motor, shaft and boat 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=3890
Printed Date: January-16-2025 at 2:40pm
Topic: motor, shaft and boat alignment
Posted By: oldskiboat
Subject: motor, shaft and boat alignment
Date Posted: June-16-2006 at 2:17pm
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I have done alignments at the coupling before, but how to you make sure the motor and shaft are aligned straight in regard to the center line of the boat. I am asking this because it seems that my 75 Southwind 20 wants to go to port if I let go of the wheel. This has not always been the case. ------------- Gary The Villages Fl. http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1392&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975" rel="nofollow - 75Southwind 20 |
Replies:
Posted By: Atmspltr
Date Posted: June-16-2006 at 3:01pm
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Your strut determines the shaft alignment. Is there any room for adjustment in the mounting of the strut?...if not, the rest of the alignment is fixed to the strut alignment. Have you changed props? Could the tendency to run to port be due to prop thrust? Is the steering wheel centered? Have you disconnected or removed the rudder cable lately? -------------  http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i201/Atmspltr/frontboat.jpg - 67 Mustang Resto-Mod
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Posted By: oldskiboat
Date Posted: June-16-2006 at 3:58pm
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Atmspltr, Thank you for your reply. There is enough normal play in the cutlass bearing that could allow some miss alignment this way, but there is not enough that causes slap between the shaft and the bearing. I am using the same prop. The steering cable is more or less self aligning, I thought. If it is off you may not be able to turn as sharp in one direction but I don't see how it would make the boat pull to port. There is not any major vibration going on when going up the rpm range, so I think the actual alignment between the shaft and the motor is okay. ------------- Gary The Villages Fl. http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1392&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975" rel="nofollow - 75Southwind 20 |
Posted By: DrCC
Date Posted: June-18-2006 at 2:12pm
| It is the nature of the beast to pull one way at certian RPM's. Go faster and it will pull in the other direction. |
Posted By: oldskiboat
Date Posted: June-18-2006 at 6:21pm
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Funny thing is that it didn't pull before. Now before what is the question. I know that I did have the rudder reworked from a kiss on a sand bar and I did re-align the shaft to the engine. but I am not sure after which one the pulling started. By the way,If I look close I can see more of a space between the the front of the shaft strut plate and the hull then between the rear of the plate and the hull, but I'm talking about no more then 1/32 of an inch. And going faster does not change the pull from port to starboard. ------------- Gary The Villages Fl. http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1392&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975" rel="nofollow - 75Southwind 20 |
Posted By: Tim D
Date Posted: June-18-2006 at 10:46pm
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You need to loosen the coupler a little bit and take a feeler gauge and check the gap between the 4 bolts to see if it is consistant. Most likely the transmission has moved over to one side. ------------- Tim D |
Posted By: Jim_In_Houston
Date Posted: June-19-2006 at 1:37pm
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I think the problem is in your rudder adjustment. In order for the boat to go straight the rudder must be adjusted slightly in one direction or the other (I don't remember which) - not centered. This is to offset prop thrust.
I doubt that anyone's drive train is exactly straight along the longitudinal axis of their boat. In fact, I doubt that anyone's hull is exactly straight (when you get down to it). ------------- Happy owner of a '66 and a '68 Mustang |
Posted By: 79nautique
Date Posted: June-19-2006 at 3:35pm
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your worring about something you cannot change. The shaft alignment will have no effect on the rudder what so ever so suggesting aligning this and doing that is just pissing in the wind.
The reason it pulls now is becuase the rudder is different than it was before. So as the water passed over the rudder it is going faster on one side than it is the other creating a pressure difference and your pull. If you want to try and fix it or make it not as noticeable then you need to file on the edge of the rudder and quite dicking around with the alignment. Personally there's nothing wrong with it. If you let go of the wheel and it doesn't go one way or the other then you need to replace the steering cable or at least lube it, because that is what is keeping it going straight. If you can let go of the wheel and it still goes straight then do a couple of high speed power turns and it that will fix the problem when the cable breaks. Beacuse it's old, stiff and rusted and need's replaced and a power turn is just the ticket to prove it to you, justy have a cell phone and a tow boat handy to retrieve your boat. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=756&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1979&yrend=1979 - 79 nautique |
Posted By: oldskiboat
Date Posted: June-19-2006 at 7:48pm
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Thanks all, I think BC has the right idea on the rudder. Sort of like a plane wing. If there is any type of bend or the leading edge is not quite the same on either side it will pull. Makes sence. The cable is good though. I replace that one a few years ago and you are right it was very stiff at that time. If you want to take a look at the boat, I just posted it in the diaries. It is the white with blue strip 75 Southwind 20. Thanks again everyone for your suggestions. ------------- Gary The Villages Fl. http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1392&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975" rel="nofollow - 75Southwind 20 |
Posted By: David F
Date Posted: June-20-2006 at 11:25am
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IMHO, a slight pull to one side when letting go of the steering wheel is desirable. This helps in keeping the boat going straight ahead when running the course or otherwise. If the steering is neutral, then small waves and such will make the boat "hunt" from side to side.
Now, some boats have anti kick-back helms (not necessarily CC's) that will prevent the steering from self centering after turns. This type of helm does not mean you have a bad steering cable. But, on normal helms, the boat should self center from turns, if it doesn't, you may have a corroded/dry cable or dry (tilt) helm. ------------- |