Elberts ARE shaft repair
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=17666
Printed Date: November-18-2024 at 12:24pm
Topic: Elberts ARE shaft repair
Posted By: Whitfield
Subject: Elberts ARE shaft repair
Date Posted: May-22-2010 at 4:20am
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Hey guys! Hope you all might can offer me some advice. I'm not a CC owner hope that isn't held againt me.... I still find that I can spend days here on the site reading and learning about my inboard ski boat. You guys are the best and I hope I can learn more.
I own a 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive). ~Bought it May 09 & Still yet to see the water~ I am working on a refurb and alignment my drive shaft to include repacking the log and rudder assembly + new strut bushings. Taking a closer look at my drive shaft I find that the previous owner installed an ELBERTS A.R.E. Drive Shaft System. Probally right after the prop took those chunks out of the trailer bunk. My problem is that some where along the line the drive shaft side coupler came loose from the shaft taper. The Elberts coupler and nut assy take a special tool to tighten as the unt is recessed into the coupler. My big concern is that with the nut and coupler loose on the shaft I'm worried the tapered fit is damaged. With a .003" run out in alignment it wouldn't take much to cause an issue. My thoughts as of tonight are to remove the shaft & coupler and take them to a friends machine shop. Have him check the Shaft run out / coupler run out / and shaft to coupler fit. If we find the fit to be damaged does anyone see an thing wrong with recutting the taper on the coupler and or shaft just enough to clean it up? I'm hoping maybe we can just lap it in to recover the original fit. Thanks, Michael ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Replies:
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: May-22-2010 at 11:18am
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it takes a special tool to remove the coupling, but its a normal socket to tighten it, Im a bit confused on what your asking
most times when you order an ARE shaft it does not come with the removal tool, the removal tool will thread into the coupling recess after you remove the nut and press on the shaft to pop the taper ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: SNobsessed
Date Posted: May-22-2010 at 11:45am
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Michael - Try the lapping, you have nothing to lose but some time. Use some bluing (or similar type ink) to see if there are any high spots in the joint. ------------- “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Ben Franklin |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-22-2010 at 8:50pm
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Thanks,
I see now that I can use a standard 1 1/16" socket (shallow well thin wall). Somehow last year I got caught up not able to tighten the nut ?? Believe I must have only had impact sockets at the time. I also see the coupler machining for the coupler seperator (NICE!!!). The Separator is a jacking plug which, when threaded into the retaining nut recess with the nut removed, pushes the shaft out of the coupling. Aparrently last year (late season) I snugged the loose coupler down for engine alignment only to find bad strut bushings. Thus my decision to reseal teh under site fitting and replace the bushings. For coupler removal I had to flip the nut and install it 3/4 of the way then place block of wood between the 2 coupelings. One gentle tap with a hammer on another block of wood placed on the back of the coupling and it popped loose. Taper looks scared from the loose fit. I might could lap it out ~ but my friend needs work and is also a boat fanatic. ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-22-2010 at 8:54pm
On another note.. My friend Dave ~ the machinist helped another friend (Diver for hire) raise a 40' Cris Craft cruiser last night. Boat had been sunk in the slip since Dec. Fun Fun Fun. Now they got it from the slip and beached in the shallows and are working to arange crane & demolition.
 ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 3:32am
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Eric ~ My question (Poorly worded) was can I have the Elberts shaft taper and coupler recut if necessary?
My concerns were the effects of refacing on: 1.Shaft Hardness 2.Shaft legnth (Prop to strut) Searching Pete's Prop install post ~ I found the rule of thumb is 1 to 1&1/2 the diameter of the shaft between the strut and prop. It may vary due to the depth of the taper machined into different props. http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12866 3.Coupler fit on taper (further up shaft) could it cause fit issues (Nut / thread take up / Trans shaft to prop shaft clearance at the coupler joint) Cutting the coulper taper would bring the prop shaft in closer to the trans. Looks like it will be ok with just mild clean up and lapping. My machinist friend said run it as is ~ Tapers check out OK. So I'm gonna lap it some as SNobsessed recomended. The coupler taper shows mild rust pitting and a few other marks but still holds tight and true with the test he showed me. Have my lapping compound in hand ~ Yet to find any blueing compound / but still looking. Hmmm I see a fat stack of Marks-Alot permanent markers. ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 5:16am
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Brass prop key or steel?
My spare prop has a brass key my original prop has a steel key. I'm thinking Brass ~ ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: dsla
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 5:25am
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The prop key that came with my ARE Shaft is brass, and the one on the old shaft was also brass. ------------- http://correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=4418&sort=&pagenum=22&yrstart=1996&yrend=2000 - 1996 Ski Nautique |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 5:40am
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Thanks dsla ~ Brass key it is.
It is amazing how many pieces parts have been altered to questionable status. Edit: 4:44am Took 2 hrs to polish on the prop and coupler fit. Luckily I can get in a little government work (personal projects) on 12x8 shift. I've got the prop and coupler fit loking good!!! Hope I can get some pics of the results later today. Off of work at 8am and then ~ Vacation all next week and wifey is encouraging me to take the time to work on the boat. ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 10:24am
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good to hear you got it...if it were me, i would check that Chris for some 427 side oilers, they bring all the money.. they shouldnt be rotted sitting under water, pull em and pickle them....even a bare block will bring coin ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 10:49am
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Thanks for the tip!
Dave said he thought they were 360's but night time and lots of mud... As big as that thing is I think their could have been a 78 Ford Pinto hiding in their. We will check it out. ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 10:59am
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it will be Fords or Mopars, if there the 427's, nonchalantly say can I have the engines? ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 11:00am
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they bring about 5k apiece to the right guy ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 11:47am
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Will do... It is a city marina and they are days just from legal action against him for removal. He is looking to pay some one to take it ~ My friend the diver is guessing 5k to move 5 miles to a private boat yard + crane + container service. ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 11:54am
PO used a pipe wrench 5 or 6 jaw marks I semi polished out ~ Ugggg 
Some coupler pitting is still visiable but the new taper fit should hold firm even with the minor pits. Keyway broach is showing beginning stages of trauma from the steel key taking the shock load of forward reverse (one edge is not as square as it should be).  ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 12:12pm
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Anyone know prop nut torque right off???
In Pete's Prop post Martin 74 says: "I torqued my prop to 30 lbs per Acme" Sounds a little light but that might be plenty to seat a good taper fit. I checked out Acme's site http://www.acmemarine.com/index.php but could not verify the torque spec information. ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 12:23pm
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Looks like Hollywoods Miamian. Anyone heard from him? Hope he's ok----- ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: Whitfield
Date Posted: May-23-2010 at 3:52pm
Eric, The Chris Craft chroinicle.. I called Dave and mentioned the 427 side oiler possiability and what that might mean... Dave called the owner And you were right ~ their are a pair of 427's sitting down their in the mud. Guy bought the boat in 08 and has never had it running. He had an offer of 10k for just the motors last year before it sunk. Dave did verify that even at mean low tide the boat will pool enough water to keep the engines submerged. Also the engine room is decked over adding difficulty to removal. I am Chris Craft illiterate but I guess this is common on some of the older wooden boats? I'll get more info and update later. Should move this out of my prop shaft thread? . ------------- Michael .... I'm the black sheep ~ 1984 Dixie 299 Super Skier (350 Chev PCM / counter rotation / Velvet drive) Open Bow. |
eric lavine wrote: