Strut Alignment - 86 Hunter 31

[Dfisher]

TO continue the case on my excessive vibration that would not allow the engine to get to full RPM as reported by the previous owner I have finished the following;
1) Replacement of propeller shaft
2) Replacement of cutlass bearing
3) Installation of R&D flexible shaft coupling and alignment of the engine better than the .010 that was called out by the shaft coupling.
4) Rebalancing and re-build of max-prop.

After doing all this i look a look at where the shaft goes through the stern tube and it is way off - see pictures. What would you recommend? Should I 1) heat up the strut and use pipe wrenches to bend the strut until the location of the shaft is correct in the stern tube 2) Go through a major engine alignment to align the shaft in the stern tube 3) Do nothing as long as the engine alignment is correct.

Thank you as always

 

[kloudie1]

If the alignment is correct and the shaft is not hitting the side of the tube when running, don't mess with it..
As my engine mounts got bad, my shaft, which was not centered in the tube, started banging on the tube during some of its low RPM jumpabouts on the soft mounts..

 

[Allan12210]

If the alignment is correct and the shaft is not hitting the side of the tube when running, don't mess with it..
As my engine mounts got bad, my shaft, which was not centered in the tube, started banging on the tube during some of its low RPM jumpabouts on the soft mounts..

I agree with Claude (Kloudie1). If you really want to be sure that the strut is in alignment with the system then use a magnifying glass and flashlight. Look very closely at the rubber in the cutless bearing on each side of the strut. If it is not precisely aligned the rubber will be pinched on one side of the shaft and typically the opposite side of the shaft at the other end of the strut. Then you could think about moving the engine mounts in the direction to erase the distortion of the cutless. If it is passing through with out pinching, leave it be.

If you have to change the strut orientation, don't try heating or bending it. Instead, you will have to re-bed it after shimming or rotating. I did do that on mine as it was way off to the point that the shaft did rub when allowed to pass freely through the stern tube (disconnected from the engine). I have a dripless seal inside so the shaft is not held captive by a packing nut. Its not a difficult task, it just takes concentration to detail.

Let us know how the alignment through the strut looks and we can proceed from there.

 

[Dfisher]

Thank you for the advice. I will be out there this weekend if the rain doesn't hit too hard to check on this.