Taking my Hunter 376 in for a noisy cutlass bearing. It was replaced in 2002, or about 200 hours ago. Doesnt seem right that its bad again. What should they be looking for as to why its bad again? I have the standard stuffing box. Thanks. Bob
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It may not be the cutlass!
It could be a poor alignment of the shaft/motor/cutlass. It could also be a bent shaft or prop. Any of the above could put extra wear on the cutlass. r.w.landau
It could be a poor alignment of the shaft/motor/cutlass. It could also be a bent shaft or prop. Any of the above could put extra wear on the cutlass. r.w.landau
other causes
If your prop is out of balance, if you ran for a long time in very silty or gritty water, if you ran with a barnacle encrusted (out of balance) prop. If your motor mounts we're worn out. After the new bearing is installed...check how easy the shaft turns in netural by hand and tape a piece of wood to the hull a specific distance from the shaft and slowly turn the shaft by hand and see if the distance changes. If it does this would reveal a bent shaft.
If your prop is out of balance, if you ran for a long time in very silty or gritty water, if you ran with a barnacle encrusted (out of balance) prop. If your motor mounts we're worn out. After the new bearing is installed...check how easy the shaft turns in netural by hand and tape a piece of wood to the hull a specific distance from the shaft and slowly turn the shaft by hand and see if the distance changes. If it does this would reveal a bent shaft.
Most often a premature failure will be the result of a bad shaft alignment. An alignment must be done while the boat has been in the water for at least a couple of weeks. This will give the hull time to set its shape to the water rather than jack stands or a cradle. The other part is that it must be done with precision. Accurate adjustment is the key to its success.
I am replacing
my cutless bearing (original 1986), pulled the shaft and brought it and the prop to have them checked and tuned for trueness, replacing the motor mounts (original 1986) and will have it realigned. From what I have read, if 1 of the components starting with the mounts and alignment are off, the cutless will suffer. Or it may just be as was previously said silty water that wears it out. Greg
my cutless bearing (original 1986), pulled the shaft and brought it and the prop to have them checked and tuned for trueness, replacing the motor mounts (original 1986) and will have it realigned. From what I have read, if 1 of the components starting with the mounts and alignment are off, the cutless will suffer. Or it may just be as was previously said silty water that wears it out. Greg
But in 200 hours?
He's gotta be motoring in nearly quick sand to wear out a cutlass that quick. The raw water impeller would suffer too. Is that still in good shape? I'm betting on poor alignment.
He's gotta be motoring in nearly quick sand to wear out a cutlass that quick. The raw water impeller would suffer too. Is that still in good shape? I'm betting on poor alignment.
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