Shaft Strut Bushing & Shaft Strut Sealant

[Styx]

I have an S2 8.0c that I am rebuilding. The inside plate and nuts were rusted. I removed them and will replace the steel plate with a SS plate and the nuts with SS nuts. The bolts are SS and look in good shape.

There is a ridged bushing inside the hole where the shaft goes through. It looks plastic, but may be something else. The boat has not been in the water for 10 years and this bushing is dried out and marred. (see picture) Does this bushing need replaced or is this normal? If replaced, where do I get one? What exactly is it called? Are there any tricks to replacing this bushing?

Also, what sealant should I use when I reinstall the strut to the boat?

 

[alexco38]

It's call a cutless bearing. Google it.

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Indeed a cutlass bearing (or bushing). Looking at the pix, yours definitely needs replacement. Take out the set screws on the side of the strut and press the bushing out. If that doesn't work, take a hacksaw blade and carefully cut it from the inside. A local shaft & prop shop should have the bushing you need. Since you have the strut away from the boat, you might want to take it there. The site here might be able to help but they'll need shaft diameter, and specs of the bushing. For example, my boat with a 1" shaft takes a 4" X 1 1/4 X 1 cutlass bushing. Yours may be different.

 

[shemandr]

Check the shaft alignment after replacing the backing plate and re- placing the strut - before sealing and launching.

 

[Styx]

Thank you. I believe mine is also a 4 x 1 1/4 x 1. It does not seem to have a set screw. I will call the Sailboat.com store.

 

[Styx]

Just called sailboat.com store and ordered a new one.

 

[JK_Boston_Catalina310]

You should also check out this website for a description of how to remove and install the cutlass bearing. http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/replacing_a_cutlass

 

[Styx]

Awesome directions of how to remove and install cutlass bearing. I will use them. Thank you

 

[Allan12210]

After dry fitting the strut with the shaft and cutless installed, verify that the shaft passes directly through the stern tube. You can make pencil marks on the strut and hull so when you permanently mount it, it will still be in alignment. I used Sikaflex 292 to seal the strut back to the boat. Only apply to sealant to the bolts as they come through the hull. Don't glue the strut to the hull as you may need to remove it again someday. Also, having sealant between the strut flange and the hull will change the alignment. The hull is your solid reference surface for alignment. Having sealant in there will allow some flexing as well leading to premature cutless failure. If it isn't coming into alignment, then either remove material from the strut flange or build up the hull with epoxy. Here is a reference you might find useful:

http://forums.hunter.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=1026021&highlight=allan12210 strut

Good luck.

Allan

 

[capta]

As mentioned above, reinstalling the strut is a critical operation. There can be no deviation from true and if there is, you will have a lot of vibration when powering, wear out cutlass bearings frequently and in the worst case scenario, it could cause the strut to wiggle, loosening or breaking the bolts, causing a catastrophic failure and loss of the boat.
I would recommend you get help from a professional for installing the strut. Using the laser technology of today greatly facilitates the process.