20hp EFI Merc Outboard - Propellor/Front Thrust Hub question

[Tonus]

Did the engine's one year service myself last year - a month or so late but the engine did not have a tremendous amount of use.


The only thing I didn't do yet was to lubricate the propellor shaft. I just got a couple of new cotter pins and took the prop off to find that the brass 'Front thrust hub' was kind of seized to the prop hub. I say 'kind of' because it came loose after a little pull. The integrity of the thrust hub looks good (see pics) but and the prop seems ok - a little paint has come off. You can still see the original lube on the various parts - the engine was new and bought in July 2020.



My question is does everything mentioned above need a good grease and is ok to put back together? or (looking at the pic of the prop below) have I done the bad thing and left it too long to take it apart? It's been about 18months since I bought the engine.


Oh yeh... there are also some little black lumps that look almost like soot that have come out when I removed the prop... any idea what these are?



Many thanks




Tonus

[Tonus]

The picture of the prop makes it look a lot worse than it is... the camera picks up every bit of dust!! My only concern is where the paint has come away but I think if it were lubricated then it'd be alright?

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Tonus

The picture of the prop makes it look a lot worse than it is... the camera picks up every bit of dust!! My only concern is where the paint has come away but I think if it were lubricated then it'd be alright?

Stop panicking it’s fine. Just check for fishing line around the shaft near the oil seal, grease it all up & put it back together. Stop mytherin [emoji6]

[Tonus]

Ha thanks Dave!