So, my current situation is that my boat is on the hard, after withdrawing the propeller shaft I found that the strut was installed so incorrectly that it was virtually impossible to get the shaft back into the transom hole. The stern tube had rotted into bits of decomposed bronze. So I have purchased new motor mounts, a new Cutlass bearing, new stern tube and I will loosen/remove the strut for the shaft.
My plan of action is as follows and I welcome any commentary, even if it has to do with alien abductions and trans medium craft. After installing the new motor mounts, I will run the motor for a bit throttling it this way and that and then let the motor sit for a couple days while I do other projects. Then I will put the shaft into the coupler and move the engine about with the mount Adjusters such that the shaft is centered in the stern hole. I will note the amount of play at the end of the shaft with the propeller removed and I will work on centering the shaft in that amount of movement at its end . I will support the shaft in some fashion or another in the center of its movement . Then I will install the stern tube, making sure that it is equidistant from the shaft with a spacer and I will also install the strut, using thickened epoxy to get a proper set such that, with the new Cutlass bearing, the strut will be centered on the shaft which will be centered in the stern tube which will be bolted up to the transmission. I will be installing a Volvo lip seal and after I get all of these things fitted I will install an R&D flexible drive shaft coupler. After I splash the boat I will make some attempt at measuring the alignment but from my understanding, a beefy hull and a well-centered drive shaft should not vary that much from the difference in Hull flexion from being on the land versus on the water. In the end I will have new motor mounts, new Cutlass bearing, new Stern tube and new prop shaft seal, warp drive, photon torpedoes and retractable landing gear. All laurels, darts, and conspiracy theories are welcome.
My plan of action is as follows and I welcome any commentary, even if it has to do with alien abductions and trans medium craft. After installing the new motor mounts, I will run the motor for a bit throttling it this way and that and then let the motor sit for a couple days while I do other projects. Then I will put the shaft into the coupler and move the engine about with the mount Adjusters such that the shaft is centered in the stern hole. I will note the amount of play at the end of the shaft with the propeller removed and I will work on centering the shaft in that amount of movement at its end . I will support the shaft in some fashion or another in the center of its movement . Then I will install the stern tube, making sure that it is equidistant from the shaft with a spacer and I will also install the strut, using thickened epoxy to get a proper set such that, with the new Cutlass bearing, the strut will be centered on the shaft which will be centered in the stern tube which will be bolted up to the transmission. I will be installing a Volvo lip seal and after I get all of these things fitted I will install an R&D flexible drive shaft coupler. After I splash the boat I will make some attempt at measuring the alignment but from my understanding, a beefy hull and a well-centered drive shaft should not vary that much from the difference in Hull flexion from being on the land versus on the water. In the end I will have new motor mounts, new Cutlass bearing, new Stern tube and new prop shaft seal, warp drive, photon torpedoes and retractable landing gear. All laurels, darts, and conspiracy theories are welcome.
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