Cutless Bearing-No Strut-Will this work?

[shemandr]

I'm trying to avoid the necessity to have the boat put on the lift to drop the rudder, nothing more.

Some DIY'ers around here have dug holes under the rudder to avoid needing the lift to drop the rudder. Not always possible, usually not practical, never fun, but its been done before.

 

[redhead78]

Solstice, when I installed the new rubber brg in the picture, I was able to push it in with my hands, it was pretty tight, and I had a tough time lining up the setscrew, but I got it.I have a center cockpit with a rear cabin, so its a 66" shaft, and when I pushed it in from the inside it was the opposite of yours it was really tight in the bearing. After installing the prop I could hardly turn it with my hands. When I pulled it in the fall it was perfect it had worn very slightly and is still good, after 3 seasons. I feel your pain, I was afraid the cutlass brg would be spinning around in the shaft log. I shot some dishsoap water in the small grooves in-between the shaft and bearing and ran the engine and spun it in gear on the hard and it was okay. Its nerve racking, I think at the time I asked everyone I knew how tight......good luck Red

 

[Solstice]

Solstice, when I installed the new rubber brg in the picture, I was able to push it in with my hands, it was pretty tight, and I had a tough time lining up the setscrew, but I got it.I have a center cockpit with a rear cabin, so its a 66" shaft, and when I pushed it in from the inside it was the opposite of yours it was really tight in the bearing. After installing the prop I could hardly turn it with my hands. When I pulled it in the fall it was perfect it had worn very slightly and is still good, after 3 seasons. I feel your pain, I was afraid the cutlass brg would be spinning around in the shaft log. I shot some dishsoap water in the small grooves in-between the shaft and bearing and ran the engine and spun it in gear on the hard and it was okay. Its nerve racking, I think at the time I asked everyone I knew how tight......good luck Red

Thanks Red,
It sounds like you do indeed feel my pain. I don't think I will be comfortable with this until next fall when I haul the boat! Like you I have solicited advice from as many sources as I could find...