97 Ski Nautique Winter Maintenance

You guys got me thinking a little about the shaft log alignment, so I went out and took some pictures. Its definitely off center in the log, and when looking forward you can tell that it's not perfect centered with the boat. If you sit at the back, and look forward from the center of the strut, you can't see any of the shaft, nor the tracking fins, but you see the shaft sooner when you lean to the left vs. leaning to the right.

When I took the old shaft out (with the engine more centered), there didn't seem to be any binding indicating that the alignment was poor. The shaft, however, was bent, and when I was spinning the coupling to press the shaft out, there were points where it was hard to turn due to binding with the packing nut. I did have quite a time getting the front bearing out of the strut - any chance that my pounding with a hammer and a punch/chisel could have bent the strut? Is it worth trying to bend it back? The shaft does spin very freely, but it's not pointed perfectly straight forward.

Agree, I'd be interested in seeing what the specification or commonly accepted amount of misalignment of the shaft is. As much as I dont want to tear it apart and realign things, I also want it done right. At least I have the ARE shaft, so disassembly is easy!

Good question, I do not think it would cause damage to the cutlass bearing but that is my opinion only. No concrete facts to back it up.
There is nothing written stating it is OK to tweak the strut using the old shaft but I know it has been done. If your strut is way off this is not the way to fix it. If you need a 1/8 inch or less side to side at the shaft to tranny connection I think that would be achievable. For up and down movment you will need to remove the strut and rebed it. Might need to add a couple washers in the rear between the hull and the strut to get your angle correct.   Mine was way off about 2 inches if my memory is correct. The previous owner must have taken a hard hit.   I had to sand the strut bottom and create a little angle from the front to the rear to raise my prop shaft up. I used a 4" belt sander for this to make it a little thinner in the front and thicker in the rear but still flat. My old 4" belt sander has a large flat hard plate on the bottom that worked well to adjust the strut.. The belt sander cut the brass strut face quickly so have a plan, have it marked and take it slow. I limited the sanding because I was afraid to make the strut weak. Additionally I had to add two washers in the rear to get the up and down angle correct. My side to side angle was not an issue. I bought about 15 stainless washers at the local hardward store all the same diameter and same bolt size but   I found they varied in thickness, I measured eash one and wrote the size on it with a felt pen. When I was getting close I could add and subtract angle by using the different sized washers till I had it right.
The prop shaft location at the tranny can be moved quite a bit by adding washers to the correct strut bolt mount hole. The shaft will move a fair amount just by adding a washer as needed. I chose to bed mine once straight with the 5200 because I wanted it to stay put and because I had to use those washers which I assumed would weaken my strut attachment to the bottom of the boat. With 5200 I think the strut is very strong and I do not worry about it. Make really clear marks on the hull and the strut once you find where you want it to be once bedded.   I used a sharpie on the brass and hull bottom. Make the lines a little wide because the 5200 will squease out and a close mark may get covered leaving you blind to proper location right as you are trying to tighten the bolts.
The sharpie marks wipe right off with laquer thinner once you are done.

You don't even know that you have a bent strut. It could be a "not so good" installation job from the factory.

Why would you want to use brute force when you can take the strut off and get it aligned right?. You probably have enough wiggle room just with the holes in the hull that the strut is bolted through to get the shaft centered in the log since you're looking for side to side movement and not up and down

Or you open up the holes a little to give the wiggle room and whatever sealant you use will prevent any leaks . Or fill in the holes that need to be changed a little and redrill.

Speaking of projects, how are the 5 1/2 inch exhaust manifold bolts treating you from the manifold project?

Also, nothing wrong with 1/8 inch on your rudder