Help with stuffing box

[Stephane Aloise]

I everybody, first excuse my fault and my english , I'm a french speaker. I'm a new Catalina 30 owner since 2 years.I need help from catalina owners because I have to change my cutlass bearing. I know I don't have to pull out my shaft to do this except with and home made or stutpro tools. The last owner change the engine for a Universal M-25 who is little bigger than the original one.
See those picture..View media item 25439The nut is completly free ans it's not possible to change the packing
View media item 25440View media item 25441And now you see just over the yellow arrow, this kind of lock pin (who I think it prevent the shaft to slide out of the coupling) that I can remove from there because there's not enough room to put it out.
Is it possible that they put the stuffing box and the coupling on the shaft before they install the engine at is place?



Stephane

 

[Tally Ho]

For some reason, I get an error when trying to view your photos. I am logged in to the forum, so not sure what the problem is.

Curious if others can see them.

Greg

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

For some reason, I get an error when trying to view your photos. I am logged in to the forum, so not sure what the problem is.

Same problem as Tally Ho. Can you upload the pictures to your text ?

 

[woodster]

i get the same error message

 

[mortyd]

i get the same error message

have you asked your surveyor what he thinks?

 

[Bill Roosa]

You have to use the "upload a file" button next to the "post reply" button for us to see the photos.

 

[woodster]

have you asked your surveyor what he thinks?

not sure what that means i don't have a surveyor just a new laptop

 

[Stephane Aloise]

I try again you see the nut is completely free and there's no space to change the packing stuff

 

[Stephane Aloise]

On this one you see the rubber part, who is not so long

 

[Stephane Aloise]

and the last one, see over the arrow the kind off lock pin caught between the two coupling

 

[fred1diver]

de quel coin du Québec es-tu au juste?

 

[Bill Roosa]

Well you have correctly identified the problem. The lock is called a key way and it keeps the shaft from spinning on the coupling. I'm thinking that when the PO re-powered the boat and this is one of the compromises.
They most certainly installed the stuffing box and shaft before they installed the engine but they would have had to move the shaft aft to allow the install of the coupling. The pic would suggest that you only have to pull the shaft aft a few cm to get the clearance needed to remove the coupling and then the packing nut for a packing replacement. since you are out of the water this should be relatively ease.

 

[Stephane Aloise]

The pic would suggest that you only have to pull the shaft aft a few cm

It's what I want to do, but I cannot put out this key because I don't have enough place so I can't move out the shaft. In this position ( see the image) the coupling is completly free from the shaft, I can move it easily on the shaft and turn it around . If I try to pull out the shaft, the key take is way and the shaft and the coupling made one piece. I think I have to put this key out and the shaft will be free ????

de quel coin du Québec es-tu au juste?

Joliette, mais le voilier est à St-Ours.

 

[Bill Roosa]

The shaft and key are not one piece. The key should come out along the radius of the shaft once the coupling is out of the way. Try some penetrating oil like WD-40 and a few taps (don't go gorilla on it!!) with a hammer. Once the key is off you will be able to shove the shaft aft and get the parts off.
Another way to get the key off is to pry on the transmission end where the key sticks over the shaft.
OR
turn the shaft 180 degrees from what the picture shows and use a screwdriver and hammer to drive it out where it sticks forward of the shaft
good luck

 

[Bill Roosa]

Man the French use a LOT of vowels!

 

[Tally Ho]

A very tight fit indeed. I am afraid that even removing the key is not going to help create space between the coupling and the stuffing box nut.

Greg

 

[woodster]

I am afraid that even removing the key is not going to help create space between the coupling and the stuffing box nut.

if i read what he posted correctly he said the coupling would move on the shaft...if he can get the key out he then can slide the shaft back and remove the coupling and the stuffing box nut and repack

 

[Stephane Aloise]

if i read what he posted correctly he said the coupling would move on the shaft...if he can get the key out he then can slide the shaft back and remove the coupling and the stuffing box nut and repack

Exactly but like I said the key move easily in is way....the coupling is free around the shaft....but I cannot pull out the key, not because it is jammed there , because ( like you see on the picture) when I pull it out it is block by the transmission coupling.

We missunderstood...I put the same picture with few arrows. The red one shows the direction to pull out the key ( Remember I can move it easily in and out off is key way) the blue arrow show the key out ( the maximum I can move it out) because the transmission coupling block the key...the key there touch the coupling

 

[The Garbone]

What a mess.

Can you source a split coupler for a diesel. I know Moyer Marine sells them for A4s but the bolt pattern is different.

My suggestion is get a sawzall with a long metal blade and cut off the coupler laying the blade along the side of the shaft as a guide. I converted my boat to A4 and had to cut the coupler off. It was pretty soft and the sawzall made short work of it. Of course I had no engine or transmission in the way she I did it.

Replace with a split coupler.

 

[The Garbone]

May work.

http://www.asap-supplies.com/us/pro...pilt-half-coupling-for-propeller-shaft-808436