Cutlass Bearing Removal - Any tips

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SteveB_Sigma33

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I'm going to replace the cutlass bearing on my Sigma33 this coming weekend. I don't think it's majorly warn but it is 5 years old and I am getting some vibration when under motor.

All of the engine mounts look fine, so this looks like the most likely culprit.

As this will be the first one I've ever done can anyone give me some top tips on how to go about this (Other than a big hammer)?



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If you havent got a dedicated puller / pusher then try this
1.Remove prop shaft
2.remove blade from hacksaw ,invert hacksaw and re instate blade upside down but through cutlass bearing.
3.carefully saw through rubber and bearing without touching p-bracket.
4 remove any grub screws from side of bearing/ p bracket
5. push / pull bearing out
You could do no.s 1 then 4 and 5 if you feel lucky.

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Are there any specific things I should be looking for on the old bearing?

The boat was lifted yesterday, and when I tried to move the shaft there was just over 1mm of flex. Do you think this is enough to cause some vibration?!?

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remove grubscrews and drift it out and, if all else fails, hacksaw it out but ... before going to all that trouble:

a) grab the prop and try to waggle it. it should be (under those conditions) a fit-without-shake. any excessive movement and its worn. if not, try
b) prop could be very mucky such that it is unbalanced or
b) poke wire up the chanels and remove critters hiding up there (water is the 'lubricant' so anything getting in the way will increase friction resulting in vibration etc)

I had to ream the housing to get a proper fit with new one so replacing it became a bit of a trial but that's unusual ...

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Are there any specific things I should be looking for on the old bearing?

The boat was lifted yesterday, and when I tried to move the shaft there was just over 1mm of flex. Do you think this is enough to cause some vibration?!?

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Yep, agree with wot's been said, take off the prop and have it checked, if it's only slighjtly unbalanced it will cause vibration. Much easier job then removing cutlass bearing which can be a right pig to do.

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Well it's a folding prop so I'm going to check that no beasties have grown and messeds up the folding mechanism (wondered if the prop wasn't flicking all the way out).

I'm on the South coast at Port Solent, do you have any recommendations for a good engineering company to look at the prop to check it out.

One other thing I noticed was the prop did look a little blackened. Don't remember it being that tarnished last year. I did have to gave another Sac-anode put on by a friendly diver after the two I had put on parted company! Wondering if this lead to beasties growing in the bearing etc.

Appreciate everyones comments. :-)

Thanks chaps.



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Steve,

When I replaced the cutlass bearing on my Sigma 292, we found out that the P bracket was stepped so that the cutlass bearing could only go in (and out) from the engine side.

We only found this out when looking for a bigger hammer, fortunately, no damage done. Also, as already said, there are a couple of grub screws in the side to take out.

Finally, I had to drop the rudder to remove the propshaft. So, if its DIY, make sure your boat gets put on some hardcore as you'll need to dig a hole 1' down for the rudder post to clear the bearings.

Richard

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Steve

To get the bearing back in you will need a puller. To get the old bearing out first, you will also need a puller, without the risk of damageing 'P' bracket or hull. I have one and can lend it to you. Once you have fitted a new bearing, if it still vibrates, check gearbox/shaft alignment, good luck with that one! I see you are registered as 'UK', a bit general that, I'm Chichester. Can you contact me via YBW?

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