Cutlass bearing where are the 2 set screws

[Mario7470]

Hi guys !I need help, *o Could one of you take a few pictures of the cutlass bearing on your Hunter 29.5 ( modele without a hanging strut) and specially the 2 bloody set screws for me please.... I cannot find them on my boat. It looks like some smart yoyo did a nice fairing job with putty over the srews... They are burried and not visible and I do not know where to grind down to locate them. I can also use pointers on removing the cutlass bearing with shaft in place since the shaft will not come out with the rudder on ? Right ?A few close shoots would be greatly appreciated.Cheers !Mario (-:=

 

[Andre K.]

Cheer up , it is doable!

I have a 1991 Hunter 30, I believe, thy have a similar set up. The cutlass bearing screws are located on the port side , mid line , on the bearing holding strut. Sorry no pics, but I just did it last year. Getting the bearing out is not too difficult providing you find the screws ). I went to home depot, bought a steel pipe a fraction bigger thatn the outside diameter of your shaft, about 18 inches long, than I took it to a machine shop and had it machined down to thedimension of the inside diameter (a fraction smaller) of the strut holding the cutlass bearing. Take the prop odd , slide the tube over it and slightly tap with a rubber malet. The cutlass bearing came out on my boat very easily. Thank I cut it lenght wise with an angle grinder (carefull dont grind the shaft) and took it off. Than I lightly greased the Outside of the bearing pushedin by hand more than 3/4 of the way and - DONE! MAke sure when you put the retaining screws back (the ones you can't find) , don't overtighten tham so you don't compress the bearing bronze soft material. Good luck

 

[Mario7470]

No strut on 29.5...

Thanks André, the problem is that with the 29.5 the cutlass is in the hull. The shaft comes out of the hull and 6inches later there is the prop. No suporting strut. The only thing I can do is probably grabbing it with visegrip and pull If ever I find the screws...Thanks again. (-:=

 

[Mario7470]

OK now what ?

Ok we found the set screws now what? The cutlass is glued solid in there...not turning nor moving is is normally that hard to remove ?I will take the rudder off to pull the shaft out in order to have more options at pulling it out but I am open to any suggestions on how to pull or push the cutlass out of there without breaking anything or damaging the fiberglass inner tube. I am looking at cuting it in two and beat it out of there. Not pretty but hopefully effective.

 

[tcbro]

Don't beat it.....

I don't have the same set-up as you have but I wouldn't reccommend beating it out. You run a high risk of damaging something else. If you are taking the shaft out anyway, try making some sort of puller. Again, without knowing your exact set-up, I'd find a few heavy washers that I could grind down to the same outer diameter as the cutlass bearing (or slightly smaller). Put those inside against the bearing face, run a bolt or threaded rod through the washers and bearing. Then put a piece of pipe that is big enough to allow the bearing to slide through but small enough to rest against the solid part holding the bearing on the outside. More washers too large to pass through the pipe and a nut. Spray some penetrating oil on the bearing and the threads of the bolt/threaded rod and start cranking. Use the screw's mechanical advantage to pull it out. Oh, you can tap lightly with a hammer while the screw is putting pressure on the bearing. Just don't wail on it."YOU HAVE TO BE SMARTER THAN THE BEARING!"Good luck and let us know how you make out,Toms/v Orion's Child