Balancing a trolling motor prop

[PanMan_VA]

Does your trolling motor vibrate when it is in use? It is usually due to an undamaged prop being out of balance. You can reduce or eliminate vibration by balancing the prop.

It is fairly simple to get the prop in better balance and costs very little. The supplies you need are a wooden dowel the same diameter as the prop shaft and some lead tape. I use lead tape for golf clubs. You can get the lead tape at most sporting goods stores that have golf equipment and the dowel at any home improvement (lumber) store.

Remove prop from motor and insert dowel through prop with several inches of dowel extending from each end of the prop.

Set the dowel with the prop on top the jaws of an open bench vise (or any flat level surface with a gap for the prop to set in).

The prop will naturally rotate so the heavy side is facing down.

Mark the surface of the prop hub that is facing up.

Put short pieces of lead tape on the inside of the hub where you marked.

Check balance after applying a couple pieces of tape. The prop is in balance when it no longer rotates when the dowel is set on the vise.

Put prop back on trolling motor and the vibration should be reduced or eliminated.

[Barnacle Bill]

Good post Keith.

[mduncan62]

Nice tip. I'm going to give that a shot.