How is the unit lubricated – how often should it be greased?
This topic is covered in the user manual but in summary the unit as delivered contains lubricants sufficient until your next maintenance haul out. Each blade must then be greased via a lubrication point accessed by removing the small Pozidrive stainless screw on each blade face. In addition there are two small grease holes, one very close to the DelrinT nose cone in the bronze casting that takes the thrust of the pitch screws and one near the outer perimeter of the bronze sphere at the rear of the unit. These have been chamfered to accept a standard needle nosed grease point. You will need to remove the outer guard off the needle. Each of these five grease points should then be filled with a high quality marine grease eg ShellT Nautilus Marine Grease – NLGI No 2. Check the reversing rollers are free to turn and free up with a light lubricant – such as CRC, and pliers if necessary. These can become stiff from marine deposits if the unit has not been used for some time.
