I have a Catalina 387 on which I have a 3 bladed Max Prop installed. I have tried to follow the instructions on how to get it to feather after shutting the engine off, but it seems the only way to get the sahft to stop turning is to put the engine in reverse (after shutting it down). The only concern about doing this is that the particular transmission used for this boat will not come out of reverse until you reduce speed to 1 to 2 knots. If I had an emergency need to start, I would have to do it in reverse. Can you help me get the prop feathered the normal way?
Max Prop hard to feather
- Thread starter Frank15188
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We have a Max VP on our 470 and the only way
I can get to feather is to hit reverse for just a moment.
I can get to feather is to hit reverse for just a moment.
Does it Feather?
When you go to reverse with the engine off, the prop should feather and take all the strain off of the transmission. You should be able to shift to neutral without force. If you can't shift out of reverse, the prop is not feathering and is still putting a load on the transmission. If this is the case you need to service the prop. Bill
When you go to reverse with the engine off, the prop should feather and take all the strain off of the transmission. You should be able to shift to neutral without force. If you can't shift out of reverse, the prop is not feathering and is still putting a load on the transmission. If this is the case you need to service the prop. Bill
Forward??
I may be mistaken but the directions for my Maxprop say to shut down while in FWD to make the prop feather. Regardless of my memory, it seems to work every time. Don
I may be mistaken but the directions for my Maxprop say to shut down while in FWD to make the prop feather. Regardless of my memory, it seems to work every time. Don
Forward or Neutral
I was told to shut off engine in forward while moving at least 1 to 2 knots, then shift to neutral. If the shaft isn't turning in neutral then it's feathered properly. Perhaps you need to grease the prop? Trevor
I was told to shut off engine in forward while moving at least 1 to 2 knots, then shift to neutral. If the shaft isn't turning in neutral then it's feathered properly. Perhaps you need to grease the prop? Trevor
Thanks
Thanks for the responses. I have tried to feather by stopping the engine between 1 and 2 knots. This does not work. The prop is new and installed by the guys I bought the boat from, so I assume it has been properly greased. I know I can feather it by using reverse, so I have a way out. I was just wondering if I was missing something.
Thanks for the responses. I have tried to feather by stopping the engine between 1 and 2 knots. This does not work. The prop is new and installed by the guys I bought the boat from, so I assume it has been properly greased. I know I can feather it by using reverse, so I have a way out. I was just wondering if I was missing something.
I Prefer Reverse
My preference for feathering the prop is to shift into reverse because it's pretty guarenteed that it feathers. Like you, it is very hard for me to shift out of reverse with the engine off so I just hit the start button and as soon as the engine starts it will shift easily. There is absolutely no problem that I'm aware of with this procedure. My engine is a Yanmar 3GM30. I'm sure the prop will *mostly* feather with the engine in forward but the boat speed has to be faster where as shifting into reverse is a no-brainer. In forward maybe you're only getting, say, a 90 percent of a feathered prop and the other 10 percent is what is still causing the shaft to turn. Go to a yard and look around for someone with a Max-prop and feel how much it takes to rotate the blades. Now you can get an idea of how much water pressure it takes to get the blades 100-percent feathered. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth. By the way, I've had my 2-blade prop now for about 15 years now and it's one of the best additions I ever added. Boat sails a lot faster and is quieter because of no turbulence or transmission noise - and - I sail more and motor less. Hope you get past this item and start to enjoy it more.
My preference for feathering the prop is to shift into reverse because it's pretty guarenteed that it feathers. Like you, it is very hard for me to shift out of reverse with the engine off so I just hit the start button and as soon as the engine starts it will shift easily. There is absolutely no problem that I'm aware of with this procedure. My engine is a Yanmar 3GM30. I'm sure the prop will *mostly* feather with the engine in forward but the boat speed has to be faster where as shifting into reverse is a no-brainer. In forward maybe you're only getting, say, a 90 percent of a feathered prop and the other 10 percent is what is still causing the shaft to turn. Go to a yard and look around for someone with a Max-prop and feel how much it takes to rotate the blades. Now you can get an idea of how much water pressure it takes to get the blades 100-percent feathered. Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth. By the way, I've had my 2-blade prop now for about 15 years now and it's one of the best additions I ever added. Boat sails a lot faster and is quieter because of no turbulence or transmission noise - and - I sail more and motor less. Hope you get past this item and start to enjoy it more.
John, great post!
John, Thanks for the great post. Though this is a new boat for me, I have had a max prop for 5 years, and agree that it is a great addition to the sailing experience. Have a great season.
John, Thanks for the great post. Though this is a new boat for me, I have had a max prop for 5 years, and agree that it is a great addition to the sailing experience. Have a great season.
Max Prop adjustment
I have the max prop and I am not getting speed out of, the yard said I need to haul her and adjust her that I can not have a diver adjust her. Secondly I am confused as to the correct way to feather her. Is the correct way to get for momentum and then kill the enginge and put the transmission in reverse? Thanks for any help A new addicted sail boater John NY
I have the max prop and I am not getting speed out of, the yard said I need to haul her and adjust her that I can not have a diver adjust her. Secondly I am confused as to the correct way to feather her. Is the correct way to get for momentum and then kill the enginge and put the transmission in reverse? Thanks for any help A new addicted sail boater John NY
answer my own question
4) PROPELLER USE The Max Prop works automatically. By putting the engine in gear the blades will engage in either forward or reverse. The best way to feather the propeller is; Power at 2 to 3 knots in forward. Kill the engine while still engaged in forward. When the engine has stopped, if the shaft is still spinning engage the transmission in reverse to stop the freewheeling. You can check to see if the propeller is feathered or not by taking the engine out of gear. If the propeller is not feathered the shaft will freewheel like with a fixed blade propeller. In that case start the engine again and repeat the three steps. If your propeller has been greased properly it will feather in a fraction of a second as soon as you stop the shaft from freewheeling. Once the prop is feathered, you can either leave the transmission in gear or out of gear, it does not matter. DO NOT kill the engine while in reverse. In this case the blades will be in the reverse position and will not feather. You can actually use this feature to drive a shaft alternator.
4) PROPELLER USE The Max Prop works automatically. By putting the engine in gear the blades will engage in either forward or reverse. The best way to feather the propeller is; Power at 2 to 3 knots in forward. Kill the engine while still engaged in forward. When the engine has stopped, if the shaft is still spinning engage the transmission in reverse to stop the freewheeling. You can check to see if the propeller is feathered or not by taking the engine out of gear. If the propeller is not feathered the shaft will freewheel like with a fixed blade propeller. In that case start the engine again and repeat the three steps. If your propeller has been greased properly it will feather in a fraction of a second as soon as you stop the shaft from freewheeling. Once the prop is feathered, you can either leave the transmission in gear or out of gear, it does not matter. DO NOT kill the engine while in reverse. In this case the blades will be in the reverse position and will not feather. You can actually use this feature to drive a shaft alternator.
to John NY re your answer -
you did really good answering your own question! Way to go! Kinda like me asking my wife where something is ... no sooner said and then I find it!
you did really good answering your own question! Way to go! Kinda like me asking my wife where something is ... no sooner said and then I find it!
Max Prop Adjustment
Agree that you have to haul out or go on a tidal grid to adjust the pitch on a Max Prop. You have to disassemble it to get to the gears. The pitch is adjusted by changing the postion of the gears. I recently read an article about changing pitch while in the water, but it was done by three guys with scuba gear. It would be easy to drop parts (some are quite small)and the whole thing needs to be slathered in grease, so it is pretty much impractical to do it without hauling out. As you disassemble it, you need to note the settings so you can determine what the current pitch is. If you do not have the owners manual, go on-line and search for the Max Prop web site where you can download it.
Agree that you have to haul out or go on a tidal grid to adjust the pitch on a Max Prop. You have to disassemble it to get to the gears. The pitch is adjusted by changing the postion of the gears. I recently read an article about changing pitch while in the water, but it was done by three guys with scuba gear. It would be easy to drop parts (some are quite small)and the whole thing needs to be slathered in grease, so it is pretty much impractical to do it without hauling out. As you disassemble it, you need to note the settings so you can determine what the current pitch is. If you do not have the owners manual, go on-line and search for the Max Prop web site where you can download it.
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