Prop shaft movement

[Russ187]

I have a mercury 2018 verado 250 that I just had prop shaft replaced. After bring it home i noticed movement up and down side to side is that normal? I called mechanic he said it was normal so iv been running like that for several weeks with no issues but man it worries me with all that play.

 

[Texasmark]

I don't know about that engine as I don't boat in that category. On smaller Mercury engines there is only one kind of "Play" in the prop shaft. You can grasp the propeller of a non running engine and push forward and realize a ⅛-¼" forward movement. You can also put the shifter in F gear and rotate the propeller CW and watch it move in and out this distance, and click every time the sawtoothed rear of F gear and the front of the "clutch dog" riding on the prop shaft move along their saw toothed surfaces.

This is the "overrun" clutch associated with F gear. When decelerating on a plane, at a speed fast enough for water pressure against the blades of the prop to exert adequate force, the propeller will be turning faster than the crankshaft. If it weren't possible for the prop. to overrun the crankshaft, it would act like a "speed brake" if forced to decelerate at the rate of one cutting the throttle......result could be your teeth in the windshield.

 

[Russ187]

you need to get out of your moms basement

 

[Texasmark]

you need to get out of your moms basement

My mother is deceased and she never had a basement. Texans don't need them!

 

[Docksidemarineservices]

I have a mercury 2018 verado 250 that I just had prop shaft replaced. After bring it home i noticed movement up and down side to side is that normal? I called mechanic he said it was normal so iv been running like that for several weeks with no issues but man it worries me with all that play.

No play in a 5.44 gear case. Get another mechanic to look at it before you cause $$$$ damage.