Cleaning shaft & prop

[Momentum M]

Hi guys...the big splash this comming w-e.  I've tried to clean my shaft/prop without much success.  It's not corroded or anything like this 'cause it's the 4th splash in fresh water but as anything else, maintenance is a good prevention.

If anyone knows the easiest/best way to give it's original look would be appreciated.

[tonywright]

Have you tried a generic metal polish/paste like Flitz?

Tony

[RV61]

Serge,
I  used lime away and a green scrub pad as usually the build up is calcium and the acid in lime away is phosphoric. Keep wet and rinse well. I had heavy buildup due to some stray  electrical current which I located and fixed. Luckily no etching of metals. In areas I needed a little more abrasion I used some very fine wet sandpaper instead of green scrub pad and was carefull not to take metal off the prop. I to am in fresh water. Both prop and shaft shine once again . 

[Momentum M]

Thanks guys...I'll try that Friday afternoon and see how it turns out.

[Roc]

I use Mary Kate On & Off.  I put on solvent protectant gloves and use fine steel wool pad.  The barnacles come right off.

[Ed Shankle]

Scotch Brite pads work well. You can also get them as circular pads for mounting on an electric drill. I use that for the prop.

Ed

[Allan.SVCarina]

Another option is brass wool and elbow grease.

[David Arnold]

Reading all these posts I wonder if I did a bad thing in cleaning my prop and shaft a few weeks ago.  I picked up one of the fine sand paper foam blocks at Home Depot and "polished" the shaft and prop with the foam block.  Using the soft block allowed the fine grit coating to conform to the curved shapes on all surfaces and it got into tight spots and cleaned in and around them as well.  Came out beautiful but now I wonder if that was too abrasive???  After put on new zincs (2) and sprayed all metal (except for the zincs) with the prop and strut zinc anti foul paint as advised on a previous thread.  Could I have caused any damage?

[tonywright]

David

Can't comment on th sanding, but hard to see how a light sand would do too much damage. BUT: Did you make sure that you did not spray the cutlass bearing at all? You don't want to get that stuff on the rubber or clog the grooves. It might rapidly wear away if you do.

Tony

[karista]

David
Sanding the shaft is common practice here in Florida. The yards all sand the shaft to remove barnacle growth, then they apply a metal primer/sealer such as Primacon to the strut, shaft and propeller, and then follow up with hard bottom paint. So, I don't see any problems with you sanding your shaft.

[Phil Spicer]

I just did my shaft & prop. Started with Lime a way & green scrub pad. It was a little slow so I went to toilet bowl cleaner. Used "the works" because that was what was on hand. Lots of little bubbles....the prop changed to bright bronze?brass, right now. The scrub pad cleaned the hard crud off the shaft & prop quickly. Rinsed often with a lot of water. Then mixed baking soda with water like you do for cleaning the battery terminals & more water. Finished with some chrome polish & more rinsing. Prop & shaft look like new.
   Protect your Face, eyes,& hands from the toilet bowl cleaner. Be careful not to splash any on yourself. That can be nasty stuff, you are working near your face, so protection & caution is a must.

[David Sanner]

I've seen boat yards use muriatic acid to clean up shaft & prop...
using rubber gloves and eye protection.  It may have been a 50/50 mix.

Seemed to do a good/quick job.