Cutless Bearing stuck

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Gfreiman
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Joined: 7/8/20
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Cutless Bearing stuck

I have the association's tool and I have been unable to get my old cutless bearing out.  The tool is set up correctly, and the old bearing has moved about 1/8" and then stopped.  I have already applied too much torque to the bolts on the tool and now the tool has started to damage my strut.  I removed the two set screws on the side of the strut and some of the rubber from the old bearing has been coming out of one of the holes.  I'm thinking I am going to have to remove the shaft to change the bearing.  It seems like the easiest way would be to disconnect the coupling then pull the engine vertically to allow the shaft to move forward around a foot to expose the strut.  Has anyone had an experience like this?  I have an old boat, 1983, hull 55 and I don't believe the cutlass has ever been changed.

I put a clamp on the tool to maintain the alignment as I applied torque.  I ended up using a 30" breaker bar with a lot of force.

Thanks, Glenn

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dpmill1
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Probably easiest to pull the shaft and use a hacksaw to cut out the old bearing.  Give you an opportunity to inspect and clean up the coupling, shaft, and inner surface of the strut.  Shouldn't be too hard to remove the shaft, I have been able to separate the coupling enough to insert a proper size socket as a spacer between the shaft and transmission, then re-thread longer bolts into the coupling and tighten to pull the coupling right off the shaft.    

David Miller
​Chester, CT
2004 C36 Mk2 Whimsea

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Chachere
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Posts: 825

Sorry, but this is not good advice for how to remove the shaft coupling  ("separate the coupling enough to insert a proper size socket as a spacer between the shaft and transmission, then re-thread longer bolts into the coupling and tighten to pull the coupling right off the shaft".).   While I did once manage to press of the coupling this way (was a lot of work in a cramped space); I have since read more than one account of owners who used this method and inflicted irreparave damage to the flange on the transmission end (bending the fingers), necessitating the replacement of the transmission (and, BTW, that model transmission is no longer available).    Hunt around on this site and the Facebook page and you'll find accounts of transmission flanges damaged this way, such as this one (www.catalina36.org/forum/technical-discussion/hurth-transmission-bent-fingers-coupling ).  Much better (and easier) to cut off the coupling, replace it with a split coupling (and have a prop shop fit it and align it to the shaft -- see https://marinehowto.com/a-new-prop-shaft/ )

As to the original issue (a stuck cutless bearing), if you haven't already undone the coupling from the transmission, you might want to try that.   Giving the shaft some play may help with the cultess bearing removal.

Matthew Chachère
s/v ¡Que Chévere!
(Formerly 1985 C36 MKI #466 tall rig fin keel M25)
2006 Catalina Morgan 440 #30.
Homeported in eastern Long Island, NY

Gfreiman
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Joined: 7/8/20
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David

Were you able to push the shaft aft far enought to clear the cutless with the rudder in place?

rstonge
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Joined: 11/2/08
Posts: 64

Here are a couple of thoughts:

1. Make sure you got all the set screws out.  Mine had two on the port side, but make sure there are none on starboard.

2. Use the new cutlass bearing to make sure the "U" shaped plate on the propeller side is centered and not blocking the old bearing from sliding past.

Ron St. Onge

1995 Catalina 36 MKII Hull 1384

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Haro
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Posts: 403

I am not sure if I am looking at the photo correctly, but it appears to me that the c clamp is in the way of the tool to make its progress forward.

Gfreiman
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Joined: 7/8/20
Posts: 6

I had my yard attempt to remove the bearing and they had the same problem.  So I ended up pulling the engine and sliding the prop shaft forward about a foot.  The bearing had to be cut out and it the aft end of the strut was peened over.  Don't know if this was done by the various attempts to remove the bearing or if it had been that way.  Removing and re-installing the engine is easier that it would seem and the new bearing is in with the boat in the water.  Thanks for the replies
 

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