The prop shaft on my 1977 27' slides out of the housing (collar?) at the back of the transmission on a regular basis. It appears that the only thing holding this in place are two bolts tightened against the shaft. This does not seem to be a very good design - am I missing something? How is this supposed to work? Thanks
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shaft
Steve, there should be a set screw in the coupler and the shaft should have a slight dimple at that location.
Steve, there should be a set screw in the coupler and the shaft should have a slight dimple at that location.
Shaft and coupling
In addition to the set screw, the shaft should also be a press fit into the coupling. If it is loose enough to slip out easily, you may need a new shaft or coupling. A great safety for this is to install a zinc. The flat type of zinc on the shaft inside the boat between the stuffing box and the coupling. This prevents the shaft from sliping out of the boat if the coupling fails. This most often happens in reverse when the prop is pulling on the shaft and in some cases the shaft pulls completely out and is lost. Leaving a one inch hole where the shaft should be.
In addition to the set screw, the shaft should also be a press fit into the coupling. If it is loose enough to slip out easily, you may need a new shaft or coupling. A great safety for this is to install a zinc. The flat type of zinc on the shaft inside the boat between the stuffing box and the coupling. This prevents the shaft from sliping out of the boat if the coupling fails. This most often happens in reverse when the prop is pulling on the shaft and in some cases the shaft pulls completely out and is lost. Leaving a one inch hole where the shaft should be.
Let me add...
There is a key way, which locks the shaft and the coupler together to prevent slippage, the set screws which are on the sides of the coupling do set into the shaft where dimples have been drilled, but there should also be a wire which is run between these two set screws once they have been tighten down, this wire goes thur the head of the two screws and is twisted tight, preventing the set screws from backing out from the vibration of the shaft. Without this locking wire, things maybe losing up from when you tightened everything down.
There is a key way, which locks the shaft and the coupler together to prevent slippage, the set screws which are on the sides of the coupling do set into the shaft where dimples have been drilled, but there should also be a wire which is run between these two set screws once they have been tighten down, this wire goes thur the head of the two screws and is twisted tight, preventing the set screws from backing out from the vibration of the shaft. Without this locking wire, things maybe losing up from when you tightened everything down.
Thanks
Thanks - I had thought that dimples in the shaft would make sense but unfortunately there are none present. Perhaps this shaft is not the original - I've had the boat only about 3 years. You all have given me some ideas to pursue. Thanks again. Any idea of a source for a shop manual? swillsie@aol.com
Thanks - I had thought that dimples in the shaft would make sense but unfortunately there are none present. Perhaps this shaft is not the original - I've had the boat only about 3 years. You all have given me some ideas to pursue. Thanks again. Any idea of a source for a shop manual? swillsie@aol.com
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