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cutless bearing/alignment question

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bobct

Advanced Contributor
When I re-bed my strut in the spring, the cutless bearing was slightly pinched and the prop was much harder to turn by hand compared to the other side. I ran it all year, no vibrations at all. As a matter of fact, the boat has never felt smoother since I bought it. I figured I would deal with this off season.

I pulled the boat yesterday and and the bearing must have worn just enough to free up the tension (plus it was still wet) and now it feels basically like the other shaft now.

Do I leave it alone and deal with it when it becomes an issue? I assume at some point, it will wear enough to start vibrating but it's nowhere near that now.

Bob
 
Answering my own post :)

I checked the bearing again today and a little bit of rubber is starting to pinch out so I'm not going to risk it. The bearing is new and maybe would make another year but I'll just fix it once and for all. I hate to mess with it since it was SO smooth but I'll do it anyway.

Bob
 
I'd fix it too. It indicates a misalignment, and that will affect something; bearing, groove the shaft, stern tube, worse case; the drive train and your ability to get a good night's sleep!
 
Not me! If it works okay--which it does--and if there is not excessive play, why not leave it alone? Re-aligning it now might make it too loose since it's worn offset.

Jeff
 
Obviously you are bending and flexing the shaft !!!------------If you do nothing it will break at the worst time from fatigue.------------Cost big money, plus haul out somewhere away from home $$$$--------------So undo the coupling and see what has to be done NOW !!!
 
I support your decision Bob...if the bearling is bulging after a few months, it won't get better as time rolls on.
 
Right, and the bearing only has about 70 hours on it. If I didn't see that, I would have let it go and check it next season.
 
I doubt you are "bending and flexing the shaft". If it was, the shaft would be binding and hard to turn, which it is not, right?

I had a misaligned one on mine and it ran the same after fixing it.

Jeff
 
bobct said:
Answering my own post :)

I checked the bearing again today and a little bit of rubber is starting to pinch out so I'm not going to risk it. The bearing is new and maybe would make another year but I'll just fix it once and for all. I hate to mess with it since it was SO smooth but I'll do it anyway.

Bob
Click to expand...

If it is "Pinching out the rubber" it will wear a grove in the shaft.
 
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