I'm sure some of you with prodrive an possibly other brands had this problem..
Early one morning running a ditch, sun shining after a refreshing cool front, birds are singing, squirrels are f#÷%ing, an as you are thing, damn it's a nice day.. you strike a solid log in line with your ditch at pretty fair speeds, and prop locks up...
This happened to brotherinlaw! Thank the good Lord I was in front of him in my pd, for this experience I would never own a diffrent brand of motor for I got in reverse an pulled his 21' boat threw the ditch with mud n float - toe back to open water,like a champ! and started trouble shooting...
Upon first thought he figured he bent a shaft, I have not looked at it yet figured clutch went out...
Upon examination his prop as all prodrive tighten up when striking somthing, it jumped the internal bushing and tightened up against his actual lower unit, which killed his motor instantly when ever clutch got ingaged...
A pair of channel locks to get nut off, a hammer an small peace of 2x4 an prop came right off , I also keep my old one in my boat, almost like I planned for it to happen...

But I decided to make this write up just in case it would happen to anyone on here , and I would recommend checking the gap between your prop and lower unit on a regular basis , as that internal bushing does take a beating!, his was starting to weld it's self to lower unit...

Sounds like one of several possibilities could have been contributing factors:

1. Prop and bushing were threaded back onto shaft together. Bushing is supposed to be installed first, then prop threaded over it.

2. Original bushing with different prop? Bushings should be replaced with props.

3. New prop that the tapered hub was not properly machined.

4. Tapered bushing lip and/or lip between threads and shaft have worn down. The tapered bushing has a lip which is supposed to catch on the lipped surface between the shaft threads and shaft bare surface.

5. Could have some internal issues which have allowed the entire shaft assembly to move forward in the LU housing. That would be some serious problems.

My money is on the bushing remaining in the prop hub while threading the prop back on.

And use LOTS of Never-Seize!




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Yea you can never use to much never seize!
It was a Hopkins prop on it.. now has pd an that bushing is all chewed up..

Was it the same bushing that was on the Hopkins? Reason I ask, Hopkins doesn't turn down the tapered hub smooth like it should be. He leaves too many tooling marks on the inside. This will score the aluminum tapered bushing...additionally, this poor finish allows the prop to rest on the bushing at a bad angle....which can lead to other LU damages.

Definitely need to change out those bushings when changing props....and as I mentioned...put the bushing over the shaft first...then, thread the prop over the bushing.


Most liberals seem to suffer from the same mental condition....it's called stupidity!