shaft wobble

Heefus · Post by **Heefus** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 7:26 pm

I think I found the issue today...

Went down to the marina, separated the drive flanges, and cheked the pinion nut. It was good and tight.

I re-assembled everything and turned the shaft by hand. I can see the stuffing box move up and down as I rotate the shaft. I am guessing, at this point, that it is either a bent shaft, or a bad cutlass bearing.

I am going to pull it, probably Sunday, on the PO's lift, pull the shaft, and inspect the cutlass bearing.

With that being said, does anyone know the dimensions/part number for the cutlass and shaft? I am considering ordering a new shaft, and bearing, and replacing them as soon as I pull it. Worst case scenario, I have new gear on the port side, and a spare shaft.

1976 F28, dual 318's with V drives

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Jun 23, 2011 8:01 pm

The shafts are made to fit , cutlass bearing has a name on the outside that tell what size it is . a name like Bait ( not kidding ) BAIT 1" ID ( shaft size) 1 3/8 OD 4" long. Of course you can messure it , you could see if Bod may have a listing and maybe a shaft

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:12 am

I ordered new cutlass bearing from Bob at Beacon, I will measure them for you, think they were 1.125 x 4 in. Mine do not have that fish name on them but most do. Someone posted the name on here earlier this year.

I am putting drip-less shaft seals and drive savers on mine as I re-assemble my F28.

I think shafts can be straightened using a hydraulic press at a machine shop?

Better be ready for a good pull getting the flange off of shaft. I posted a picture of the KD puller that worked for me. But was a lot easier as my engines were out. There is not much room under there on there on the F28.

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:17 am

Just pulled one of mine from freezer It is labeled:

Durmax Marine
Back 100-114 101/11
Made in USA

Dimensions are:

1.250 Outside Diameter
4 inches length

I compared them to the ones I pressed out and were exactly the same.

http://www.tacomapropeller.com/6223/227 ... rings.html

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:02 am

Heefus, here is the puller I used to pull the Coupler from shaft. Definitely use grade 8 bolts with it. It is made by KD and is available at good auto parts stores. It will pull it but takes some muscle.

My power packages were out of boat so was easier but still stout pull.

My stuffing boxes were in bad shape, hoses almost rotted through and, I think due to the tight working area some hack mechanic had drilled and put a set screw in the gland to hold it as the nut was stripped. Ergo going with PSS dripless.

Heefus · Post by **Heefus** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 10:14 am

thanks for the info!

I motored out, on the starboard engine, for the weekend. Sunday was just too nice to pull her early, so I am headed out this afternoon to put her on the lift and pull the shaft. There is a local machine shop, with an 18' lathe, that is well known for fixing bent shafts with a quick turnaround. I am going to replace the packing while I am at it. I am hoping that the prop didn't take a hit too as they were tuned last year.

I will letcha'll know how it went.

Heefus · Post by **Heefus** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:29 pm

Ok...

Port shaft is bent, strut is loose (due to the wobble), and the engine is misaligned.

Starboard cutlass bearing is loose.

I am going to head back out, in the morning, pull both shafts, re-align the port motor, then drop the bent shaft off at the machine shop. Now I have to find a local shop that stocks the cutlass bearings, and get them suckers replaced. Hope to have her back in the water by Friday!!

Heefus · Post by **Heefus** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 3:17 pm

Whew!

I caught a bit of luck. The port shaft is not actually bent. It turns out that the port skeg was binding on the shaft, making it look like it was wobbling.

I pulled both skegs and, with a bit of cussing, got the ORIGINAL cutlass bearings out. The local parts store will have new ones in for me tomorrow morning, and I hope to have the majority of reassembly completed by tomorrow evening.

I still need to see if the motor is out of alignment, but that should be fairly straightforward.

Interesting find: My skegs do not have set screws in them at all. I took a wire wheel to them, prior to removing the cutlass, and could not find them at all.

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:58 am

I discovered the no set screws when I removed my old cutlass bearings. My bearings were not all that difficult to push out of the strut, tight yes but a piece of 1/2 in allrod nuts several thick washers and some 1 1/4 inch tractor bushings ground down a few hundredths did the trick.

Heefus · Post by **Heefus** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:01 pm

What a day

Got the new cutlass bearing in just fine, but had a helluva time with everything else.

The shaft was still running towards the centerline, of the hull, and was resting on the thru hull fitting. I discovered that the right tranny mount, on the port motor, hates me as it would not break free. I had 3 adjustment points, but not the one I needed to move the shaft away from the centerline.

I began to doubt my eyesight, so I pulled both skegs off to see if ththe problem moved when switched. (I thought maybe it was torqued out of line) This is when I noticed that the skegs are not exatly alike. The are the same in every dimension save one...length. The starboard one is almost an inch taller than the port one. I swapped sides with them, and the shorter one helped to move the port shaft off of the thru hull fitting. Win 1/2 for the home team.

I am not entirely satisfied with this whole ordeal, but my time on the lift is limited, and she is turning clear and free now. I am going to drop her in tomorrow evening, test run, and bring her home to our marina. This winter I am going to find a tranny mount replacement and get this nonsense straight once and for all. In the meantime I hope everything works!

Heefus · Post by **Heefus** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 10:13 pm

I stuttered

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:21 am

I will measure my "skegs" I assume it is the same thing as the "struts". I am curious if different lengths on my f28.

Heefus · Post by **Heefus** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 9:42 pm

Got her back to the marina today

No rumbles, taps, klincks, or vibrations.

Ran her up to 23mph for a couple of miles, then cruised at 18mph for the final 6 miles. She was very well behaved. I adjusted the stuffing boxes, after she cooled off a bit, then covered her up for the night.

All in all a great day. I will still fiddle with her this winter, on the hard, but she should be good to go for the rest of the season.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu Jun 30, 2011 10:06 pm

Glad you got her going

Sea ya on the Bay

larryeddington · Post by **larryeddington** » Sat Jul 02, 2011 5:21 pm

I apologize for not reporting back sooner on strut measurements on my F28. Both are exactly the same, measuring from the bottom aft lowest point straight up to the boat bottom. That measurement is exactly 9 inches for both port and starboard struts.