Drive shaft straightening ??

Shag, I just hit something last week and to the "eye" everything looked good. With a dial indicator it was horrible. You will want to look into the shaft allignment video and do some checking. Bones.

I'm in the same boat. Sorry for the pun. I called SkiDim and asked them what I needed and they got me going in the right direction. Mine was 51 inches. Some of the guys who work there have Nautiques. I wasn't sure who else sold the ARE double taper shaft. I am also going to try and straighten the old one. I have spent the last 30 days going over the whole boat and trailer. It can be a little overwhelming but there is a lot of help on here.

I think some prop shops specialize in shaft straightening also. Not sur but I think so. I'm tryi g to do as much as I can on my own to save cash and learn too. Good luck. Bones.

If you have occasion to come south I have the best prop and strut guy I have ever worked with in Fort Myers. And i have used every one on both coasts from ski boats to 60' wheels and Kort nozzles. I feel it is worth the trip. Your running gear will be absolutely perfect. This guy is nutty. My little shaft came back spoon cut and knurled with a pinned key. These are things you just simply do not see in itty bitty running gear like ours. He also straightened my strut that was out about 10mm with a slight twist and took the prop back to the original blue print. I took the opportunity to install the white OJ bearing and I like it but to be honest I have only about 20 hours on it so far.
1)As Tim stated, check hub to strut clearance and report back with the measurement to establish if a length adjustment should be done.
2) Unbolt the coupler and slide the shaft log fwd to check strut alignment. Check strut bearing condition. If not perfect, unbolt the strut.
Put all parts in your car and drive to Fort Myers to M&M machine on Metro Pkw. Talk to Lynn or Dan and tell them John Campbell sent you.

With the original shaft you have to remove the rudder? I didn't know that. Taking the boat off the trailer is no biggie for me but removing the rudder? Is that a big deal? Bones.

Bushings are $65 I think, might as well replace while you're there and have access. Possibly a dripless packing too or at least some goretex rope that doesn't leak much. The Vdrive coupling is a pain to get loose, but seperateing it from the transmission and lifting it out is easy, there's a place on top for a lift ring.   A 2x6 across the top of the gas tank makes a nice seat and watch out for the angle that holds the floor up, it will grab your calf when you stand up.

Tx,
Lifting ring for ? I don't have to take the tranny or v-drive loose do I? And other than getting the tool ski dim has, is there an easy way to remove/replace the strut bushing(s)?
Sorry for all the questions..... Replying from mobile :/

So there's not really away to change the shaft without pulling th v-drive? Ugh

Trbenj, so if my stock shaft is 54", what should I get? 53"? I thought it looked like it stuck out a long way past the strut... Might be why it got tweaked...
I really don't want to pull the vdrive out - never done that before....

If you are replacing the shaft the only tool you need in there is a cut off wheel or sawz-all.

Lol, I guess your right.
Then that coupler will come right off!
Then I can take it to the bench to remove the rest of the shaft...

A grade 5 fine thread will work fine. Anymore tension than that can handle will distort the coupler.

Shoot for 1/2" of clearance from strut to prop hub.

If you have the shaft and coupler off anyways, its easier to just chop a bit off the non-tapered side than it is to re-grind the whole taper.

In this case, the original poster's shaft is toast, and he's buying new anyways.

I'm going to try and remove the shaft (today hopefully) so I can confirm the length before I order a new one. In addition, with the 1 1/4" from strut to prop hub, I have about 3" from prop blade to hull surface - so I should be fine shortening the shaft about 1" if I'm correct.
Thanks again for all the advice everyone!