Alignment
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14532
Printed Date: November-17-2024 at 8:46pm
Topic: Alignment
Posted By: pallmer
Subject: Alignment
Date Posted: July-19-2009 at 11:17pm
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After reading the posts by Eric Lavine on the importance of a proper alignment I decided to check mine last weekend. I just bought the boat, a 1979 Ski Nautique three weeks ago. There is nothing obvious indicating the alignment is off, the boat doesn’t vibrate, there is plenty of power (if the speedometer is accurate I had it up to 50), the coupler, packing nut and strut bearing (is that what is called a cutlass bearing?) are not loose, I can turn the prop by hand but it takes at least two fingers, not just one. I can turn the propshaft by hand but I have to grab with both hands.
I removed the engine cover and rear floorboard. With some effort I was able to remove the four bolts holding the coupler together. I didn’t loosen the safety wired bolts holding the prop coupler to the propshaft. I tried to separate the coupler but it wouldn’t budge. I tried tapping with a rubber mallet – no effect. I took a large screwdriver and tried to pry them apart – no luck. I could not see anything that was preventing the propshaft from sliding rearward but maybe I missed something. I took a small hammer to the screwdriver and with a few light blows I managed to see the coupling begin to separate but it looked like I was marring the coupler on the prop side. I believe in “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke” so I stopped. I was able to get a feeler gauge of .012 in the gap on top, left and bottom with a .015 gauge barely able to fit on the right side. Places where I marred the coupler I couldn’t stick the gauge in at all. Now I don’t think this was really an accurate measurement of the gap. As I rotated the propshaft, the motor coupler would spin with it so I don’t think I separated the two halves. Again I didn’t want to pound on it to get it to separate and maybe cause a problem when I didn’t have one in the first place. Did I miss something when I tried to separate them? Are both couplers supposed to spin freely independent of each other when the bolts are removed? Was I too timid with the hammer? I have this image in my head of the movie Splash where Fat Jack tried to fix the outboard with a hammer and didn’t want to be that guy. So in the end I just reattached the four bolts and thought I would ask advice on this forum before continuing. I will attach a picture but not sure if that will help. I did loosen the packing nut an 1/8 turn and now I can turn the prop with one finger. I took her for a test run and no vibration or any noticeable difference. Of course I have nothing to compare it to since this is my first powerboat. I did have a friend who is knowledgeable with boats and he didn’t notice anything. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks 
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Replies:
Posted By: gun-driver
Date Posted: July-20-2009 at 1:36am
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Your coupler will come apart into two halves. They are just rusted together.
Get a thin chisel and tap it in between the two halves working your way around the coupler it will eventually separate.(wouldn't hurt to spray some type of rust penetrate on it also) Then clean it up with a wire brush. I put anti-seize on mine to keep it from rusting together again. Watch that the shaft doesnt slide all the way back to the packing nut because the prop can hit the rudder. The safety wired bolts are used to hold the coupler to the shaft. The packing nut should be just tight enough to allow a drip of water out every once in a while. You'll have to run the boat in the water to check that. Hope this helps. |
Posted By: xjglen
Date Posted: July-20-2009 at 2:55am
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BTW you should add another hose clamp on your water intake. ------------- 93 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: pallmer
Date Posted: July-20-2009 at 11:24am
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Thanks Gun-Driver,
That was the just the information and encouragement I needed. I was worried I was causing more damage than good or that I was overlooking a vital step in getting the couplers apart. I will try it again. I also like the anti-seize idea. -Ralph |
Posted By: pallmer
Date Posted: July-20-2009 at 11:26am
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xjglen,
I appreciate you pointing out the hose clamp. I should have picked that up from my sailing days. All hull through fittings get 2 clamps. |