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Date Posted: - Tuesday - 01/22/13 - 10:44pm
Author: Sietse (M32 #49 "Waka Irie")
Subject: Cutless Bearing

We are currently in Panama on the atlantic side and about to go through the canal but we found out yesterday that our cutless bearing has a lot of play and has to be replaced.

it guess it would be good to get the right bearing before we haul out but i read on the forum that it could be an odd size instead of the normal one which should be:
1 1/8" ID 1 5/8" OD 4 1/2" length.

is there any way i can figure that out while she's still in the water.

i guess you have to remove the prop and disconnect the couping and then remove the whole shaft right?
how hard was it to remove the coupling?

We hardly have any money left and can't afford to haul out on a travel lift in a fancy marine that will charge us $1000 for the whole thing so we hope we can make it through the canal to the pacific side and lift her out on a rail track between tides because it is a lot cheaper but i'm pretty sure it will take longer then a day.

i think taking the coupling of will be a big project too cause at the moment it just looks like one big rusty lump of metal.

has any one done this recently and has any tips on this?

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Replies:

[> Mariner repairs -- keoni, - Monday - 01/28/13 - 11:18am

Aloha folks,

I noticed no responses to your dilimma and am somewhat surprised. Although I do not currently have a Mariner, I am very interested in these situations as I am about to acquire one myself. I'm always interested in unique situations like yours for obvious reasons.
May I suggest you post a like message on Cruisers Forum...perhaps you might be more likely to obtain a response, not to mention, other related info regarding port availabilities and assistance in the Panama area.
Since this is already the 28th, you may be well along with a solve of your situation,,,,but it would be nice to hear the results. Wish I could be of more assistance.

Incidentially, been thru the canal a few times...on much larger vessels...I fully understand how you might feel in that geographical situation with such a unique, if not diffficult problem.


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[> Cutlass bearing -- Doug Wilson, - Monday - 01/28/13 - 8:43pm

The size is right, order online and the bearing should be about $60.00- $70.00.
Pull the prop, get the flanges apart, some brake fluid may help loosen the nuts, a propane torch may be necessary too. You may have to loosen the packing gland as well, and while the shaft is out, plan on replacing the hose on the shaft tube, I think it is 2 1/8 " ID. Mine was the same as the exhaust, and I had some spare on board. Also replace the packing, I think 1/4". Plan on new bolts and nuts for the flanges, make sure they fit exactly.
With the rudder hard over, the shaft will slide out, but may not come out easily.
The bearing has at least one set screw holding it in place, just sand off bottom paint and gelcoat to find their location.
You will have to use a hacksaw blade to saw through the brass on the bearing, once the integrity of the bearing is broken, it should come out.
Clean everything, flanges, shaft, packing gland, shaft tube.
I set the new bearing with 5200, and the set screws, but the more I use 5200, the less I like it.
You may need some feeler gauges and some shim stock to align the flanges, I also had the engine aligned after a couple of days in the water.
Sounds like a lot of work, but should not take more than a day or two.
It can be done, and you can do it.


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[> cutlass removal -- Mark M31 AEOLUS, - Tuesday - 01/29/13 - 2:02pm

Doug's advice should make the job a bit easier. I would just add that in the removal of the shaft be careful if you use a slide hammer as some years ago I popped the threads off my original monel? shaft on the 2nd slide. A socket between the shaft flange and the tranny is a lot more work but safer it the flange is stubborn. Oh and don't forget to remove the pin thru the flange 1st (if it's like mine)
Good Luck


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[> Cutlass Bearing -- Brian, - Thursday - 01/31/13 - 5:18pm

Hello All,

I really struggled to replace my cutlass bearing. The problem was getting the prop shaft out of the flange. The flange bolts had to be cut off, and that was after lots of coaxing, lubricants and heat. After the flanges were separated, I put a large socket between them and extra long bolts, to compress the flanges and push the shaft out. It wouldn't budge. Even with around 100 ft lbs of torque on each of the bolts. I finally resorted to cutting the shaft. The machine shop that finally separated the shaft and flange said it took 12 tons of pressure to push the shaft out.

I put in a 1 1/4" stainless shaft with an american taper, new cutlass bearing, new 3 blade prop, new hose on the packing gland, and packing.

Sorry it took so long to respond. Many hours at work and hard to do this on my phone.

Good Luck

Brian 1973 M36 Hull 209 "Gran Mariner"


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[> [> Cutless Bearing -- Sietse (M32 #49 "Waka Irie"), - Friday - 02/ 8/13 - 5:24pm

Hi All,

Thanks for all that info.

So we've made it through the canal to the Pacific side without too many problems (one bend bronze fair-lead on the stern) and have put our cutless bearing project on hold for a while since we just broke our mizzen boom.

Even though Doug makes it sound like a piece of cake i'm more worried that our case will be more like Brian's where it might take a lot of pressure to get the shaft out of the Flange.

I checked the shaft myself while anchored in the crocodile infested Rio Chagres river and needless to say didn't want to stay down longer then i had too.
Sure there was some play but it didn;t seem that bad.
it is hard to move the shaft and prop sideways and there might be only 1mm of play in it.

I should really tackle the whole problem at the source and that's probably misalignment of the engine.
For that i do have to take the Coupling apart but don;t necessarily have to go out of the water yet.

But we might not get around to fixing this until we reach NZ/AUS and just SAIL across the pacific.

for that we do need a new Mizzen boom :)


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