installing strut / centering shaft
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=14968
Printed Date: November-17-2024 at 10:20pm
Topic: installing strut / centering shaft
Posted By: ryanowen
Subject: installing strut / centering shaft
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 12:39pm
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How critical is centering the shaft in the shaft log? I've moved the one shim I had from the front of the strut to the back and that seems to get me to where the shaft is not touching the log anywhere, but it's still not dead center.
Should I be shooting for perfectly centered? If so, I'm going to need another shim. Can I use washers or should I be looking for something else? Thanks! Ryan ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=3284 - 1988 Ski Nautique |
Replies:
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 1:43pm
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Ryan,
Get it as close to the center of the hull hole/log as you can with using the washers as shims. Using the shaft in a rubber cutlass is always a judgment call due to the side to side and top to bottom flexing you get due to the soft rubber. When doing it from scratch such as when I've put a new bottom on a boat, I actually have a piece of 1&1/4" tubing I slip into the strut without the cutlass installed eliminating all the flexing so I can get the location dead on. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: ryanowen
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 2:02pm
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Pete,
Thanks for the response. I'll get some washers in there and get it centered better. Side to side it's ok, but it still needs to come up a a bit. I ended up trying the xpc bushings. They doen't seem to have any give at all. They kind of seem too snug... I'm having a hard time turning the drive shaft. The only basis for comparison I have though is the 20 year old bushing that was in before. I'm not sure if they need to break in or what. Hopefully the xpc's weren't a mistake... ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=3284 - 1988 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 3:14pm
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Ryan,
If you feel the plastic bushings are snug, you may want to try to clean up the shaft slightly with some abrasive strips. If the shaft is out of the boat and you have access to a lathe, chuck it up and sand it down some. You also may want to "mike" out both the shaft OD and the bushing ID and give the people you got the bushings from a call with the measurements. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: ryanowen
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 3:37pm
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Pete,
The engine is still out of the boat, so getting the shaft in and out is no problem at this point. I work at a large machine shop (although I'm not a machinist), so I should be able to get some help if need be. I did check the OD of the shaft and it seemed ok. I didn't check the ID or the OD of the bushing, but I did slip the bushing on the shaft before I installed the bushing in the strut. At that time, it was fine and slid right on. It wasn't until I installed the bushings did it seem tight. It kind of seems like the strut might have compressed the bushings a bit... Does that seem likely? Thanks, Ryan ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=3284 - 1988 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 4:09pm
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Yes,
It's typical of a bushing to be pressed into its bore so the ID gets tighter. Since the plastic bushing set up is two pieces, it's also possible that both aren't exactly parallel to each other (one or both slighty cocked). Since you work at a machine shop, you may want to look for a 1" adustable hand reamer you can take a light pass on the bushings ID. Talk to the people you got the bushings from first to get a idea of the tolerances they want. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: ryanowen
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 5:00pm
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Talked to skidim, where I bought the bushings. He thought it should, if anything, be looser than the rubber bushing athough he didn't give specifics on tolerances. He thought maybe the strut tube was bent and might be binding the shaft. He said he'd run it and see if it wears in, but I like your idea of hitting it with a reamer first. I'm going to give OJ a call and see what they have to say about tolerances. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=3284 - 1988 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 5:52pm
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Ryan,
Talk to OJ and see if they can give you any ideas on the tolerances. I sure don't like the idea to run it and see if it "wears in"!! Even though they are plastic with a low coefficient of frition, they still rely on the water. If there's no clearance between the bush and the shaft, then the waters not going to do its job. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: WakeSlayer
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 5:54pm
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^^ Where is Hollywood when you need him ^^ ------------- Mike N 1968 Mustang |
Posted By: ryanowen
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 6:05pm
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Talked with Tim at XPC. Super nice and helpful guy, btw. He says to expect 3-7 thousandths after they are installed. Definitely shouldn't be binding. He said before anything though, back out the set screws completely. He's thinking they are creating a pressure spot and says they aren't needed for the xpc bushings anyway. Gonna try that first and if that doesn't work, I've got a hand reamer in tow. Keep you posted... Thanks again! ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=3284 - 1988 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: August-18-2009 at 6:18pm
Mike, I just took a look at the previous post and wow you're correct!! I was just writing along and certainly my mind wasn't going off in that direction! We'll see what happens. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
WakeSlayer wrote:Posted By: WakeSlayer
Date Posted: August-19-2009 at 12:55am
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Pete,
My mind always wanders in that direction. Seems like maybe it was just a close call. Mike ------------- Mike N 1968 Mustang |
Posted By: Munday
Date Posted: August-19-2009 at 12:55pm
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I've run the plastic cutlass bearings in some V-drive flatbottom stuff.Had good luck with them,also found them to be a bit tight on the shaft but not binding.They do seem to wear in to a smooth free rotation fairly quickly.I like the reamer idea.
Munday ------------- If the only tool you have is a hammer,everything starts to look like a nail. |
Posted By: ryanowen
Date Posted: August-19-2009 at 1:05pm
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Well, turns out I must have put a bit too much spin on the set screws. I didn't think they were in any further than before, but I guess the plastic bushings didn't like it. Pulled them out and good to go. Now if I can just get the right amount of shimming to center this thing I'll be all set! ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=3284 - 1988 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: ryanowen
Date Posted: August-20-2009 at 11:28am
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After much shimming and adjusting, the strut is installed and centered. The way the strut bolts were tightened seemed to make the difference in getting it just right. Got the new dripless seal and the engine in too! Gonna need an alignment, that's for sure. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=3284 - 1988 Ski Nautique |