Maxprop "chatter"

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Anyone with a Maxprop that sometimes "chatters" when switching fwd ot reverse? Or, do I have a transmission issue?
(The noise is only evident when changing gear directions).

 

[RichH]

How old is the MaxProp?

An aged MaxProp will often develop a 'looseness' of the blades where they fit into the hub. This looseness sometimes will cause a blade to 'shift' with some drag.

When was the last time you injected grease into the hub? a fully greased hub will tend to 'realign' the worn blade root spindles and will allow for smooth shifting.

Barnacles seem to be much worse along the MidAtlantic coast this year. If a barnacle cements itself between the flat blade 'root' area and the 'flat' on the hub will tend to interefere with the shifting of the blades. Got a facemask?

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

thanks for response Rich

the prop is around 7 years old but I don't think the age is relevant as it has been doing it for years, infrequently. It is, however, getting to be a more common occurrence. I grease it annually with Lubriplate and paint it with Petit zinc chromate prop paint which keeps it fairly clean so not sure what would cause this phenomena

 

[Dick 119]

We have a 5 year old Maxi VP and I have never noticed any

chatter when shifting gear direction. You might check the backlash in the trans by running the engine in forward in the slip, shutting it off, and then when everyting has stopped moving shift in into reverse and go below and see how much "slack" is in the gear train before you feel the slack come out of the drivetrain.

Dick McKee
S/V ONE9TEEN