Shaft movement in Cutless Bearing

[Roc]

Hello All....
Checked the shaft movement in the cutless bearing and found no movement from side to side.  I did find some movement, I would guess about 1/16" at the most, up and down.  Question is, how much movement is indicative of a cutless bearing needing replacement??  The current cutless bearing is 5 years old.  Is it odd to see movement in one direction and not the other? 

Thanks

[Jeff Kaplan]

if you can move the shaft, it's getting to the point that the bearing should be replaced before it lets go in the water and you have to haul the boat out to fix it. when i bought #219 end of last season, surveyor told me that there was play in the brg. ,about 1/32". time to replace. when the mechanic removed the shaft, he noticed that it to had to be replaced. once done, no more vibrations and a smooth ride. you can do the job yourself,or let somebody that does it for a living do it. good luck...jeff kaplan

[Ron Hill]

Roc : Yes, it's strange to only be able to move the shaft (inside the cutless) in only one direction.

If you've maintained proper shaft alignment and are running about 100 hrs/year, I'd be surprised if you need a cutless in only 5 years.  As I recall you also have a flexible coupling. 

Did this movement occur when the boat was first pulled or after it sat awhile?  Can you still see the groves in the cutless?  Hulls do some strange things when they're up on jack stands.   

[Roc]

Ron,
I have 587 hours on the engine.  This bearing is not the original.  It was changed after the first year because I had a ss shaft installed.  So I guess this bearing probably has about 487 hours on it.  The boat had been on stands for about 2 weeks before I checked the bearing.  Should it have been checked immediately after it was hauled??  So you are saying that if I can still see the grooves, then it's ok to go another season??

Thanks!

[Ron Hill]

Roc : USUALLY, if you can see the groves (slots in the rubber of the cutless) and they are pronounced (not worn down) then the bearing should be OK.  I should have also asked if you were on 6 vs 4 jack stands.  6 is best as it better distributes the weight (75% on the keel and 25% on the stands).
Yes, it's best to check for cutless wear right after you have the boat pulled (even while in the sling).  The hull is still in it's natural shape - like being cradled by the water.   

[Roc]

Thanks Ron, next time I'm down at the marina (probably a month from now), I'll check for the grooves.  Actually, there are 8 stands, 4 on each side. 

[Susan Ray]

Question: Does the shaft have to be pulled to replace the cutlass bearing? On my C30 we could just beat it out and replace. It was recommended  by the surveyor to replace the bearing on next haul,(though he didn't state why and I wasn't there to inspect and there isn't any vibration, so far).The yard here charges $65. an hour labor, and up, is why I ask. Has Anyone replaced it without pulling shaft?
Mahalo,Susan

[Ron Hill]

Susan : To answer your question, yes you can replace the cutless bearing on a C34 without removing the drive shaft.  Most C34s have a strut that requires the cutless bearing that is PRESSED into place, although there are a few (very few) C34s that have a different strut that has allen head set screws that hold the cutless bearing in place. 
I wouldn't recommend that anyone "beat the bearing out" - for fear of screw up the strut and it's alignment!  Maybe that C30 had set screw held bearing and it needed a sharp blow to get it started. 
If your's is pressed in which I suspect it is, you need a tool that will PRESS the bearing out while the shaft stays in place.  Then you press in the new cutless with the same tool.
 
If you look in last months Mainsheet (Nov 05) there's an article on your cutless bearing question in the C36 section.  Great information in the Mainsheet as the C36s and C30s have the same engine and similar systems as the C34.

[Rick Johnson]

Regarding Jeff's comment at the beginning of this thread, is it possible to replace the cutless bearing without hauling the boat?

[Stu Jackson]

No.

[Ron Hill]

Rick : To answer your question about replacing the cutless while in the BOAT IN THE WATER:
I wouldn't say it can't be done, but it's definitely what I would call the preferred method!!! 

After  some of our people are replacing the rudder in the water (which I wouldn't try), why not the cutless bearing!!!  Rick, see if you can find a diver that'll do it and let us know about that under water task comes out.      

[Roger Blake]

I do have minor shaft movement in my cutlass bearing. When I bought her, the surveyor recommended a new cutlass at the next haul out...which I haven't done yet. However, this looks like the year to do it. My 34 does have the set screws...so, my question is: what's it take to get the bearing out and what difficulties can I expect getting the new one in?

[Ron Hill]

Roger : You are lucky to have a strut with cutless set screws. 
I'll guess that all you have to do is back out the set screws and use the new cuttless to lightly force the old cutless up the greased shaft.  Then cut the old one off with a Dremal tool/hack saw.  Seat the new cutless and tighten the set screws. 

[Roc]

Here's the latest....was down at the marina last weekend.  The grooves in the bearing are very apparent.  Still notice movement up and down (about 1/16"), but no movement from side to side.  Went to several other boats in the yard.  Noticed that many shafts had up and down movement, but no side to side.  Is this telling me to keep the bearing as is?  Or does everyone need to replace theirs! 

[Ron Hill]

Roc : Replace your Cutless bearing - you'll be much happier and sleep better .