Propeller won't come off!

Got my new ACME 1235 for my 2004 Wakesetter and went to install it this evening. Got the old nut off easily, threaded on the harmonic puller banged the crap out of it for the last 20 minutes, but the prop won't budge. Tried heating the old prop with a torch (carefully), got it pretty warm, but still won't budge. Tried WD-40 in the keyway, still no good. Am I going to have to make some farmer john rig out of a steering wheel puller to get the old prop off?

Try heating up the area around the prop shaft with a torch and then give it one good strong hit with a dead blow hammer (kind of like a rubber mallet but has a bunch of BB's in it or something. Make sure to hit the center flat area of the prop and not the blades as you can bend the blades pretty easily. All of this while having the harmonic puller as tight as you can get it...

Get a real prop puller.

Put the nut back on loosely so the prop doesn't fly off fast when it 'Pops' after you hammer it or pop it with the puller.

With my harmonic puller I find it works best with a bunch of repeated small taps. Hit 10-12 times. No need to really whack the crap out of it.

Your actually very lucky. Do NOT take the nut off, because as you can SEE, the prop is on their with force, so it will come off with that same force. If you never done it, when you do, you will understand this. Leave the nut on, get a prop puller, and the job is done. Never take the nut off prior to pulling, unless you like gambling. The prop will explode off.....

Get a real prop puller.

#1 Put that nut back on a couple of turns for safety! (you'll see)
#2 Prop puller
#3 Done, and thinking back that was a good idea to leave the nut on a little.

^^^^^^^^ Agree 100%. I have changed many a prop and this is the BEST way to do it right.

Harmonic pullers are hands down the easiest to use and the prop won't come flying off like a traditional puller.

Thanks everyone. I went back out last night and got the harmonic puller really tightened down tight, then tapped with medim strength for another 10 minutes. It finally came off.... But I think it would have been easier to get a real prop puller from the beginning.

^^^Don't waste teh money on the prop puller, I've had just as hard a time with them too, plus the prop comes flying off liek a freakin rocket.

Sam (wake1823) - read the comment about leaving the nut on a couple threads. It makes a huge difference.

I put a little grease on the shaft for an easier pull off for the next time, seems to work for me.

VLX Envy (cavlxenvy) - I take it you've never used a harminc puller. There is nothing to it. You twist it on the end of the shaft and tap on it untill the prop rattles off. Everyone that has ever used mine asks themselves why they just didnt' get one of these. I think it's alot easier to pull a prop off that is really stuck with a harmonic puller than a regular puller. You sometimes really haev to crank on the regualr puller to break the seal.

Matt-The shaft is tapered because that is how the energy is transferred to the prop. If you grease the shaft, you're just putting stress on the key. Just a FYI, don't need to heed my warning.