Issues removing prop

[Leatherneck33]

I purchased a new prop for my 18 A24 and ran into issues removing the old one. The gap between the back of the prop and the strut is just under 1/4” (almost 3/16”). The prop puller (ACME 330S) that should fit into that gap is right at 1/4”. Has anyone run into this issue before? Wondering if I need to grind down the prop puller or if I need to take the boat to the dealer. 
 

If you have a new A24, what does the gap look like on your boat?

 

 

[justgary]

Wow, that is tight.

I don't think you would hurt anything if you ground the end of the strut an eighth or so until the puller fit in the groove.  Either a die grinder or even a file would do it, and you only need to hit where the puller teeth go.  If you ever pull the strut you could clean the rest of it up easily with an angle grinder.

[tvano]

dd guy here so this may be all wrong on a vd: can you pull the coupler fasteners so that the driveshaft will creep back enough to allow the puller?

[csleaver]

Maybe try a prop knocker like this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07MZFFD5Z/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1