Cutless bearing story
Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:53 am
We purchased the boat with known badly worn cutless bearing on the port side and a recently installed one on the starboard side. The recently installed one did not hold up.The port side was well secured in its tube and was removed in the usual way by cutting it with a sawsal. The brass outer casing had a heavy cross hatching.If this was to break loose it would make the perfect file within the tube. The brass Duramax (bite) replacement was smooth and subsequently just a tad bit loose in the tube. I used thickened epoxy and and 4 new set screws to secure in place. Prior to this install the shaft ran smooth and true.
Here is were it gets interesting . The starboard side (recent install) had been poorly done. It had shaft wobble. I could see that the coupler on this side had been whaled on, so a suspect install from the start. The PO installed or had installed a composite style bearing in a well worn tube using only 2 set screws. Needless to say the bearing came loose and was just spinning with the shaft within the housing. The new bearing was centered in the housing and was replaced as above.
My theory on what caused the original problem, the original bearing came loose with the cross hatched surface and acted like a file. The composite replacement didn't hold due to poor install. But what caused the original to break loose , can't answer that for sure but it sure looks like a broken/failed bonding on the rear
rubber motor mount had a lot to do with it.
Just thought I'd share this learning experience.
Cheers Carl
Here is were it gets interesting . The starboard side (recent install) had been poorly done. It had shaft wobble. I could see that the coupler on this side had been whaled on, so a suspect install from the start. The PO installed or had installed a composite style bearing in a well worn tube using only 2 set screws. Needless to say the bearing came loose and was just spinning with the shaft within the housing. The new bearing was centered in the housing and was replaced as above.
My theory on what caused the original problem, the original bearing came loose with the cross hatched surface and acted like a file. The composite replacement didn't hold due to poor install. But what caused the original to break loose , can't answer that for sure but it sure looks like a broken/failed bonding on the rear
rubber motor mount had a lot to do with it.
Just thought I'd share this learning experience.
Cheers Carl