My new jackhammer
- Thread starter odaydokay
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The "jackhammer" part sounds familiar but the exhaust thing does not so this probably isn't it but its worth a try. I had a similar experience on my Catalina 28 a couple years ago.- scary. Turns out it was something simple but had to pull the boat out of the water to find it- there is a thing-a-ma-jig (whose name I don't know) sticking down from the bottom of the hull and through which runs the drive shaft for the prop. There is a bearing in the thing-a-ma-jig and the drive shaft goes through that. It is held in place with a couple of set screws (bring you Allen wrenches). The set screws came loose, the bearing slid down the drive shaft so the drive shaft was flopping around inside the thing-a-ma-jig and making a jackhammer sound. All I had to do (once the boat was in the hoist) was slide the bearing back into place and tighten the set screws (and remove the fishing line that was wrapped around the shaft but had nothing to do with the problem). Now everytime the boat is out of the water I check to make sure the set screws are tight.
In my case, I couldn't make the sound go away so it probably isn't the same thing, but its worth looking at if nothing else works.
Good luck!
Jeff
Yes, those screws go into the cutlass bearing, though the bearing itself is pressed in. I thought of that, but I think my screws have about 5 coats of paint on them. Still the bearing could be damaged, though they apparently don't go from being quiet to making a huge racket in a second or two...having said that "all options are on the table" and I am ready for anything down there.
I know of a situation in which a loose zinc on the shaft hit the hull and created such a noise. But some of the information you provide is inconsistent with this. But then again, maybe there are two problems confounding the diagnosis.
allan
allan
I know I know
Ocasionally have the same sound on my 38 Cat. I just thought that the prop wasnt unfolding all the way causing the shake. It did it sometimes when shifting into forward and powering up. I just went back to neutral, reverse, then forward again. No problemo.
Thanks, but this prop is not a "folder" and I did the forward/reverse/forward bit. 3 hours to dive time.
The award goes to Jeff13800 and Chris. The dive revealed huge lateral play in the prop shaft. Not clear there if much of any cutlass bearing left at all in there or at best maybe some pieces. I was very lucky to get home I guess (ran for about 1-1/2 hours with that pounding noise). Question is now, has any collateral damage been done and what kind of yard man hours are we looking at to fix? Since I am going away for much of September, I will write the remainder of the season off I guess. Thanks to all who responded.
Do it yourself
I recall the Catalina guys have one of the professional rigs that they share around, but it is pretty easy to make one yourself for less than $5.00.
Here is a pretty good example. http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?3253-Cutless-bearing-removal
The Cutless bearing is not all that hard to replace, but you need the right tools. I did mine with a couple of pieces of 3/4" copper pipe that I cut a bit longer than the strut and then cut them length wise so they could be overlapped over each other to make them thick enough to hit the bronze outer edge of the bearing. Got some threaded rod and oak and made a piece for either side of the strut. Cut a 1-1/4" hole aft of the strut in one board, same hole size for above the strut and then cut that board in half length wise so it could be fit over the shaft and used threaded rod to hold those two pieces together. Tightened the big pieces of threaded rod that connected the two pieces forward and aft of the strut, gave a little love tap with a hammer and the bearing broke loose. Slid the new bearing in using a 3rd piece of wood with a rch over 1" hole in it to lightly tap the new bearing in.
I recall the Catalina guys have one of the professional rigs that they share around, but it is pretty easy to make one yourself for less than $5.00.
Here is a pretty good example. http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/showthread.php?3253-Cutless-bearing-removal
Thanks much! That is very helpful and very clever. Now, how did you deal with checking the shaft. While I only ran the engine for under 2 hours with the hammering, I guess it is possible that the shaft got scored, right? Put a new bearing on a bad shaft and it would eat the bearing sooner rather than later I would think. After you pulled that bearing, was there any way you could feel the shaft area around where it seats to make sure you had no issues? If not, one would have to disconect the shaft, slide it back 5-6 inches and examine it right? Also, did you do an engine/shaft alignment after you replaced the bearing or is the theory that nothing changes when you just replace the bearing?
i am wondering if you have 5 inches of play between the stuffing box and the shaft coupling in order to do that slide it back thing to check the shaft ....i have only enough room to repack the stuffing box (about 1 1/2 inches) this could get involved as your coupling if installed correctly should be a press fit and very hard to remove while in the boat....
regards
woody
You know, before I wrote off the rest of my season, I would try and get another one on it. The bad part of the job is over, in that you have the old one out. Pull off what's left of the cutlass bearing, and slide a new one on. A length of pipe, having the same I.D. as your shaft O.D., and you should be able to peck it back in.
The "damage" is already done, if in fact there is any damage at all, and you may possibly get a long time out of it. The shaft would have to come out to rebuild it anyway, so you will be out about 40 bucks for a bearing, and a short time knocking it in.
I would have to try that route first, to save what's left of my year. And with this "repair", you're not subject to tear it up any worse.
$40 dollar gamble mate. I would HAVE to try it.
The "damage" is already done, if in fact there is any damage at all, and you may possibly get a long time out of it. The shaft would have to come out to rebuild it anyway, so you will be out about 40 bucks for a bearing, and a short time knocking it in.
I would have to try that route first, to save what's left of my year. And with this "repair", you're not subject to tear it up any worse.
$40 dollar gamble mate. I would HAVE to try it.
Fair point. I will have to have a look at that. I guess if one takes a gamble that the shaft is ok and does the relatively inexpensive bearing replacement only, maybe checking alignment in water after boat is relaunched, the cost of a premature bearing failure, say in 10 years instead of 20 (or 28 as in my case!) would be cheaper than removing rudder or engine to examine and replace shaft. Might be 6 of one half dozen of another cost wise.
I think that is right, Chris. I would probably not relaunch, however as we would get labor day and one weekend beyond that only until we go away. The yard will not charge to haul the boat as they do my winter storage, but they will nick me good for a re-launch this year and for only two more sailings......probably not worth it, much as I love being out. Then there is the weather aspect. We are weekend sailors only and good chance one of the two will be a rain-out.
Aw man, that is a bummer. At least you know it's not fatal. Through the winter, a shaft trueing and repacking won't be a bad hill project. And go ahead and spin the wheel while yer at it.
A customer of mine has an Oday 28. SUCH a neat boat, very clean. This one sadly has a saildrive in it, you are very lucky. Knowing what I know now about the Zephyr, you couldn't give me a truckload of these turkeys. With a proper engine, like yours I suppose, this boat would be a fine ride for a long time..
BTW, I thought you were going to try and fix it before a haul out..
A customer of mine has an Oday 28. SUCH a neat boat, very clean. This one sadly has a saildrive in it, you are very lucky. Knowing what I know now about the Zephyr, you couldn't give me a truckload of these turkeys. With a proper engine, like yours I suppose, this boat would be a fine ride for a long time..
BTW, I thought you were going to try and fix it before a haul out..
Yes, I have had this 28 since 1995, light use by previous owner 1985-95. Previous boat was O'day 25 with Saildrive. At least in salt water, a complete turkey. Gave the boat to charity and took the write off.
How can I fix "before a haul out" as you put it? Can't fix it while in the water can I????
Probably. That was what I was intimating. If the wheel will come off, and that may be your obstacle, but a bearing will slip right over the tail piece of the shaft, and using that section of pipe can sometimes be used as a slide hammer to knock the new bearing back in the strut. This is providing that the entire cutlass bearing has completely come out of the strut. I say this because more often than not I end up cutting them out. This can still be done, especially if you are using a Hookah. That breathing apparatus gives a man time to collect his thoughts, and put a plan together while underneath. Unless it has just galled the shaft badly, or the bearing has spun in the strut for a few miles, (which is unlikely), it should go smoothly. All boat projects go smoothly, everybody knows that.
Probably. That was what I was intimating. If the wheel will come off, and that may be your obstacle, but a bearing will slip right over the tail piece of the shaft, and using that section of pipe can sometimes be used as a slide hammer to knock the new bearing back in the strut. This is providing that the entire cutlass bearing has completely come out of the strut. I say this because more often than not I end up cutting them out. This can still be done, especially if you are using a Hookah. That breathing apparatus gives a man time to collect his thoughts, and put a plan together while underneath. Unless it has just galled the shaft badly, or the bearing has spun in the strut for a few miles, (which is unlikely), it should go smoothly. All boat projects go smoothly, everybody knows that.
Since I am in 67, even in good health, I do not think I will be trying that kind of under water work in order to get a couple more sailings in, but thanks for the idea anyway!
Oh yeah, before I forget it, I had a bud one time cut the bearing in half lengthwise, put it around the shaft, knocked it up in the strut just to "get home". And ran it that way LONG past when I would have properly addressed it..
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