Help replacing cutlass bearing

[cloud]

Any suggestions on how to get the cutlass bearing out ??
Thanks !
Cloud

[Tim Gardner]

Carefully cut through the rubber with a hacksaw blade, and then drive it out with a drift block sized to fit in the bearing mount diameter.

Take your time & it will come right out.

TG

[cloud]

Any chance I can get it out with the saft still in? What is involved in taking the saft out... and putting it back in?
Thanks !
Cloud

[Tim Gardner]

Sorry Cloud,

You'll have to remove the shaft.  Start by removing the prop and replace the prop nut back on the shaft, then loosen the the shaft coupling bolts (don't remove them) aft of the transmission and the set screw on the shaft half of the coupling to free it from the shaft.  Then loosen (turn counterclockwise) and slide the packing nut towards the coupling. If you have a mechanical seal, loosen the seal collar set screw and slide it back towards the coupling ( be careful, the seal faces are delicate).  With luck, you should be able to extract the shaft from the cuttless rubber bearing from the stern end of the boat.

As you remove the shaft, do not let the coupling half or the seal to drop - This is a two man operation and GO SLOW to keep from damaging your seal.

The next steps are determined by the condition of your prop shaft.  Take lots of pictures and measurements as to the location of collars Etc.

Good luck!

TG

[skip1930]

Clean that shaft like a polished mirror surface before seals and bearings go back together.
Build a screw set up that will pull the bearing up the shaft into the hull.
At Palmer Johnson Yachts we pulled bearing bearings into place with four very long screws and a 90 deg air gun designed with a hole clean through the drive and socket. Took a couple of days and a laser to track the bearing. But then the prop weighs around 1100 lbs.

No help, I know.

skip.

[millsy]

If this is a FRP shaft alley/tube, you can take a hacksaw and carefully cut a 1/2" or less off the aft end of the tube down to the cutless bearing.  Scrape down along each side of the tube to find the set screw/s (most likely this set up will have set screws) securing the bearing and remove these.  Then take channel locks or a pipe wrench to grab hold of the cutless and pull it out.  You have to remove the prop of course but no need to remove the shaft.  Much easier to replace the bearing next time also.

Chris
C-23 Dolce