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HOW TO CLEAN YOUR FOLDING PROPELLER

Folding propeller maintenance

Keeping on top of your boat maintenance and services can create a safe and drama-free trip for most boat owners. Preventing any break downs and issues with your boat will allow you to travel as freely as you please without any complications.

Maintaining your boat may be time-consuming, but it’s essential if you want to avoid expensive repair costs and keep your boat safe. There are many maintenance checks you can do to keep your boat safe, and deep cleaning is one of them.

Folding propeller cleaning is a must to keep it clear of pesky barnacles and other intrusive organisms that can slow down the engine and limit your boat from performing at its best. You should clean and lubricate your folding propeller at least once a year so it can operate properly. Looking after your propeller can improve the efficiency of your engine and give you a smoother ride.

This guide will take you through on how to clean your Volvo Penta D-1-13, D1-20, D1-30, D2-40 folding propeller.

We explain how to clean your folding propeller and all components thoroughly and how to apply waterproof grease to the propeller blade teeth and bearing surfaces so that the propeller folds easily.

WARNING!  To prevent accidental starting, remove the ignition key and turn off the power at the main switch before working on the propeller.

The first thing you need to do to clean your propeller is removing the propeller:

  1. Start by setting the control lever in the “Ahead” position
  1. You can then remove the propeller blade by undoing the locking screws (5) completely and then pressing out the shaft’s studs (1).
  1. Remove the drive: bend down the tabs of the tab washer (3) and remove the locking screw (4), tab washer and nut (6).
    Remove the reverse gear: Remove the nut (7), washer (8) and then the locking screws (9).
  1. You can then pull off the propeller hub and the spacing sleeve (drive).

Once the propeller is safely removed, you can clean your folding propeller. You can start by cleaning away any barnacles and dirt with your manufacturer recommend solvent and then lubricate the propeller with suitable lubricant.

Once the folding propeller is clean, you can reinstall it: 

  1. Reinstall the spacing sleeve (drive) and the propeller hub on the shaft.
  1. Drive: Install the nut (6). Place a propeller blade on the hub and place a wooden block between the propeller blade and the underwater hull. Tighten locknut to 70Nm.
    Reverse gear: Install the washer and tighten the nut (7) to 220 Nm. Apply thread sealant to the locking screws (9). After the locking crews have been tightened, apply the thread sealant to the screw heads as well.
  1. Drive: Locate the tab washer (3) on the nut. Install and tighten the locking screw (4) to 20 NM and bend on of the tab washer tabs to the screw head.
    IMPORTANT! The tab washer (3) must be replaced if necessary. Use only Volvo Penta original locking screws (4).
  1. Install one propeller blade in the propeller hub and push in the stud (1) in such a position so the groove in the stud is exactly centred in the hole for the locking screw (5) then apply the thread sealant to the locking screw and tighten to 10 Nm.
  1. Install the other blades in the same way. Check the blades are at the same angle to the propeller shaft and that they move easily.

Once you have completed all these steps and are confident everything is secure, your folding propeller will be ready to power.

There are other preventative measures you can take to keep your folding propeller clean and in good condition, for example, always inspecting the propeller before heading out to the water will allow you to spot any damages which can cause serious problems for your engine, propeller and stern gear. Always fix these issues before using your boat. You should routinely remove the propeller to check for any issues such as tangled nets or string.

If you notice issues in your boat performance, such as a drop in speed and fuel efficiency, or if your boat makes a strange noises and vibrates whilst in the water, it could be a sign of an issue with the folding propeller.

Lastly, always keep a spare propeller on board for if you have problems on the water.

Contact us if you need any further advice or need to purchase cleaning parts for your folding propeller.

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