cutlass bearing replacement?

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pethia

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Jul 3, 2004
27
- - cape cod , MA
1978 hunter 27 w/ yanmar sb8. I think I need to replace my cutlass bearing. Is it possible to remove the prop and then unscrew the cutlass from the bottom of the boat...then slide it off the shaft? This would allow me to remove the old bearing and install the new off the boat. Is there enough slight bendable motion in the shaft to slide the cutlass off without removing the rudder?
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,115
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
But do not remove the strut, the bronze cutless bearing holder, that is bolted and may be glassed to the boat.. It is very difficult to re-align that part..
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
The odds of removing your cutlass bearing without removing the shaft are about .005%. On older boats like ours those things weld themselves to the strut. I guess it is worth a try depending upon how much money and work it is to make the tool. On my H37C I had to use a hacksaw blade to make three or four lengthwise cuts. Then a hammer and narrow bladed chisel and working to not score the strut surface.

Claude says not to loosen the strut. But there are two reasons you might. One is so that you can clear the rudder with the shaft if you have to remove it. The other is to install new bolts, bigger fender washers, and reseal it since you are working there anyway. I never had any trouble with realigning after working on the strut.
 
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