Great info, thanks! I've got a H34 and was trying to figure out how to pull the shaft and replace without dropping the rudder. I think my setup is similar to yours, seems like a simple solution.It may be hard to remove the transmission side coupling from the shaft. These are typically pressed. The easiest way is to lift the engine and slide it out below the engine. This is also the recommended way to install the new shaft as the coupling and the shaft typically come together and are factory aligned. You are unlikely to align them as well once you remove the coupling and reattach it. It is not so hard to lift the engine by a few inches (at least on my H31 it was a piece of cake, I did it twice in 4 hours since I forgot the PSS ring
I love the basketball Idea. I need to look at replacing my engine mounts, and that sounds a whole lot better than using a scissor jack.Just in case you are lifting the engine for the first time. Attach a line between the two winches on the companionway sides and then to the engine. Put a basketball below the engine (closer to the transmission). Inflate the basketball while stabilizing the engine with the line. Once you have enough clearance to remove the shaft fix the engine in place, remove the basketball, work on the shaft, then just drop the engine in place. Good luck.
Do you have any pictures showing what your dealing with?In my case I have a center cockpit, so my winches are a long way off, and the lines would run over too many obstacles.
Nice!1/4 ton winch
View attachment 152953 View attachment 152954
Replacing motor mounts anyway so I decided to go up..