Cutlass Bearing replacement w/o removing Shaft?

Bellita · #1 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009

Friends and experts – here are two pics (port and Stbd) of the strut holding my cutlass bearing in place. Boat is a Yorktown 35 - 1974 version
My question to you is: based on the pictures below, do you believe I could remove the propeller and the 6 bolts holding the strut in place(3 on each side), remove the strut from the boat and the shaft, replace the cutlass bearing in the strut and reassemble – all without having to undo the shaft from the transmission and associated items typically associated with same?

Thanks for any suggestions/thoughts you may have!

JohnRPollard · #2 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009

I'm not sure why you'd even need to remove the strut from the boat. Couldn't you just remove the prop and then pull or push the bearing out of the strut, install the new one, then remount the prop?

jbondy · #3 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009

My (limited) experience with bearing removal is that after removing the prop shaft you need to get a saw blade in where the shaft normally goes to cut the bearing. See:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...oto-heavy.html

Gene T · #4 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009

Find a yard with a puller and all you need to do is remove the prop but NOT the shaft. You do not need to cut the bearing, just loosen the set screws. This is a poor picture but you might get the idea. I have also used a double screw type puller but the principle is the same, you pull on shims on both sides of the shaft.

RichH · #5 (**permalink**) 07-15-2009

Best is to remove the shaft and inspect it for roughness and 'galling' (circumferential worn spots). If so, then the shaft should be 'dressed' by a machinist, etc. and to bring the shaft back into 'true' and the bearing/packing surfaces FLAT.

If the shaft - in the area of the stuffing box and/or cutless bearing - has developed surface anomalies and isnt corrected then you will suffer from adverse wear in any new cutless and/or packing. You cant see this if you dont LOOK at the shaft surfaces.

***Look*** at the shaft 'journal' areas to be sure. Hydraulic 'pullers' are nice and quick but make no visual inspection of the shafting.