XPC Cutless Bearings

If you haven't already done this, it is strongly recommended that you perform a shaft alignment after re-installation.

Talked to Discount inboard marine ( Great guys by the way ) Looks like i may just go back to the old Cutless bearing material instead. Not happy ! XPC bearings drove in with a light press from a ARBOR press and felt smooth all the way in I was feeling good till i say how they fit on the shaft!

My strut body had a slight bend... The sloppy brass/rubber originals were needed to take up the difference without binding. I sure wish I could have use the xpc ones, they're awesome. I have the pair ready to go in my next strut that needs bushings.

Call Eric at OJ, if they're not to spec, he'll take care of you!

Joe has a lot of hours on his... And that boat isn't babied! I think longevity should be a selling point.

I do have 700+ hard hours on mine, they have outlasted two ARE shafts... the last bent shaft opened them up a bit though so they are on my list to replace. My memory is that they were closer to 3 to 4 thou a side clearance when originally installed but I couldn't swear to it.

& C) they are wet!

When I installed the plastic cutlass bearings I was nervous they would move in the log so I drilled and tapped the bearings so the Log Set screws would hold them in place.. I used red locktite to hold the set screws in place and I located the screws in the thicker part of the bearing not in the water channels. The screws don't go deep enough to endanger the shaft.
When I tried to install the set screws without the drilling and tapping it seemed to be collapsing the plastic on the shaft. The change to a drilled and tapped bearing seemed to work/help and it is still in operation, again only 25 hours but 25 smooth hours with zero drag in the shaft log and they have not moved yet.
If I ever need to remove them it will be a far easier job than cutting and pressing out the OE style cutlass. That was a chore.

Sleepyone wrote: In looking at this, all these older boats really should of had a larger strut under them to allow for a larger bearing OD size because getting down to 1" from the 1.250 with water grooves cut in the bearing is not a good engineering solution. .

Randy,
I'm confused! What does thickness have to do with the load bearing capacity? Maybe you need to do some calculations? Start with the radial loading of the prop shaft and compare that to the compressive modulus, (ASTM D695) of the material in question. As a comparison,, keep in mind that some PTFE lined metal bushings are running at about a thickness of .010" with the plastic.

I bought the boat with 100 hours and 20 years old. The previous owner had damaged the prop and bent the shaft. They fixed the prop but drove it with a bent shaft until they sold it.
The cutlass bearing was worn out as was the coupler at the tranny from all the movement and vibration.   I do not know how many hours it was used with this bent shaft in place.
I had it out for 10 minutes and knew it needed the repair. But I bought it anyway because it was really clean and perfect cosmetically. I could fix the rest.
( Until 4 deer came out in front of me and I wrecked it last August )

Just did the same thing on Rico's skier and they seemed looser than I would have liked prior to installation. We put them in anyways and between the strut compressing them slightly and the shaft installed between both bushings, the slop was essentially eliminated.

That said, if you have the luxury of time (prior to the planned install), I'd give Eric at OJ a call and see what he says. If they're out of spec, he'll take care of you.

I went back to the Bronze rubber bushings after trying two sets of the XPC. both sets of the XPC had more clearance in the ID after installation. I wish I had some of the XPC bearing material and I could turn my own and reduce the clearance but it is going to be very hard to accommodate size range on a harder bearing material like the XPC with as much difference as I have seen in the strut ID Bore..    Wish I could of used the XPC I liked the concept and how they feel if you can get the clearance tight enough.