaller hammer to the bent bit. Some don't need a lot of force to bend, and hence not a lot to bend back either.

 

That's all a lot of people do with one on the slip that has a bit of a "ding" in it.

 

Probably not practical to do in water down the average weed-hatch, though !

[NBDensie]

If you take it of and put it on flat surface you could probably hammer it back - they are not harded

 

Alex

 

Thanks for the response..

 

I would have thought that unless you could hammer it pretty accurately you are liable to have vibration problems. Anyone done this? What was the technique?

[alan_fincher]

Thanks for the response..

 

I would have thought that unless you could hammer it pretty accurately you are liable to have vibration problems. Anyone done this? What was the technique?

 

I think if it looks right "by eye", you will not have too many issues.

 

Most narrowboat props that have seen a good bit of service have the occasional small ding in them, and most still function fine.

 

You are talking about something that in many cases rotates at no more than half your engine speed. In rotational terms it is not really a fast moving object.

 

I'd suggest if most of us spent serious money having one fine balanced it wouldn't actually stay that way for long, as large chunks of floating timber or logs pass through it.

[Gunna Do]

I have removed small dings with a large adjustable spanner through the weed hatch. Not had any problems with vibration. Make sure to attach a string to the wrench before attempting!