Removing Propeller Zinc R21 Classic

[bbelongie]

OK, I ordered and received a set of zincs, and the Rudder and Shoe Zincs, no problem.

(By the way, one of those high-speed cutter-polisher tools with a 40-grit pad works wonders at removing the old corrosion so you have a nice bonding contact)

The prop zinc is a different story. The screw that holds the zinc on the shaft won't budge for love nor money, and I am proceeding with caution lest I strip the head of the slotted screw or worse, break it off inside the shaft. Before I "get midevil" on the hardware I better ask, does anyone know if this critter has by some chance a left-hand thread? It would make a sort of sense (about as much as it did on those 1950's era Chryslers) ...

At the moment I am letting a bit of WD-40 soak into the joint to see if that loosens it. If there were something a tad less delicate than a stuffing box involved I might break out the impact wrench, but I thought I would ask here first.

Thanks!
Bob B

 

[tuggertoy]

Hi Bob,

On my 2006 R-21 Classic the prop zinc is held in place by a stainless steel hex head machine screw that takes a 1/4" hex bit to remove it. It is standard right hand thread (righty tighty - lefty loosey). If there is no other option for removal, I would think that you could carve away the zinc (it is soft stuff) from the area around the screw head (hopefully providing better access for more thread buster spray) and use something like channel lock pliers to get a better purchase on the screw head. I can tell you from my past experience in this area that there is a tapered bronze cage, for lack of a better description, that is attached to the end of the stainless steel prop shaft and it is there to support the zinc from the inside. So if you decide to do some demolition on the zinc itself don't get too nuts or you may damage the cage behind it. I did not take pictures of this assembly at the time or I would post them for you - sorry.

Hope this helps and may the force be with you.

Eric

 

[K7MXE]

Make sure the boat is in neutral or if you have to put it in gear pull the water pump impeller or it will get damaged while your moving the prop around. They don't do well turning backward. Bob Heselberg in Eatonville Wa