Replace Cutless Bearing?

Good morning everyone, try posting this in General Discusion, but maybe this the better forum. Anyway ,yesturday before heading out I was cleaning up the boat and checking things out and come to find that I have some play in the cutless bearing. Not to much, I can move shaft maybe 1/16". I'm assuming its been like this for a while, and that it is probably the original bearing. Thing is, we are leaving for Arkansas next Saturday, and want to know if I can get away with this for another couple weeks before tearing into this project. I have never done the procedure,(coupler removal, rudder removal, cutless removal, tranny alignment, ect.). I know I will be more than capable of accomplishing this, through the threads and help from you all, I just dont want to rush things and I wont be able to test it out before leaving for Arkansas, and I would hate to do all that work, drive down there, and have something not right. I would appreciate any insight on this. Thanks. 96' Ski Nautique, 351 Carbed, 1-1:23 tranny.

Mark

Thanks for the reply Pete, I was hoping that I can get a way with it for a lttle more while, kinda afraid of opening up a can of worms before heading south, and dont want to be down for long. I'll plan on attacking it when we get back. Thanks

Just jumping in here Mark, your plan sounds like a good one. I put up with a slight drip in my tranny last season, and pulled it when I pulled the boat for winter. I'd say you're safe to do the same.

And in looking at what you're planning on doing, get some opinions and Pete's thoughts on doing the reassembly with a double-taper shaft and since it's all apart, even thought it's a few more bucks you could also consider a packless shaft seal: http://www.correctcraftfan.com/articles/PSS.asp

MS

To be honest with you Pete, I think she runs pretty smooth, We've only had the boat for two years, so I'm new to the scene, but I never have noticed any excessive vibration at any speed, maybe when I turn when I'm under power pulling a skier, but we ski on the Illinois river, so turning under power is at a minimum. Eric posted in general discussion that it has probably been like this for a couple years, and that how long we've had the boat. I'm assuming that I have'nt operated the boat with the cutlass in good condition since I bought it. Like I said, I was just cleaning things up and checking out the prop and shaft and noticed that it had some play in it.

I'm with everyone else, unless you have significant vibrations I'd just wait till winter and get all your maintenance done at once. That being said, if you go with the ARE double taper replacement assembly the cutlass bearing is a 3-4hr job that is fairly straight forward and easy. So if vibrations do pop up or if you just want to knock it out now it really isn't a bad job, and you don't really save a ton of time labor wise doing them together(only overlapping parts is unbolting the 4 bolts on the cutlass halvs and sliding the shaft down/out so you can separate the tranny from the engine). Though downtime wise you could be doing the cutlass bearing and new shaft install while FFM is rebuilding the tranny. ARE shaft system will run ya $500ish(having done it the reusing the stock coupler way I highly suggest it) and cutlass bearing(s) will be $72(don't bother with the hacksaw approach, tap them out with a 13/16" socket and ballpein, put the new ones in the freezer overnight and install them by hand)