1980 H36 Prop shaft removal

[kair]

All,
I am in a situation with my prop shaft. I have removed all hardware and the shaft is too long to come out of the boat without dropping the rudder. Has anyone replaced their prop shaft? Is there another way to remove the shaftwithout dropping the rudder? Any suggestions or help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Steve

 

[Ed Schenck]

Steve, on my H37C there is enough slop in the stern tube to angle it out. But you have to loosen or detach the strut to get enough lateral play.

 

[kair]

Thanks Ed. From my research on this forum, removing the strut seems to be the best approach. Also, I read that you suggested to replace all bronze fittings, why is that? I could not follow the thread as they were archived.

Thanks.

Steve

 

[Ed Schenck]

Wow, don't remember that part. The only bronze would be in the cutless bearing and stuffing box. Of course there is some bronze in the shaft, strut, and prop. Do you have a link to the archive?

 

[John T1594]

There have been some people who have suggested that it might be easier to unbolt and raise the engine rather than doing the whole strut/rudder thing to get the shaft out. It is probably the same amount of work either way.

 

[Karl Wilmot]

Prop Shaft Removal

Steve

AS Ed can attest since i spoke to him on this matter last spring, I had to remove my prop shaft from my 27 foot after and accident broke the prop strut. When the flange was found to be frozen on the shaft the only method of removal was to lift the engine.

Since there was enough slack in the control and fuel lines, we simply removed the raw water intake hose, took off the engine mount bolts and put two loops of lift strap under the motor and squating in the companionway I put the straps over my head and onto my shoulders and stood up the Yanmar came free on the first tug the shaft was pulled out and the motor dropped back on the mounts.

On replacing the shaft the same process took place and the adjustments made to realign the engine and shaft flange. Total time to take it out was about 20 minutes.

 

[kair]

Prop Shaft Removal

I followed Ed's suggestion and removed the strut and the shaft came out easily, sliding past the rudder.

Thanks for all your suggestions.

Steve