Boat Repair

Dan, I have to agree with Eric that most likely there is a alignment issue that made the cutlass unscrew itself.
Eric, Now the truth is out that you do repairs with a bottle of liquid! No, I'm a user of the locktite bearing retainer (as well as all the rest of the products) It will take up up to a .008" and sometimes is your only choice. I have seen plating fail.

Pete,Greg, phos, Loctite is a wonderful product, on new

it takes alot for a bushing to come out, there is a reason it is out, and you have to find the reason, been on many boats with the set screws missing and never had the bushings loose as above, yes if you have the setscrews put them in, I cheat and loctite my press fit bushings in> If you get a new one and it is loose in the bore the problem you have may be more than the strut, your alignment could be out.
dont approach it as my bushing fell out and install a new one, something caused it to walk and you need to find the reason and cure that problem first

Dan, I'm wondering if the PO put one of the newer 2 piece cutlass bearings in the strut and didn't check to see if there was a set screw on each small section. I have seen struts with only one set screw in the middle which is fine for the single piece bearing. I'm sure it did vibrate!!

Dan. The picture sure is a close up! Too close!! The middle piece that slides looks like the cutlass (rubber lined brass shell bearing) like Greg mentioned but you shouldn't have that much room between the strut and the prop. Has someone been working on the boat lately? Asking because the bearing looks like it is one of the newer shorter double bearings. The cutlass bearing whether new or old style, is pretty much a press fit. The set screws are in there for sort of a just in case! Something is going on with the boat!! Misalignment? Bad stringers? Since you have admitted that you are not mechanical, lets hope we can find you a mechanic. If I remember correctly, isn't your boat a late 70's Nautique? Fill us in on the boat history.

its on the outside.

That middle piece slides

The problem with the boat is that it needs a new prop and there is a piece on the shaft that isn't connected. (you can slide it) Im not very mechanical but I know that isn't right and its whats causing pretty substantial vibrations. Also I'm pretty sure its not safe.

Thanks for all the help

Morfoot wrote: HELLOOOOOOOoooooo........

That sounds like Hannity.

BKH: I often wonder what happened to DavidF, J_I_H and the Dude. Texas is still in the Union ain't it?

john

Dan, What is the problem with your boat?

well we'll see if he post it's been a long time since he's been on the site, but he used to hold a beer in one hand and the speedo in the other, while driving the boat so we'll see what happens.

Jim