V drive coupling bolt - Help Please

[theway]

I found this bolt under the engine, and it looks to go into the end of the coupling on the end. It fits well, but doesnt thread easily into the hole. I put it in once, and tightened it a bit, but not all the way because there was some resistance to threading/screwing. It has fallen out again and im wondering if anyone has a good solution and knows what this bolt does. Any help is appreciated



Im fairly new to engines


thanks
austin

[nickmerc]

Austin,

I don't think that screw goes into the engine at that location. I would look for other locations the missing screw will fit. It could also be a miscellaneous screw that fell into the bilge.

The hole in the coupler is probably used to mount the material into a lathe to make the part and is no longer functional.

[theway]

thanks for the reply

Im pretty sure its for that hole, for the following reasons

1: The chipped and faded white paint is on both the bolt and the coupling parts, but nothing else
2: Inside the hole there are clean threads that seem to match the bolt depth
3: It fits... Im just not sure if I should tighten it down all the way (against the resistance) or what, and how/why it has worked itself loose.

[Maine Sail]

You likely have a double taper shaft and that bolt is holding the shaft into the coupling...

This is a double taper shaft for a non-v-drive. A v-drive would have the taper going the opposite direction as yours is.

[theway]

Ok and that bolt i can see in the image at the center of the shaft is probably the one that im talking about?

If so yikes, Ill place it back in and see if I can at least tighten it back to where it looks like it was.

Are there any problems, suggestions or things I need to watch out for with this bolt?



thanks all
austin