Soon I’ll be hauling out my H49 to mount a new prop. I also hope to service my PSS shaft seal and change the cutless bearing. My question is, should I change the shaft log, too? I have no experience with a strut mounted cutless bearing and a separate shaft log so I’m not sure what the protocol is.
Running Gear Maintenance
- Thread starter Georgedoyle
- Start date
Hi George, no experience here with a PSS seal, but just wondering why you need to replace the cutless bearing? What year was your boat made and how many hours on the propulsion system? Was your prop damaged and now needs replacing?
Our 1991 has the original cutless bearing and it remains solid with a little over 2,000 hours on the propulsion system. It also came with a fixed three blade, which I really like.
Our 1991 has the original cutless bearing and it remains solid with a little over 2,000 hours on the propulsion system. It also came with a fixed three blade, which I really like.
Last edited:
You want to check the condition of the cutlass bearing before any consideration of changing it. The shaft should be snug inside the bearing with a minimum of radial movement. Wear and tear on the cutlass bearing is often the result of shaft coupling misalignment. You may want to check that as well. With good alignment, I wonder if the bearing ever requires renewal. I've had 23 years with roughly 2500 running hours without a trace of lateral movement in the bearing.
There is no need to change the shaft log unless it's been damaged. It's just there to hang on to the shaft seal, whatever it may be.
2008, 1000 hours, no movement of shaft in cutless bearing at last haul out in 2020. I'm installing a folding prop so the shaft needs to come out anyway for a trim to the aft end. I thought it would be a good time the other maintenance. I appreciate the comments.
Do you mean the shaft log hose that the shaft seal is mounted to? Depending on the age of the boat, you might want to consider changing it, since it will be accessible. I saw a boat on the hard that had the shaft log worn into an oval. That was scary.
The PSS shaft seal is ready for replacement at 14 years. The shaft log hose could be replaced if the shaft is out. The shaft log itself is built into the hull where the shaft exits the hull and is never replaced.
I have the shaft out of my 2003 h386. The Rubber Hose portion of the PSS has a six year maintenance window per the manufacturer, and the carbon disk should be inspected and replaced if needed at the same time. Mine was dry and the rubber had stiffened.
While there was not noticeable play in my cutlass bearing, I am replacing it while the shaft is out. Cheaper to spend the $100 for the bearing now while the shaft is out and have the peace of mind.
While there was not noticeable play in my cutlass bearing, I am replacing it while the shaft is out. Cheaper to spend the $100 for the bearing now while the shaft is out and have the peace of mind.